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

As of 31 December 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 2636 members in 1 stake, 12 congregations (7 wards and 5 branches) and one mission in the Czech Republic.[1]

The Czech translation of the Book of Mormon, originally published in 1933.

History
Membership in the Czech Republic
YearMembership±%
1989 <100—    
1999 1,654—    
2009 2,093+26.5%
2019 2,636+25.9%
Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall (eds.), Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Czech Republic https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/czech-republic

During Austro-Hungarian Empire

The first missionaries to reach the area now part of the Czech Republic were Thomas Biesinger and Paul Hammer who arrived in Prague during March 1884 as part of a mission to Austria-Hungary. Prostelysing was illegal and Biesinger was convicted for his activities and spent a total of 68 days in captivity. Upon his release he managed to convert one of the witnesses who had got him imprisoned, one Antonin Just, and he would be the first person baptised into the LDS church on Czech soil.[2]

As Part Of Czechoslovakia

A mission to Czechoslovakia was created July 24, 1929 by John A. Widtsoe[3] and the first Czech language Book of Mormons were printed in February 1933.[4]

In 1936 Wallace Toronto became the second president of the Czechoslovak mission and would remain president for 36 years, a record for LDS mission presidents.[5]

After a brief evacuation of missionaries during the Sudentenland crisis in 1938, the US leaders in the Czechoslovak mission began preparing local members to take over should another evacuation be necessary.[6] Following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 the church reduced the amount of missionary work and focussed mostly on their baptised members.[7] Four American missionaries were arrested by the Gestapo over charges relating to foreign currency and were held in solitary confinement for over a month. Whilst their Mission President negotiated for their release he received word from church headquarters to begin evacuating the Czechoslovak mission. After successfully arranging the release of the missionaries the evacuation was completed by 31 August 1939[8] In the ten years from the start of the Czechoslovak mission until the evacuation, 137 converts were baptised and 57 missionaries had served.[9]

On 28 June 1946 Toronto and two missionaries entered the country and re-established the mission after a 7-year absence.[10]

In 1949 the, now Communist, government of Czechoslovakia stopped issuing permits to LDS missionaries, effectively rendering their presence in the country illegal.[11] In 1950 the Czechoslovak police arrested two LDS Missionaries and held them incommunicado for three weeks. The Czechoslovak mission was closed shortly afterward when it became apparent that their release was contingent on the mission closure. This had been the only mission in an East European Communist country[12] Local members continued to operate services, though the church was no longer recognised by the government.[13]

Missionaries returned to Czechoslovakia in 1990.[3]

After The Velvet Divorce
Pilsen branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Zikmunda Wintra 7

In 2016, the LDS Church created its first stake in the Czech Republic.[14]

In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings indefinitely in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.[15]

Missions
  • Czech/ Slovak Mission

See also

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Czech Republic", Newsroom, LDS Church, 31 December 2019, retrieved 3 December 2020
  2. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 112–113. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. Mehr, Kahlile (August 1994). "Czech Saints: A Brighter Day". Ensign. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 125. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 131. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. Boone, David F. (2001). "The Evacuation of the Czechoslovak and German Missions at the Outbreak of World War II" (PDF). BYU Studies. 40 (3): 123–124. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  7. Boone, David F. (2001). "The Evacuation of the Czechoslovak and German Missions at the Outbreak of World War II" (PDF). BYU Studies. 40 (3): 125–126. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  8. Boone, David F. (2001). "The Evacuation of the Czechoslovak and German Missions at the Outbreak of World War II" (PDF). BYU Studies. 40 (3): 128–133. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  9. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 137. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  10. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 139. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  11. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 141. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  12. Prince, Gregory A.; Wright, Wm. Robert (2005). David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. University of Utah Press. p. 281.
  13. Mehr, Kahlile (1992). "Enduring Believers". Journal of Mormon History. 18 (2): 143–144. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  14. Newsroom Facts & statistics https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/search?q=czech+republic&lang=eng&domains=news-and-events
  15. Lovett, Ian. "Mormon Church Cancels Services World-Wide Amid Coronavirus Crisis", The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2020. Retrieved on 3 April 2020.


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