Church History Biographical Database
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first came to California when the Brooklyn arrived in July 1846. Missionary work occurred in the state off-and-on for decades and an official mission was finally organized in August 1892.
Mission Founded
Samuel Brannan Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1847 August 7
End Date Not Found
Charles Coulson Rich Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1849 October 8
Ended On 1850 November 4
George Q. Cannon Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1855 May 10
Ended On 1858 January 19
Headquarters move
In early 1895 the mission headquarters moved from 118 Tenth Street to 417 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, California.
Towards the end of the year, the mission headquarters then moved to 538 McAllister Street, San Francisco.
In August of 1897, mission headquarters moved to 915 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco.
Date Details
Occurred On 1890
John Luther Dalton Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1892 August 11
Ended On 1894 February 23
Karl Gottfried Maeser Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1894 January 19
Ended On 1894 August 17
Henry Smith Tanner Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1894 August 13
Ended On 1896 November 21
Ephraim Hesmer Nye Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1896 November 10
Ended On 1901 May 31
Headquarters move
By 1902 the mission home was located at 939 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, California. In 1903 it was located at 609 Franklin St., San Francisco. The earthquake of 8 April 1906 devastated San Francisco and prompted a move of the mission home to Los Angeles at 516 Temple St.
Date Details
Occurred On 1900
Joseph Eldridge Robinson Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1901 May 28
Ended On 1919 April 21
Headquarters move and boundaries
By April 1911 the mission headquarters were located at 767 16th Street, Oakland. However, by the end of the year they had moved to 724 Broderick Street, San Francisco.
By early 1913 the mission headquarters had moved to 423 W 10th Street, Los Angeles. It then moved to 153 W Adams Street, Los Angeles, around May 1913.
In 1919, the mission comprised the states of California, Nevada, and Arizona excluding the area covered by the stakes in St. Johns, Snowflake, St. Joseph, and Maricopa, Arizona, and part of the North Weber Stake that covered part of east-central Nevada.
Date Details
Occurred On 1910
Joseph William McMurrin Called as President
Date Details
Started On 1919 April 17
Ended On 1932 January 1
Mission boundaries
The mission covered all of California, as well as parts of Arizona and Nevada.
There were 11 districts and 49 branches in the mission. Arizona contained one district and 11 branches, Nevada had one district and five branches, and California had nine districts and 33 branches.