Mission guide
California Ontario Mission
The California Ontario Mission serves in Southern California, where citrus, olive farming, and a rich Latter-day Saint history meet.
- English
- Spanish
California Ontario Mission shirts
Every style made for this mission, printed when you order.
California Ontario Mission T-Shirt
$29.00
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California Ontario Mission Heart Map Shirt
$29.00
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California Ontario Mission Flag Map Shirt
$29.00
Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
Weak Things Become Strong, in the language of this mission
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
English and Spanish are spoken in the mission.
At a glance
- Country
- United States, California
- Main city
- Ontario, 175,265 people (2020)
- Time zone
- Pacific Time (UTC−8 standard, UTC−7 daylight)
- Climate
- Hot-summer Mediterranean and semi-arid, with hot summers and mild winters
- Church in California
- 725,648 members, 145 stakes, 1,085 congregations
- Mission languages
- English and Spanish
A short history of the area
Canadian brothers George and William Chaffey purchased land from Rancho Cucamonga in 1881 and established a settlement named Ontario after their home province. The Ontario Model Colony was developed in 1882, and central Ontario became a city on December 10, 1891. Ontario later opened a municipal airport in 1929 and Ontario Mills in 1996.
The Church here
- 1846Latter-day Saint immigrants first arrived in San Francisco.
- January 1847The Mormon Battalion arrived in San Diego.
- January 1848Six Mormon Battalion members were at Sutter’s Mill when gold was discovered.
- 1850The Latter-day Saint colony of New Hope was founded in California.
- 1850California’s first Church building was completed.
- 1851Church leaders encouraged colonization in San Bernardino to help establish a travel route from the coast for Utah-bound Saints.
- 1920sA land boom attracted many Latter-day Saints to California.
- 1947The Church reached one million members, 117 years after its formal organization.
Temples nearby
Yorba Linda California Temple
Dedicated June 7, 2026 · About 15 miles from Ontario
Redlands California Temple
Dedicated September 14, 2003 · About 25 miles from Ontario
Los Angeles California Temple
Dedicated March 11, 1956 · About 35 miles from Ontario
Newport Beach California Temple
Dedicated August 28, 2005 · About 35 miles from Ontario
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- HolaHello
- Buenos díasGood morning
- ¿Cómo estás?How are you?
- GraciasThank you
Foods to try
- Citrus (lemons and oranges grown in Ontario)
- Olives (produced by the Graber Olive House)
- Dairy products (southern Ontario has a continuing dairy industry)
- Wine (vintners were attracted by the area’s agricultural opportunities)
Fun facts
- The Graber Olive House, established in 1894, is described as the longest-operating olive-packing business in the United States.
- In 1996, two adjacent Ontario movie theaters created 52 movie screens in one parking lot.
- Ontario’s Euclid Avenue has featured three-dimensional nativity scenes during the Christmas season since 1958.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.