Newly published Nazi archives reveal that the German regime closely monitored the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at one point considering a total ban on the organization. Government documents from the 1930s show the Gestapo tracked missionary activity and viewed the faith's teachings as fundamentally incompatible with National Socialism.
Proposed Dissolution and Surveillance
Internal Nazi memoranda from 1937 indicate that German authorities were weighing the dissolution of the Church. An April 7, 1937, memorandum from the Reich Ministry of the Interior noted that while a ban was being considered, officials deferred a final decision because dissolving larger sects was being prioritized first.
Warnings of Police Action
The archives show that the Nazi police actively surveilled local church meetings and missionary efforts. A May 5, 1936, memorandum from the Prussian Secret State Police revealed that following a meeting on April 30, 1936, officials warned Church representatives that the 'strictest state police measures' would be taken if any anti-state propaganda was detected.
Censorship and Literature Bans
The regime also targeted Church literature and public presence. On July 4, 1936, the President of the Reich Literature Chamber officially placed the 'Articles of Faith' by Apostle James E. Talmage on a list of 'harmful and undesirable literature.' Additionally, an April 7, 1937, document noted that officials found the use of state school premises for worship services to be inappropriate due to previous police complaints.
Surveillance of Church Leadership
Gestapo reports also detailed the monitoring of high-profile visits. An August 18, 1937, report by an operative named Peycke described a July 18, 1937, lecture given by Church President Heber J. Grant in Berlin. The report noted that while the crowd was devoted, the operative expressed suspicion that 'Judaism and perhaps Freemasonry' could use the sect as instruments for their own plans.
Policy of Neutrality
During this era, Church leaders in Germany attempted to maintain a policy of political neutrality to protect their members. In a May 15, 1936, letter to the Gestapo, Mission President Roy A. Welker emphasized that the Church does not participate in politics and remains focused on religious life, stating that the organization has never been a 'disturber' of the peace.
Ideological Conflict
Despite efforts at accommodation, Nazi officials remained deeply suspicious. A May 5, 1938, report prepared for Nazi official Alfred Rosenberg concluded that the teachings of the Church were 'incompatible with National Socialism,' specifically citing the regime's disdain for the Church's use of the Old Testament and its friendliness toward Jews.
