The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Baltics

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Baltics

Overview
The Church’s presence in the Baltics includes Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Baltic Mission serves these three countries. The first LDS Church branch in the Baltics was organized in 1990. As of 2024, there were about 3,348 members in 14 congregations.

Estonia
- Members and congregations: About 1,122 members in 4 branches within the Tallinn Estonia District (as of 2024). There are two Family History Centers in Estonia.
- Quick history: The first known Estonian to join the church did so in 1951 in Sweden. In the late 1980s, Finnish members travelled to Estonia. The Tallinn branch was organized in 1990 for Russian and Estonian speakers, the first in the former Soviet Union. The church gained formal recognition in 1990 and was re-registered in 1994. The Tallinn Estonia District was created in 1997.
- Scripture and organization: The Book of Mormon was translated into Estonian in 2000 (with a revised edition in 2011). The Tallinn Estonia District includes the Narva, Pärnu, Tallinn, and Tartu branches.

Latvia
- Members and congregations: About 1,274 members in five branches in the Riga Latvia District (as of 2024). There are three Family History Centers in Latvia.
- Quick history: In 1992, missionaries Matthew H. Lyman and Michael G. Van Patten arrived, followed soon after by Boris and Liselotte Schiel. Gunars Kavals was the first Latvian convert, baptized in 1992. Latvia was dedicated for missionary work in 1993. The first Latvian branch was organized in Riga on July 15, 1993, and by February 2001 the Book of Mormon had been translated into Latvian. The BYU Singers performed in Riga in 2022.
- Organization: The Riga Latvia District was organized on January 25, 1998. Branches include Daugavpils, Liepāja, Riga 2nd (Russian), and Riga 1st.

Lithuania
- Members and congregations: About 952 members in five branches in the Vilnius Lithuania District (as of 2024). There are four Family History Centers in Lithuania.
- Quick history: Missionary activity began in Memel (Klaipėda) in 1907, with a branch formed in 1909. After interruptions due to wars, missionaries returned in December 1992. In May 1993, Lithuania was dedicated for missionary work, and by the mid-1990s there were several branches. The Book of Mormon was translated into Lithuanian in 2001.
- Organization: The Vilnius Lithuania District was organized on January 18, 1998, and includes Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Vilnius 1st, and Vilnius 2nd (Russian).

Mission and temples
- The Baltic Mission now covers Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It previously included Belarus from 2012 until the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Temples: The Baltics are part of the Helsinki Finland Temple District. The Helsinki Temple in Espoo, Finland serves Baltic members. It was announced in 2000 and dedicated in 2006.

See also
- Religion in Estonia
- Religion in Latvia
- Religion in Lithuania