LDS Growth in Spain Surprises: Not Driven by Native Spaniards

Over five decades since its official acknowledgment by Spain’s government in 1968, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow and become increasingly diverse within the country.

The primary cause has been immigrants, rather than native Spaniards, who have spread throughout Europe.

Melitón González Trejo, who received his baptism in 1874, became the initial Spaniard to join the congregation. according to church records After relocating to Utah, he joined the organization and went on to play a significant role in rendering the group's key religious text, the Book of Mormon, into Spanish. Additionally, he contributed considerably to setting up the organization within Mexico.

As for those initial converts in Spain, they mostly chose to emigrate to Utah.

The shift began with the 1966 baptism of Jose Maria Oliveira, who was a former filmmaker and has been featured recently in a profile. The Salt Lake Tribune .

Instead of moving to join the Latter-day Saints in Utah, Oliveira remained in Spain and played a crucial part in aiding the church gain recognition and expand within the country. Nowadays, thanks mainly to Spanish converts such as Oliveira—who arrived in the Beehive State many years later—and numerous missionaries, this progress has been achieved. Spain boasts over 68,000 members. , approximately 140 churches along with a single temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (with plans for a second ).

[Read more here Regarding the inception of the church in Spain and Jose Oliveira, a notable convert known for his ghastly films that brought significant religious teachings to Spanish viewers. ]

Continuing to thrive despite the passage of time

indeed, Spain ranks second for the number of Latter-day Saints within Europe, with only one country having more. United Kingdom ‘s 186,000 members.

In 2024, according to independent researcher Matt Martinich, who monitors the global expansion and retention of the church worldwide for ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com The religion experienced its fastest expansion in Europe over the past few decades. In Spain, membership increased by 3.85% last year, marking the biggest rise since 2007.

And immigrants — they were there. elsewhere in Europe —are driving much of that expansion.

Martinich stated that the majority of new converts in Spain currently come from Latin America and Africa, with Latin Americans comprising roughly 80% of the membership in certain congregations.

Contrary to what you may hear about churches declining in Europe, this isn’t happening in Spain," Martinich stated. "In fact, the Spanish church is growing increasingly international and relies more on immigrant communities rather than the local populace.

Maria Brimhall, who is Jose Oliveira’s daughter, does not have to look at statistics to picture the influx of immigrants in Spanish-speaking congregations. She mentioned that during the most recent stake (regional) conference she attended in Madrid, there were just two families originally from Spain.

When you go to church in Spain," Brimhall stated, "you notice that many of the members come from Latin American nations such as Ecuador and Venezuela.

Encyclopedias, orange sodas

Paul Laemmlen recalls the challenges he and fellow missionaries faced when trying to secure teaching chances during their mission work in Spain in the latter half of the 1970s. According to him, many Spaniards remained committed Catholics with little interest in the faith based in Utah.

The message often failed to connect with those they instructed, despite the missionaries being proficient in the local language. A cherished memory for him involves sharing the tale of church founding prophet Joseph Smith with an older gentleman alongside one of his companions.

He remembered saying, "So, what do you make of this?" The man responded, "I'm not interested in purchasing any encyclopedias, but would you like a glass of orange soda instead?"