MISSION HISTORY
In 1946, a group of saints left New York and traveled around the tip of South America and landed in Yerba Buena, known today as San Francisco. They arrived on July 31, 1846, one year before Brigham Young reached Salt Lake City. Thus, California was now open for missionary work in the entire state.
In 1966, the California Mission was divided into two areas, California North and California South missions. The south mission area included central and southern California as well as Arizona. The mission head quarters were located in Anaheim. A completed new mission home was dedicated by Elder LeGrand Richards of the Council of the Twelve in November of 1967. The California South Mission began with the missionary force of 134 elders and 9 sisters. Membership in the mission was around 155,000, residing in 32 stakes. In three years, the mission grew to 175, 000 members and 40 stakes.
In July of 1969, the California South mission was once again divided and the California San Diego Mission was created. The California South Mission was renamed the California Anaheim Mission.
Little by little, new missions were formed. The California Anaheim Mission is one of the smallest geographical missions in the world. The Temple Square mission is the smallest. The Long Beach Mission is second. The California Anaheim Mission, which include the Catalina and San Clemente islands, comes in third,
Anaheim city is about 50 miles square with a population of over 349,900. It has a very diversified population. About 46 percent are white Americans, 37percent are Hispanic or Latino ,12 percent are Asian and 5 percent are Black or African American. It also has the most languages spoken in one mission in the states, including English,Tongan, Samoan, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
Seventeen mission presidents have serve in the Anaheim mission in the past 40 years.
THE PRESENT MISSION PRESIDENT
The present California Anaheim Mission President was called in July of 2023.
President Jerome G. Galotera, 46 and Beverly S. Galotera succeed President H. J. Platt and Sister Cori Platt and arrived at the mission home in August.
President Galotera is 46 years old and was born in Guimaras, Philippines, to Cirilo Gando Galotera and Visitacion Bibanco Genit Galotera. Sister Galotera was born in Malaybalay, Philippines, to Valeriano Sulatan, Samson Jr. and Fely Costanilla Madroñal Samson.
Family – President Galotera and his wife are parents of 4 sons, one of which is serving a mission in England.
CHURCH SERVICE
Brother Galotera was a stake president and former district president, stake Young Men president, bishop, branch president, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, branch mission leader, Sunday School teacher, institute teacher and missionary in the Philippines Cabanatuan and Philippines Angeles missions.
Sister Galotera was a Sunday School teacher and former district Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, and seminary teacher. She served a mission in the Philippines Tacloban Mission.
ANAHEIM MISSION BOUNDARIES – The Mission includes Catalina Island and San Clement Island.
