The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland

As of December 31, 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 4,885 members in 2 stakes and 2 districts, 31 congregations (15 wards[1] and 16 branches[1]), 1 missions, and one temple in Finland.[2]

History
Membership In Finland
YearMembership±%
1950 204—    
1960 1,297+535.8%
1970 2,935+126.3%
1980 4,214+43.6%
1989* 4,200−0.3%
1999 4,403+4.8%
2009 4,548+3.3%
2019 4,885+7.4%
1989 membership was published as a rounded number.
Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall (eds.), Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Finland[2]

Under the tsarist Russian State, the church was unrecognized and members and missionaries had several conflicts with police. Missionaries and converts often under covert surveillance, arrests, imprisonments, and deportations by police.[3] The first convert from Finland was baptized in Sweeden in 1869. Though not legally recognized at the time, the first missionaries were sent to Finland in late 1875. On May 6, 1876 the first convert was baptized in Vaasa, Finland. The first branch was baptized in Finland on November 13, 1876. In 1917 Finland declared its independence from Russia.[4]

On January 16, 1947 missionaries were assigned to learn the Finish language. Later that year on September 1, the Finnish mission was organized with Hary A. Matis, an American with Finnish ancestry, as mission president. In 1948, the Church began microfilming church records and in 1954, the Book of Mormon was translated into Finnish.[4]

On August 2–3, 1976, about 3,000 Latter-day Saints gathered in Helsinki to hear church President Spencer W. Kimball speak in Helsinki and on October 16, 1977 the Helsinki Finland Stake was organized with 3,642 members.[2] 6 years later on October 16, 1977 the Tampere Finland Stake was organized.[3]

Two former missionaries from the Finish mission have sereved as US Ambassadors to Finland:

Mission

On January 16, 1947 missionaries were assigned to learn the Finish language. Later that year on September 1, the Finnish mission was organized with Hary A. Matis, an American with Finnish ancestry, as mission president. On June 10, 1970 it was renameed the Finland Mission and on June 20, 1974 it was renamed the Finland Helsinki Mission to adjust to the naming convention of the church for missions.[6] On July 1, 1990, The Finland Helsinki East Mission was organized to serve members and missionaris in the former Soviet Republics. On January 2, 1992 the mission was renamed Russia Moscow Mission.[6]

Helsinki Finland Temple

The Helsinki Finland Templ was dedicated on October 22, 2006 by Gordon B. Hinckley.

124. Helsinki Finland Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Espoo, Finland
2 April 2000
22 October 2006 by Gordon B. Hinckley
23,000 sq ft (2,100 m2) and 139 ft (42 m) high on a 7.4 acre (3 ha) site
Classic elegance, single-spire design - designed by Evata Architects

See also

References
  1. LDS Meetinghouse Locator.Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).
  2. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Finland", Newsroom, LDS Church, 31 December 2018, retrieved 2021-01-12
  3. Zachary Ray Jones (January 2008), Conflict Amid Conversion: Mormon Proselytizing in Russian Finland, 1860-1914 (PDF), William & Mary Scholor Works, retrieved 2021-01-12
  4. Finland: Chronology, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2018-09-01, retrieved 2021-01-12
  5. Lisa Dayley Smith (September 19, 2019). "Ashton native, former U.S. ambassador Keith Nyborg dies". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. '1999-2000 Deseret News Church Almanac, Salt Lake City: Deseret News.


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