The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Dominican Republic. The LDS Church has had a presence in the Dominican Republic since 1978. With 156,358 members in 203 congregations, Dominican Republic has the largest body of LDS Church members in the Caribbean. It also has the highest members per capita rate in the Caribbean.

History

On 7 December 1978, the Dominican Republic was dedicated for the preaching of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints by Apostle M. Russell Ballard.Dario Caminero, “Membership Milestone Reached in Dominican Republic,” Ensign, January 1996, pp. 78–79. The first person baptized in the country was Rodolfo N. Bodden. Bodden had been introduced to the LDS Church by his friends Eddie and Mercedes Amparo, Dominican Mormons who had joined the LDS Church in New York City and had since returned to their home country, and John and Nancy Rappleye, an expatriate American couple from Utah. After his baptism, Bodden held several leadership callings in LDS Church in the Dominican Republic. He was a counselor to the country's first branch president and Bodden was the first district president in the Dominican Republic.

The first mission of the church in the Dominican Republic—the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Mission—was created in 1981 when there were 2500 members in the country. By 1986, there were 11,000 members and the first stake of the church in the Dominican Republic was organized in Santo Domingo, with Bodden as the country's first stake patriarch. The second mission in the Dominican Republic was organized in Santiago on 1 July 1987.

Stakes and Districts As of July 2026, Missions in the Dominican Republic had the following stakes and Districts: StakeOrganized MissionAzua District13 Oct 1983 Santo Domingo WestBani District2 Mar 1993 Santo Domingo WestBarahona District9 Apr 1991 Santo Domingo WestBonao District1 Nov 2009 Santo Domingo NorthCotui District1 Nov 2009 Santo Domingo NorthHavana Cuba District18 Jun 2017 Santo Domingo EastHolguin Cuba District25 Jan 2026 Santo Domingo EastLa Romana Stake11 Dec 2005 Santo Domingo EastLa Vega Stake21 Jun 1998 SantiagoLos Alcarrizos Stake13 Mar 2005 Santo Domingo NorthMonte Cristi District31 Jan 1995 SantiagoMonte Plata District5 Nov 2023 Santo Domingo EastNavarrete Stake22 Apr 1986 SantiagoPuerto Plata Stake13 Feb 2005 SantiagoSan Cristóbal Stake25 May 1997 Santo Domingo WestSan Francisco de Macoris Stake26 May 1991 Santo Domingo NorthSan Juan District11 Feb 1992 Santo Domingo WestSan Pedro District13 Oct 1983 Santo Domingo EastSantiago East Stake21 May 2006 SantiagoSantiago North Stake8 Jan 1995 SantiagoSantiago South Stake17 Feb 1991 SantiagoSanto Domingo Central Stake18 Oct 1992 Santo Domingo WestSanto Domingo Duarte Stake9 Jun 2019 Santo Domingo NorthSanto Domingo El Almirante Stake13 Apr 2008 Santo Domingo EastSanto Domingo Independencia Stake18 May 2014 Santo Domingo WestSanto Domingo Las Americas Stake13 Apr 2008 Santo Domingo EastSanto Domingo Las Caobas Stake2 Nov 2003 Santo Domingo WestSanto Domingo Los Restauradores Stake31 Aug 2008 Santo Domingo NorthSanto Domingo Oriental Stake5 Nov 1989 Santo Domingo EastSanto Domingo Ozama Stake2 Feb 1992 Santo Domingo EastSanto Domingo San Gerónimo Stake16 Oct 1988 Santo Domingo WestSanto Domingo Stake23 Mar 1986 Santo Domingo WestSanto Domingo Villa Mella Stake17 Mar 1996 Santo Domingo North

Missions MissionOrganizedDominican Republic Santiago Mission1 Jul 1987Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission1 Jul 1991Dominican Republic Santo Domingo North Mission1 Jul 2024Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission1 Jan 1981

Cuba The Cuba District is directly administered by the Caribbean Area. It includes all of Cuba with exception of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. In 2018, it had 357 members in five congregations. There were three congregations in and around Havana (Cotorro Branch, Havana Branch, and La Portada Branch), one in Holguin (Holguin Branch), and one that serves members and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse (Havana Cuba District Branch). As of 2023, Cuba was administered through the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission, however no missionaries are assigned to the country. in August 2026, there were 13 branches in two districts, namely:

Havana Cuba District Cotorro Branch Guanabacoa Branch Havana Branch Havana Cuba District Branch La Portada Branch

Holguin Cuba District Buenaventura 1st Branch Buenaventura 2nd Branch Cabezo Branch Dobales Branch Guaramanao Branch Holguín 1st Branch Holguín 2nd Branch Tasajera Branch

Temples

On 16 November 1993, the LDS Church announced that it would construct a temple in Santo Domingo. On 17 September 2000, church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple; it was the church's 99th operating temple and the first temple built in a Caribbean country.Santo Domingo Dominican Republic LDS (Mormon) Temple, ldschurchtemples.com, accessed 2008-09-29.

Notes

Further reading .

External links

ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site