The Church Is Here

San José, Costa Rica

The national capital of Costa Rica, San José, is in the Central Valley, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The first missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in Costa Rica in 1946. Today, the Church in Costa Rica has:

• 52,000 members (approximately)

• 10 stakes, 78 wards and branches, 2 missions

• 1 temple in San José

Creative Gospel Learning

In Heredia, north of San José, Jeremy and Estefania Brandaris and their son study the gospel as a family. “Our son is very active, so he’s easily distracted,” Estefania says. “Pictures, videos, repeating phrases, and playing games help him learn. Now his favorite word is Jesus.”

More about the Church in Costa Rica

• A young woman from Costa Rica commits to keeping her covenants, whatever it takes.

• Despite losing everything in a devastating flood, a Costa Rican family finds they still have everything that matters most.

• At Christmastime in Costa Rica, a family shares the joy of giving with missionaries.

• A young adult man from Costa Rica shares his thoughts about overcoming spiritual numbness.

• A kickboxer from Costa Rica is featured in a Church film.

A mother and father in Costa Rica use digital resources from the Church to teach their daughters.

Elder Dale G. Renlund and his wife, Ruth, visit with representatives from many religions at an international religious freedom symposium in Costa Rica in 2017.

Like Latter-day Saints all over the world, youth in Costa Rica find friendship and spiritual strength from attending Sunday School classes together.

Listening to talks and inspired guidance in Church meetings also helps Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica stay close to Jesus Christ.

During a visit to Costa Rica in 2020, Elder Ulisses Soares shakes hands with the president of the country’s legislative assembly.

A family in Costa Rica walks home together after attending church.

A family visits the San José Costa Rica Temple.