Introduction

The salvation of all God’s children is central to His gospel. He promised that “all the nations of the earth [will] be blessed” through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 22:18), and to the lowly shepherds in Judea, it was declared that the “good tidings” of the gospel were “to all people” (Luke 2:10). In the early pages of the Book of Mormon, Nephi declared that the Lord “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men [and women] unto him” (2 Nephi 26:24; italics added).

Shortly after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, the Lord directed the Saints to preach the gospel throughout the world: “For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations,” the Lord said in 1831. “Prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people. … Let the cry go forth among all people” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:3–4, 10). Accordingly, faithful Saints have accepted calls to preach throughout the world, the Book of Mormon has been translated (in full or in part) into more than 110 languages, and congregations have been established and flourish the world over.

While most Latter-day Saints understand that the Church is a global faith, the history of the Church in many parts of the world is not well known. These Global Histories seek to share the inspiring story of how the message of the Restoration has been embraced and shared around the globe.

Each history contains a brief overview, a selection of stories of faith, a chronology, statistical information, and additional sources readers might consult. The stories focus on local members who have heard and heeded the Savior’s call to “declare the word in the regions round about them” (Doctrine and Covenants 52:39) and who have exercised faith to overcome the unique challenges of being Latter-day Saints in their homelands.