Mission guide
Ecuador Quito South Mission
The Ecuador Quito South Mission serves in a highland capital shaped by ancient cultures, Spanish history, and a growing Church.
- Spanish
Ecuador Quito South Mission shirts
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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
Spanish is the mission language. Missionaries may also encounter Kichwa-speaking communities, since the Church began preaching in Kichwa in the 1970s.
At a glance
- Country
- Ecuador
- Main city
- Quito, 1,763,275 people (2022)
- Time zone
- Ecuador Time (UTC-5)
- Climate
- Cool subtropical highland climate, with a dry season from June through August and a wetter season from September through May
- Elevation
- About 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level
- Church in Ecuador
- 269,200 members, 44 stakes, 334 congregations
A short history of the area
Quito was refounded at its present location on December 6, 1534, by Sebastián de Belalcázar and 204 settlers. Independence began there in 1809, and victory at the Battle of Pichincha in 1822 established Quito's independence. The historic center became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
The Church here
- 1965The first missionaries arrived in Ecuador, and Elder Spencer W. Kimball dedicated the country for missionary work on October 9 from Quito's Panecillo Hill.
- 1965The first nine members in Quito were baptized on October 31.
- 1969The Ecuador Quito Mission was organized, with Louis Latimer as president.
- 1970The Ecuador Mission was organized on August 1, headquartered in Quito.
- 1978Ecuador's first stake was organized in Guayaquil on June 4.
- 1980The Church published a Kichwa translation of selections from the Book of Mormon.
- 1999The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple was dedicated.
- 2022The Quito Ecuador Temple was dedicated on November 20 by Elder Quentin L. Cook.
Temples nearby
Quito Ecuador Temple
Dedicated November 20, 2022 · Near Quito
Otavalo Ecuador Temple
Announced · About 45 miles from Quito
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 está?How are you?
- GraciasThank you
Foods to try
- Locro de papa (a hearty potato and cheese soup common in the Andes)
- Fanesca (a traditional Ecuadorian soup made with grains, beans, and fish)
- Llapingachos (potato patties often served with cheese, avocado, and sauce)
- Hornado (slow-roasted pork served with traditional side dishes)
Fun facts
- Quito is the capital city closest to the Equator, which runs through the northern part of its metropolitan area.
- Quito and Kraków were the first sites declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978.
- The TelefériQo carries visitors from Quito to Cruz Loma at about 4,100 meters (13,500 feet).
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.