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

LDS Church president Heber J. Grant wanted to send missionaries to Argentina, so he sent Andrew Jenson on a trip to Argentina in 1923 in order to determine where missionaries may be successful. The church's general authorities wanted to be slow and cautious in their attempt to send missionaries into South America, because once the mission was established, they wanted it to stay. They didn't want to repeat what happened with the LDS Church in Japan, where the Japanese Mission had to be closed in 1924. In 1925, a group of German members of the LDS Church immigrated to Argentina. Among these was Wilhelm Friedrichs and Emil Hoppe and their families who were escaping post-World War I Germany. In Argentina, Friedrichs and Hoppe published religious messages in newspapers. In 1924, they asked the First Presidency to send missionaries to the German immigrants in Argentina. Friedrichs wanted the First Presidency to send missionaries was because Friedrichs said it was difficult to meet people in their homes and Friedrichs did not have the Melchizedek Priesthood so he could not baptize anyone. Despite this, Friedrichs wrote in newspapers to explain Church teachings and invite people to meetings in his or Hoppe's home. In fall 1925, the LDS Church announced that Melvin J. Ballard, an LDS apostle, along with Rulon S. Wells and Rey Pratt, would be traveling to Buenos Aires to establish missionary work in South America. Wells spoke fluent German and Pratt, who was currently serving as president of the Mexican Mission, was knowledgeable in Spanish and Latin culture. They arrived in Buenos Aires on December 6, 1925. The first baptisms in South America were Anna Kullick and Ernst Biebersdorf and their families, along with two other young women, all German immigrants. They were baptized on December 12, 1925, in the Rio de la Plata. Language was a challenge for the missionaries. Church talks needed to be translated from English to Spanish to German. Furthermore, the missionaries found it difficult to decide where to proselyte. ==Establishment of the mission==

The LDS Church was officially established on December 25, 1925, as the South American Mission. For about 6 months, Ballard, Wells, and Pratt served as missionaries in Argentina. They presented lectures and slideshows about Ancient American ruins, Latter-day Saint history, or Salt Lake City. Having little success in Buenos Aires, they tried to teach in Liniers. In May 1926, the missionaries began to hold Sunday school for them. Baptisms followed in June. Young served from 1935 to 1938. Although there was a German-speaking branch in Buenos Aires, both missionary work and church meetings were in Spanish. Missionaries changed focus from German immigrants to Spanish speakers. In 1938, Frederick S. Williams became the president of the Argentine Mission. In 1938, there were 66 baptisms performed among the 45 missionaries. There were 438 members. Church meetings were held in 20 rented halls because the church did not yet own land in Argentina where they could build church buildings. The first LDS chapel built in Argentina was in Liniers in Buenos Aires. It was dedicated on April 9, 1939. This was also the first LDS chapel in South America. Branches were established in other cities, including Quilmes, La Plata, Rosario, Santa Fe, Bahía Blanca, Córdoba, and Mendoza. Williams used sports and musical events to give the LDS Church public and media attention. By 1940, the number of members of the LDS Church in Argentina had more than tripled from 1935 with church membership at nearly 600. From 1938 to 1941, the number of missionaries sent to Argentina doubled because World War II reduced the number of missionaries being sent to Europe. This caused Argentina to stop granted visas to missionaries. As a result, missionary work in Argentina slowed. In 1942, every missionary except for three was required to leave the country due to World War II. James Barker was the next president of the Argentine Mission, but he presided over a mission void of missionaries. Barker struggled to visit and maintain the administrative aspects of the LDS Church. Many branches closed. ==Post World War II development==

After World War II, Young again became president Argentina mission, though the mission still did not have missionaries. The first stake in Argentina was opened in 1966 in Buenos Aires. This was the first Spanish-speaking stake in South America and the second Spanish speaking stake in the world. Argentina hosted area conferences in March 1975 and October 1978. These conferences were attended by many general authorities, including church president Spencer W. Kimball. The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple was dedicated on January 17, 1986, becoming the first temple in Argentina. ==Cultural obstacles==

There are two main obstacles to LDS missionary work in Argentina. First, traditions in Argentina are deeply rooted parts of their culture. Argentina is majority Roman Catholic, at 60-90% of the population depending on the source, and traditions discourage family members from converting to another religion because it requires someone to sacrifice their normal lives and traditions. Another obstacle to missionary work in Argentina is poverty. Poverty in Argentina is widespread and missionaries discover challenges in trying to proselyte to or convert families who lack food or basic human needs. Recent economic improvements in Argentina have improved the lives of Argentines and improved missionaries' abilities to perform missionary work. ==Stakes and Districts==