Poland: Church Chronology

February 2, 1884 • Vienna, AustriaThe first-known Polish convert, Adalbert Cholewa, was baptized a member of the Church in Vienna.

1897 • Stettin, Breslau, and Sorau, German EmpireThe Swiss-German Mission established German-speaking branches of the Church in Stettin (now Szczecin), Breslau (Wrocław), and Sorau (Żary).

August 12, 1903 • Warsaw, PolandElder Francis M. Lyman of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Poland for the preaching of the restored gospel.

April 18, 1923 • Selbongen, East Prussia (later Zełwągi, Poland)Six people were baptized, and a German-speaking branch was organized.

July 14, 1929 • Selbongen

The first Church meetinghouse built in Poland was dedicated.

1939–54 • EuropeMillions of people, including Latter-day Saints, were displaced by World War II and relocated throughout Europe.

July 30–August 7, 1946 • PolandEzra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles arranged with officials to provide food, financial assistance, and the safe exodus of German members in Poland.

December 1947 • ZełwągiThe German-speaking branch discontinued services to comply with government regulations requiring all public gatherings to be conducted only in Polish.

December 10, 1950 • ZełwągiThe Zełwągi Branch resumed holding services in Polish.

1961 • PolandThe Church first received official recognition in Poland.

September 16–17, 1967 • ZełwągiElder Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided over the first conference of the Church conducted entirely in the Polish language.

October 1970 • ZełwągiPercy Fetzer became the first patriarch to visit Poland and provide patriarchal blessings.

June 27, 1971 • ZełwągiThe Zełwągi Branch was dissolved. All Church activity was temporarily discontinued in Poland.

March 30, 1975 • Szczecin, PolandFryderyk Czerwiński held the first Church meeting in Szczecin in his home. Six members attended.

July 7, 1975 • SzczecinThe Szczecin Branch was organized with Fryderyk Czerwiński as president.

1977 • WarsawMatthew and Marion Ciembronówicz were assigned as special representatives of the First Presidency in Poland.

May 30, 1977 • WarsawThe Church was again granted official recognition.

August 24, 1977 • WarsawPresident Spencer W. Kimball rededicated Poland for the preaching of the gospel. Fryderyk Czerwiński was called as presiding elder of the Church in Poland.

April 1978 • Salt Lake City, UtahThe Articles of Faith were published in Polish. This was the first official publication of the Church in Polish.

1979 • WarsawA small office was purchased on Nowy Świat Street in Warsaw and converted to a Church information center.

March 1980 • WarsawLona Czerwińska was called as the first Relief Society president of the Warsaw Branch.

March 1982 • WarsawIn cooperation with the Catholic Episcopate, the Church contributed food and medical supplies for distribution throughout the country.

1982 • PolandThe Book of Mormon and other Church literature were translated into Polish.

May 1986 • WarsawThe Church received permission to send more missionaries and to build a meetinghouse in Poland.

June 1, 1986 • WarsawPresident Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency joined with Polish members to offer a prayer of gratitude and supplication.

January 1987 • WarsawPolish members participated in a temple seminar in preparation to attend the Freiberg Germany Temple.

January 1988 • WarsawThe first young missionaries (who had been serving in the Polish-speaking branch in Chicago) arrived in Warsaw.

1989 • PolandThe Polish government passed laws expanding religious freedom and allowing foreigners to direct congregations.

May 2, 1989 • WarsawUrszula Adamska accepted a call to serve in the Washington Seattle Mission. She was the first Polish member called from Poland to serve as a missionary overseas.

June 15, 1989 • WarsawGround was broken for the first meetinghouse in Warsaw, with Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding at the ceremony.

April–May 1990 • Salt Lake CityZdzisława Maria Chudyba and Urszula Adamska traveled to Salt Lake City to translate the temple ceremonies from English to Polish.

July 1, 1990 • WarsawWalter L. Whipple Jr. was called as president of the newly created Poland Warsaw Mission.

1991 • WarsawGovernment restrictions on religious proselytizing were eased and missionaries were allowed to freely proselytize.

October 13, 1991 • Łódź, PolandThe first branch of the Church opened by the Poland Warsaw Mission was in Łódź. Robert Tadeusz Żelewski was called as branch president.

May 1991 • Freiberg, GermanyEleven members participated in the first temple ceremonies conducted in Polish at the temple in Freiberg.

June 22, 1991 • WarsawThe Warsaw meetinghouse was dedicated by Elder Russell M. Nelson.

September 7, 1995 • WarsawThe first LDS institute of religion was organized, with Ryszard Chołodowski as instructor.

January 2000 • WarsawDouglas F. Tobler, president of the Poland Warsaw Mission, and Robert Żelewski made an official visit to the First Lady of Poland, Madam Jolanta Kwaśniewska, at the Presidential Palace.

October 2001 • WarsawThe broadcast of general conference included Polish translation for the first time.

May 12, 2002 • WarsawThe Warsaw Poland District was created, with Robert Żelewski as the first Polish district president.

June 15, 2014 • WarsawPresident Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency presided at a conference with members from all over Poland.

July 2016 • Warsaw

Mateusz Turek and his wife, Adrienne, were called to preside over the Poland Warsaw Mission. He is the first Poland native to preside over the mission.