Costa Rica: Church Chronology

July 1944 • Costa RicaThe first members of the Church in Costa Rica were United States servicemen.

August 28, 1947 • San José, Costa RicaRobert B. Miller and David D. Lingard were the first two missionaries to serve in Costa Rica.

August 1947 • San JoséDon Teadoro Picard, president of Costa Rica, met with Church representatives and was given a copy of the Book of Mormon.

February 1948 • Costa RicaMissionaries were removed to Guatemala due to a revolution.

May 28, 1949 • Costa RicaMissionary work in Costa Rica recommenced.

November 26, 1949 • San JoséSix Costa Ricans, three women and three men, were baptized.

June 7, 1950 • San JoséThe first conference was held, and 70 people attended.

August 25, 1950 • San JoséThe first branch in Costa Rica was organized, with David Wright as president and Helen Wright as Relief Society president.

November 16, 1952 • Guatemala City, GuatemalaElder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the countries of Central America. In addition, he organized the Central American Mission, which included Costa Rica.

1952 • Costa RicaThe first missionaries from Costa Rica, Sister Arredondo and Sister Peralta, were called.

August 24, 1964 • San JoséThe first Church-constructed meetinghouse was dedicated.

July 1, 1965 • San JoséThe headquarters of the Central American Mission was moved to Costa Rica.

1966 • Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

First missionwide youth conference for Central America was held in Costa Rica, with more than 200 attending.

June 20, 1974 • San JoséThe Costa Rica San José Mission was organized. It included Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

January 20, 1977 • San JoséManuel Najera was sustained as the president of the San José Costa Rica Stake, the first in the country. The stake had 3,800 members.

August 13,1978 • San JoséJorge Solano Mora was ordained as the first patriarch and served for 40 years.

July 1985 • Salt Lake City, Utah, USAThe first Costa Rican to be called as a mission president, Manuel Najera, was assigned to Honduras.

May 30, 1987 • Costa RicaCosta Rican Latter-day Saints hosted visiting leaders Ardeth G. Kapp, Young Women General President; Michaelene P. Grassli, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency; and Joanne B. Doxey, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency.

April 1–2, 1989 • San JoséThe first telecast of general conference to Central America was received at the stake center in San Jose, with 3,600 in attendance.

August 22, 1992 • Costa RicaElder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the land of Costa Rica for the preaching of the gospel.

January 20, 1997 • Costa RicaChurch President Gordon B. Hinckley visited the Saints in Costa Rica.

April 24, 1999 • San JoséThe groundbreaking for the first temple in Costa Rica took place.

June 4, 2000 • San José

The first temple in Costa Rica was dedicated by James E. Faust, First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church.