Mormonism in Colombia

Introduction

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) was first officially established in Colombia in 1966. The Church in Colombia has experienced more limited growth than most South American countries and reports the smallest percentage of members on church records in the general population among Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America. Political instability, violence, difficulties adequately staffing missionary needs due to safety concerns and inadequate self-sufficiency of the native Latin American full-time missionary force, low member activity rates, and convert attention problems have contributed to these challenges during the past several decades. Nevertheless, the Church in Colombia has a well-established core of active members and church leaders in many of the most populous cities of the country.

History

The first LDS missionaries to serve in Colombia arrived in Bogota in May 1966. The Church obtained legal status with the Colombian...