Brazil
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1,456,238
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
281
Stakes
2,176
Congregations
445
FamilySearch Centers
7
Temples
36
Missions |
History
Responding to requests from German members of the Church living in Brazil, missionaries began preaching in southern Brazil in 1928. For many years, the Church had some success in the German colonies in Brazil and made little effort to preach among the Portuguese-speaking population. Beginning in the 1930s, a rise in anti-German sentiment led to a government ban on the use of German in public. Church services were soon held in Portuguese, and some German-language materials were destroyed.
The Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon, first published in 1940, signaled a new era for the Church in Brazil. As missionaries began preaching in Portuguese, the Church in Brazil grew faster than in any other country in South America. Branches, districts, and missions were established throughout the country. In 1966 the first stake in South America was created in São Paulo; 12 years later, the first temple in South America was dedicated in São Paulo.
Since 1978 hundreds of thousands of people have been baptized in Brazil. Wards and stakes are now established throughout the country, and temples are operating or are under construction in many of the major cities of Brazil. The 10th temple, the Brasília Brazil Temple, was announced April 2, 2017. “Brazil,” said President Russell M. Nelson, “is part of the heart of the Church.”
Nei Garcia
Sao Paulo,
Brazil
Phone: +55(11)37233335
E-mail
Africa
Total Church Membership
736,701
Members
2,476
Congregations
Missions
39Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
5Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,259,094
Members
2,110
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
500,239
Members
1,350
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
14Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,489,479
Members
18,476
Congregations
Missions
174Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
112Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
587,462
Members
1,301
Congregations
Missions
18Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,232,425
Members
5,602
Congregations