Argentina: Chronology

1851–52 • ChileApostle Parley P. Pratt and his wife Phoebe served a five-month mission to Chile. During their time in Chile, they determined that a Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was needed.

1886 • Salt Lake City, UtahThe Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was published.

1923–25 • Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThe Friedrichs and Hoppe families, converts from Germany, moved to Buenos Aires and began holding meetings in their homes and inviting their neighbors. They wrote to Church leaders urging them to send missionaries to Argentina.

December 1925 • Buenos Aires

The Liniers Branch, the first branch in Argentina, was created in Buenos Aires. Six new members were the first to be baptized in Argentina.

December 25, 1925 • Buenos AiresElder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated all of South America for the preaching of the gospel.

June 15, 1926 • ArgentinaEladia Cifuentes, the first Spanish-speaking convert, was baptized.

July 15, 1926 • ArgentinaReinhold Stoof was made president of the newly established South American Mission.

July 28, 1931 • Buenos AiresLuigi and Mariantonia Notaro donated their property on Tonelero Street in the Liniers neighborhood for the construction of the first meetinghouse in Argentina.

February 14, 1934 • Buenos AiresThe Relief Society was organized in the Argentine Mission with Carmen de Escudero as president.

September 30, 1935 • Buenos AiresThe first Primary in Argentina was organized in the Liniers Branch with Angela Mericia de Peyrera as president.

January 9, 1937 • ArgentinaEl mensajero (the Messenger), a Spanish-language periodical of the Argentine Mission, was first published.

1938 • Córdoba, ArgentinaThe Bony and Oguey families, Swiss immigrants, brought the Church to the Córdoba area.

1939–42 • ArgentinaThe government of Argentina dramatically reduced visas issued to missionaries from the United States.

April 19, 1939 • Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaLuís Costantini was called as a missionary in Bahía Blanca. He was the first of many members who were called to preach in their local areas.

1942–45 • ArgentinaMission president James L. Barker and his wife, Kate, remained to oversee the Church in Argentina, and local leaders were called to lead their branches.

October 14, 1943 • Buenos AiresUrsula Bond, a member of the Liniers Branch, made the first donation to the future construction of a temple in Argentina decades before a temple was announced.

1944 • ArgentinaCecile S. Young, Relief Society president for the Argentine Mission, organized the Relief Society throughout the country.

January 6–9, 1944 • Buenos AiresThe first youth conference in Argentina was held.

January 1946 • ArgentinaLyman and Afton Shreeve and their children became the first North American missionaries sent to Argentina following World War II. More soon followed.

January–February 1952 • ArgentinaLocal brethren were called to preside over most districts and all branches throughout the country.

February 3, 1954 • Buenos AiresPresident David O. McKay visited members in Argentina, authorized the construction of meetinghouses throughout the country, and met with Juan Perón, president of Argentina.

April 1955 • Salt Lake CityThe Liahona, the Church’s international publication, was published in Spanish. El mensajero was discontinued.

1960–65 • ArgentinaA phased meetinghouse construction program allowed 20 new meetinghouses to be built in Argentina by 1965, with an additional 78 planned.

May 1963 • Salt Lake CityA special issue of the Improvement Era highlighting the progress of the Church in South America featured an article on the Argentine Mission.

November 20, 1966 • Buenos AiresThe Buenos Aires Argentina Stake, the first Spanish-speaking stake in South America, was organized, with Ángel Abrea as stake president.

July 1969 • ArgentinaThe stake Young Men presidency of the Buenos Aires Argentina Stake began organizing seminary and institute classes throughout the country.

March 7–9, 1975 • Buenos AiresPresident Spencer W. Kimball presided at an area conference for members living in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

October 30, 1978 • São Paulo, BrazilFollowing the dedication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple, Saints in Argentina began organizing bus trips to attend the temple.

November 23, 1980 • La Plata, ArgentinaThe 20th stake in Argentina was organized in La Plata.

April 4, 1981 • ArgentinaÁngel Abrea was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy, the first General Authority from South America.

January 17–19, 1986 • Buenos Aires

The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple was dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency. Ángel Abrea was called as temple president.

March 5, 1994 • Buenos AiresA missionary training center was dedicated on the grounds of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple.

February 25, 1996 • Bariloche, ArgentinaThe Bariloche Argentina Stake, the 50th in Argentina, was organized.

November 11, 1996 • Buenos AiresPresident Gordon B. Hinckley spoke to a gathering of nearly 50,000 Latter-day Saints at the Estadio de Velez Sarsfield soccer stadium in Buenos Aires.

1998 • South America South AreaSaints throughout Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay participated in a joint day of service, marking the beginning of the Church’s Mormon Helping Hands program.

June 2000 • South AmericaSaints throughout South America celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Church on the continent.

February 21, 2014 • Buenos AiresElder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles returned to the park where his grandfather dedicated South America, and he offered a prayer of dedication specifically for Argentina.

May 17, 2015 • Córdoba

The Córdoba Argentina Temple was dedicated by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency.

April 1, 2017 • Salt Lake CityCristina B. Franco, a native of Buenos Aires, was called as the Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.

April 1, 2018 • Salt Lake CityPresident Russell M. Nelson announced the construction of a temple in Salta.