Latter-Day Saints Church in Armenia

Armenia is a nation in the mountain region between Asia and Europe. Armenian Latter-day Saints made efforts to build Zion in the area, but conflict slowed the initial progress of the work. The Book of Mormon was translated into Western Armenian in 1937, and the Church has grown steadily since.

History of the Church in Armenia

In the late 19th century, communities of Armenian Latter-day Saints in parts of the Ottoman Empire, such as Aintab, Aleppo, and Zara, worked to build Zion in the face of significant persecution. Increased turbulence in the early 20th century caused Latter-day Saint Armenian congregations to dwindle due to emigration, reassimilation into other religious communities, and violence. Emigrants in the United States translated the Book of Mormon into Western Armenian, published in 1937.

In 1989, following a devastating earthquake in Armenia, Church officials sent representatives to consult with the government about building a concrete plant. In 1991, humanitarian couples with construction expertise arrived in Yerevan to work on the plant. Some local Armenians who worked with the couples eventually formed the nucleus of the Yerevan Branch. In 2000, the Eastern Armenian translation of the Book of Mormon was published. In 2010, Armenian members headed every congregation in the country.