Panama: Church Chronology

1851–52 • ChileElder Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Phoebe, served a five-month mission to Chile. During that time, they determined that a Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was needed.

1886 • Salt Lake City, Utah, USAThe Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was published.

May 18, 1941 • Fort Clayton, Canal ZoneThe Canal Zone Branch, consisting primarily of American expatriates, was organized, with Otto L. Hunsaker as president.

January 1942 • Canal ZoneThe Canal Zone Branch met in members’ homes until a rabbi offered the use of a synagogue that also served as USO Welfare Center.

February 1, 1953 • PanamaThe first district missionaries were called and set apart under the direction of Huish Yates, district president. The missionaries were Ladd J. Black, Barbara Black, Jacob G. Bennett, Susie Hunsaker, Sandra Hunsaker, Ralph Edwards, and William Affeltranger.

March 22, 1953 • PanamaSandra Hunsaker was the first full-time missionary called from the Canal Zone Branch.

February 11, 1954 • PanamaIrene Andreve and her husband, Juan Coleman, were the first local converts baptized in Panama. Church President David O. McKay presided at the baptism.

January 5, 1958 • BalboaThe first meetinghouse was built in Balboa in the American Canal Zone.

November 20, 1961 • PanamaElder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presented a copy of the Book of Mormon to Roberto F. Chiari, president of the Republic of Panama.

1965 • PanamaThe Panamanian government formally recognized the Church. Missionary work was organized among the Gunas, the Indigenous people of the San Blas Islands (now known as Guna Yala) shortly after.

1966 • Sarapiqui, Costa RicaPanamanian Latter-day Saints attended the first mission-wide youth conference, held in Costa Rica.

1971 • PanamaA seminary program was created for those between the ages of 14 and 30.

March 9, 1974 • Ustupo Island, PanamaThe first Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in the San Blas Islands was dedicated, with 300 members of the Ustupo Branch in attendance.

1978 • Canal ZoneJoseph Muren, president of the Costa Rica San José Mission, met with members to begin leadership training so local Panamanian Latter-day Saints could begin directing their own Church congregations.

November 11, 1979 • Panama City, PanamaThe Panama Stake was organized, with Nelson L. Altamirano as president.

1981 • Salt Lake CitySelections of the Book of Mormon were published in Guna.

February 1988 • PanamaDue to increasing political unrest, all foreign missionaries were evacuated from Panama. Local missionaries who were called by stakes continued to work.

July 1, 1989 • PanamaThe Panama City Mission was created.

August 24, 1991 • PanamaFifty local members gathered for the dedication of Panama for the preaching of the gospel. Elder Howard W. Hunter, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, offered the dedicatory prayer.

December 18, 2000 • Panama CityFor the second time in three years, President Gordon B. Hinckley visited. Five thousand members gathered to meet him and hear him promise that the day would come when a temple would be built in Panama.

2006 • PanamaMembers from the La Chorrera Panama and Arraijan Panama stakes helped place 100 specialized wheelchairs for children with cerebral palsy.

August 10, 2008 • Panama CityThe Panama City Panama Temple was dedicated by Church President Thomas S. Monson.

January 2013 • PanamaLatter-day Saints, including youth and leaders, gathered to welcome and learn from Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during his visit to Panama.

October 2019 • Panama, Costa Rica, GuatemalaA delegation from the Church gathered with academics and leaders of interfaith and government organizations in Central America to sign an agreement to work together to promote and protect religious freedom.

June 9, 2021 • Ukupa-Playón Grande, PanamaFollowing the flooding of the Ukupa River on June 7, Hipólito Pimentel, a counselor of the Panama Mission, facilitated a donation of food and drinking water to the Ukupa-Playón Grande community in the Guna Yala region.