A Brief History of the Church in

Switzerland

Overview

In November 1850 Lorenzo Snow, then an Apostle preaching in Italy, sent his missionary companion, Thomas B. H. Stenhouse, over the Alps to preach in Switzerland. The next March, the first converts in Switzerland were baptized. Over the next 10 years, hundreds were baptized in Switzerland’s French- and German-speaking cantons. Many later immigrated to Utah to help build up Zion there.

Other converts remained in Switzerland. In the early 20th century these Saints showed their faithfulness during the disruptions caused by world wars in neighboring countries. In the 1950s Church leaders felt moved to bring every aspect of Church organization to Saints in Switzerland and other parts of Europe. Bern was chosen as the location for Europe’s first temple, and in 1955 members from many nations went up to the house of the Lord in Switzerland’s mountains to be taught and blessed (see Isaiah 2:2–3).

The first stake in Switzerland was organized in Zürich six years later. In addition to welcoming members seeking temple or patriarchal blessings, Swiss Saints played a key role in spreading the gospel, helping reopen missionary work in Italy in the 1960s and administering branches in the Middle East. In 1982 the first French-speaking stake in Switzerland was organized in Geneva, and by the year 2000 there were over 7,000 Saints in Switzerland.

Quick Facts

• Official Name: Swiss Confederation/Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft/Confédération Suisse/Confederazione Svizzera/Confederaziun Svizra

• Capital: Bern (de facto)

• Largest City: Zürich

• Official Languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh

• Land Area: 41,277 km² (15,918 mi²)

• Church Area: Europe

• Missions: Part of the France Lyon Mission and the Alpine German-Speaking Mission

• Congregations: 36

• Temples: 1 (Bern)