Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission

About Argentina

ARGENTINA Jan. 1, 2012: Est. population, 40,913,000; Members, 399,440; Stakes, 71; Wards, 480;
Branches, 343; Missions, 10; Districts, 36; Temples, 1, announced, 1; Percent LDS, .91, or one in 110; South America South Area.
Located on South America's eastern coast, the Republic of Argentina has a Spanish-speaking population that is 92 percent Roman Catholic, 2 percent Protestant, and 2 percent Jewish.
Latter-day Saints Wilhelm Friedrichs and Emil Hoppe and their families emigrated from Germany to Buenos Aires in the early 1920s, fleeing the economic uncertainties of postwar Europe. Friedrichs soon began publishing gospel messages in local newspapers andin1924asked the First Presidency to send missionaries to work among the Germans of Argentina.
Elders Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve and Rulon S. Wells (who spoke German) and Rey L. Pratt(who spoke Spanish) of the First Council of the Seventy arrived in Buenos Aires on 6 December 1925to begin missionary workin South America. Sbc days later the first latter-day baptisms on that continent were performed in the Rio de la Plata for German immigrants Anna Kullick and her brother Ernst Biebersdorf, their respective spouses, and two young women.
On Christmas Day, Elder Ballard dedicated South America for the preaching of the gospel, prophesying that "the work will go forth slowly just as the oak grows from an acorn... [but] the South American Mission will become a power in the Church." During the next six months, the three General Authorities rented a building in which to hold meetings and distributed thousands of flyers announcing those meetings.
In July 1926, K. B. Reinhold Stoof arrived to replace Elder Ballard as president oftheSouth American Mission, and young elders from the United States soon began to arrive. During the nine years that President Stoof and his family resided in Argentina, missionaries established branches in Buenos Aires and other nearby cities and also launched the preaching of the gospel amongthe German immigrants of southern Brazil.
When the mission was divided in 1935 to form the Argentine and Brazilian missions, missionary work in Argentina was confined to Buenos Aires, home to some 200members of the Church. By that time converts had been made among working-class immigrants from a dozen European countries who were living on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. With the exception of one German branch in Buenos Aires, missionary work and church meetings were conducted in Spanish.
The first LDS chapel was dedicated in the Liniers area of Buenos Aires in April 1938, and branches were established in other major cities such as Quilmes, LaPlata, Rosario, Bahia Blanca, Cordoba and Mendoza. World War 11 interrupted missionary work, but the mission president and the local Saints kept the Church alive until missionaries could once more return to Argentina. By 1949 Church membership had reached 1,000 but the missionaries continued to provide much of the leadership for the 27 branches.
Following the Korean War, with an increased number of missionaries available, new fields of labor were opened, leading to the establishment of the North Argentine Mission in 1962. Membership growth accelerated as local leaders were called and missionaries could devote more of their time to teaching others. In addition, missionary work was launched in neighboring Chile in 1956, with those efforts being supervised by the Argentine Mission during the next three years. By the end of 1960 there were over 4,000 Latter-day Saints in Argentina.
The increasing maturity of the Church was marked in November 1966 by the organization of the first stake in Argentina (which was also the first Spanish-speaking stake in South America and only the second such stake in the Church), with 20 more stakes being established by the end of1980. By that time,there were five missions (two in Buenos Aires and others headquartered in Cordoba, Rosario, and Bahi'a Blanca) and nearly 50,000 Latter-day Saints in Argentina.
Argentina hosted two area conferences attended by President Spencer W. Kimball and other General Authorities in March 1975 and October 1978. Further progress came in1986 with the dedication of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple. Since 1984 Buenos Aires has been the headquarters of the South America South Area.
By December 2000, when the Argentine Saints celebrated the 75th anniversary of the arrival of LDS missionaries in South America, their country was home to 300,000 members, many of them representing the second and third generations of their families in the Church.
In recent times o fhigh unemployment and political and social upheaval, Argentine Latter-day Saints have drawn upon the strength that comes from Church membership. Church leaders have prepared their people for such challenges by reemphasizing the basic principles of tithing, fast offerings and financial self-sufficiency. Many members planted vegetable gardens and learned to make or recondition clothing. But the Argentine Saints, showing the resilience that comes with their faith, have also reached out to the larger society in which they live, giving many thousands of hours of humanitarian and community service to those around them.
In 2003, membership reached 330, 349. In 2005, membership reached 348, 396. Deseret News 2013 Church News Almanac 423
On 9 Sept 2012, thousands of members gathered under blue skies for the rededication of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple by President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency. Tens oft housands more participated in meetinghouses across the country. The temple served as a spiritual haven for nearly a quarter century before it was closed in latter 2009 for major renovation to meet the demands of growing membership in the region. Two wings were added to the original building, dramatically increasing its size while paying respect to its original and distinctive design.

Missionary Blogs

Elder Spencer Bark
www.mymission.com/bark
2024
Elder Spencer Bark
www.mymission.com/elderspencerbark
2024
Elder Randy and Sister Mely Borchardt
www.mymission.com/elderrandyandsistermelyborchardt
2024
Elder Gavin Duncan
www.mymission.com/eldergavinduncan
2024
Elder Adrian Hernandez
www.mymission.com/elderadrianhernandez
2024
Elder Adrian Hernandez
www.mymission.com/elderadrianhernandez1
2024
Elder Ty Jones
www.mymission.com/eldertyjones1
2024
Elder Jacob Moss
www.mymission.com/elderjacobmoss
2024
Sister Gabrielle Pullin
www.mymission.com/sistergabriellepullin
2024
Sister Grace Ricks
www.mymission.com/sistergracericks
2024
Elder Grant Williams
www.mymission.com/eldergrantwilliams2
2024
Elder Davin McKendrick
www.mymission.com/elderdavinmckendrick
2023
Elder Ian West-Hid
www.mymission.com/elderianwest-hid
2023
Elder River Christensen
www.mymission.com/elderriverchristensen
2022
Elder Bryan Hunt
www.mymission.com/bryanhuntmymissioncom
2022
Elder Bryan Hunt
www.mymission.com/elderbryanhunt1
2022
Elder Logan Lake
www.mymission.com/elderloganlake
2022
Elder Noah Thompson
www.mymission.com/eldernoahthompson2
2022
Elder Tanner Aston
www.mymission.com/eldertanneraston
2021
Elder Nolan Beck
www.mymission.com/eldernolanbeck
2021
Elder Tyler Blackham
www.mymission.com/eldertylerblackham1
2021
Elder Kobe Carlson
www.mymission.com/elderkobecarlson
2021
Elder Bryce Davis
www.mymission.com/elderbrycedavis
2021
Elder Parker Hadley
www.mymission.com/elderparkerhadley
2021
Elder Tyler Peterson
www.mymission.com/eldertylerpeterson
2021
Elder Ethan Wood
www.mymission.com/elderethanwood
2021
Elder Tyler Bush
www.mymission.com/eldertylerbush6
2020
Elder Kyle Christensen
www.mymission.com/elderkylechristensen
2020
Elder Michael Davison
www.mymission.com/eldermichaeldavison
2020
Sister Maleah Decker
www.mymission.com/sistermaleahdecker1
2020
Sister Maleah Decker
www.mymission.com/sistermaleahdecker2
2020
Elder Brant Lunt
www.mymission.com/elderbrantlunt
2020
Elder Tre Clark
www.mymission.com/eldertreclark
2019
Elder Myles Conant
www.mymission.com/eldermylesconant
2019
Elder Dallin Hutchison
www.mymission.com/elderdallinhutchison
2019
Elder Ethan Klein
www.mymission.com/elderethanklein
2019
Elder Erik Daniel Lewis
www.mymission.com/eldereriklewis
2019
Elder Jackson Monk
www.mymission.com/elderjacksonmonk
2019
Sister Nataly Rotela
www.mymission.com/sisternatalyrotela
2019
Elder Trevor Ah Sue
www.mymission.com/eldertrevorahsue
2018
Elder Grant Belnap
www.mymission.com/eldergrantbelnap
2018
Sister Michelle Garner
www.mymission.com/sistermichellegarner
2018
Sister Luanda Jhulie Lima
www.mymission.com/sisterluandajhulielima
2018
Sister Valerie Lockling
www.mymission.com/sistervalerielockling
2018
Elder Francisco Samuel Moldes
www.mymission.com/elderfranciscosamuelmoldes
2018
Sister Micaela Nancy Rivarola
www.mymission.com/sistermicaelanancyrivarola
2018
Elder David Edwards
www.mymission.com/elderdavidedwards
2017
Elder Justin Gibson
elderjustindgibson.wordpress.com
2017
Elder King Lewy
elderkinglewy.blogspot.com
2017
Elder Skylar Jolley
elderskylerjolley.blogspot.com
2017
Elder David Jaramillo
www.mymission.com/elderdavidjaramillo
2017
Elder Dustin Jesson
www.mymission.com/elderdustinjesson
2017
Elder Dillon Larson
www.mymission.com/elderdillonlarson
2017
Elder Matias Pontelli
www.mymission.com/eldermatiaspontelli
2017
Sister McKayla Davis
hermanamckayladavis.blogspot.com
2017
Elder Aaron Keeley
missionsite.net/elderaaronkeeley
2016
Elder Carson Sawyer
eldercarsonsawyer.blogspot.com
2016
Elder Grant Belnap
mymission.com/eldergrantbelnap
2016
Elder Kevin McFarland
elderkevinmcfarland.blogspot.com
2016
Elder Porter Severtson
elderportersevertson.blogspot.com
2016
Elder Spencer Ward
elderwardinargentina.blogspot.com
2016
Elder Stockton Slack
stocktonslack.blogspot.com
2016
Elder Victor Pribyl
victorpribyl.com
2016
Elder Ward
elderwardinargentina.blogspot.com
2016
Mission Alumni
mission.net/argentina/buenos-aires/south
2016
Sister Abigail Walker
sisterabbywalker.blogspot.com
2016
Sister Audrey McBride
hermanamcbrideinargentina.blogspot.com
2016
Sister Micaella Wilson
argentinabuenosairessouthmission.blogspot.com
2016
Sister Rachel Feldermann
hermanafeldermann.blogspot.com
2016
Sister Rio Shepard
hermanitashepard.com
2016
Sister Sabrina Chaffin
sistersabrina.blogspot.com
2016
Sister Sheyanne Root
hermanaroot.blogspot.com
2016
Elder Felipe Colivoro
www.mymission.com/elderfelipecolivoro
2015
Elder Benjamin Andrew
elderbenandrew.blogspot.com
2015
Elder Brennen Hall
elderbrennenhall.blogspot.com
2015
Elder Cohen Carlson
missionsite.net/eldercohencarlson
2015
Elder Connor McLean
connorblog.com
2015
Elder Jesse Whetten
diana-jesse-anthonymission.blogspot.com
2015
Elder Stephen Chipman
elderstephenchipman.blogspot.com
2015
Elder T.J. Anderson
missionsite.net/eldertjanderson
2015
Elder Tyler Whitaker
eldertylerwhitaker.blogspot.com
2015
Elder Skyler Killian
www.mymission.com/elderkillian
2015
Elder Caleb McDowell
www.mymission.com/eldercalebmcdowell
2015
Sister Alexandra Ostler
hermanaalexandraostler.wordpress.com
2015
Sister Carly Cannon
hermanacarlycannon.blogspot.com
2015
Sister Kendall Barrett
kendallmichelle.blogspot.com
2015
Sister Marissa Runolfson
hermanarunolfson.blogspot.com
2015
Elder Jesse Whetten
www.mymission.com/elderjessewhetten
2015
Sister Cristina Andreasen
www.mymission.com/cristinaandreasen
2014
Elder Grant Evans
eldergrantevans.blogspot.com
2014
Elder James Sanders
elderjamessanders.com
2014
Elder Matthew Paxton
eldermatthewpaxton.blogspot.com
2014
Elder Spencer Herrmann
hermanoherrmann.blogspot.com
2014
Sister Abbey Browning
missionsite.net/sisterabbeybrowning
2014
Sister Danielle Snow
hermanasnow.blogspot.com
2014
Sister Jordan Engle
hermanaengle.blogspot.com
2014
Sister Sara Newman
hermananewman.blogspot.com
2014
Elder Brayden Jolley
elderbraydenjolley.blogspot.com
2013
Elder Cameron Anderson
eldercameronmarkanderson.blogspot.com
2013
Elder Drew Martino
eldermartino.blogspot.com
2013
Elder Jordan Lewis
elderjblewis.blogspot.com
2013
Elder Rhet Gardner
elderrhetgardner.blogspot.com
2013
Elder Samson Nelson
missionsite.net/samson
2013
Elder Alan Shurtz
missionsite.net/elderalanshurtz
2012
Elder Braden Saunders
missionsite.net/elderbradensaunders
2012
Elder Scoty Stobbe
elderstobbe.blogspot.com
2012
Elder Shane Larson
eldershanelarson.blogspot.com
2012
Elder Tyson Winder
missionsite.net/eldertysonwinder
2012
Elder Ian Wheelhouse
elderianwheelhouse.blogspot.com
2011
Elder Jace Johnson
elderjacejohnson.blogspot.com
2011
Sister Kristina Crook
missionsite.net/SisterCrook
2011
Sister Mary Lindquist
sisterlindquist.blogspot.com
2011
Elder Austin Schupple
elderschupple.blogspot.com
2010
Elder Gavin Rice
eldergavinrice.blogspot.com
2010
Sister Elissa Urban
elissamissionary.blogspot.com
2009
Elder Pablo Lipari
www.mymission.com/elderpablolipari
1999
Elder Jerry Pennock
www.mymission.com/elderjerrypennock
1988
Elder David Wade
www.mymission.com/elderdavidwade
1977

Address

Quintana 447
1846 Adrogue
Buenos Aires
Argentina

Mission President

Alejandro Calquin

Region

South America

Church Statistics

Argentina

Members: 432007
Congregations: 765
Missions: 12
Family History Centers: 107

Languages

Spanish

Population

About 7 million