Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles believes that teaching descendants of ancient Andean Indians will serve the purpose of fulfilling God's promise to bring the Book of Mormon to the Lamanites.

In January 1966,[5] Missionaries held the very first sacrament meeting in Guayaquil and they arrived Otavalo in March 1966.

Within weeks of their arrival, printed notices were surrounded among nearby Ibarra warning the local residents to avoid Latter-day Saints and a few other proselytizing sects.

The inaugural branch meeting was held in March, attended by the missionaries and Manuel Macías Caseras in Otavalo.

On August 1, 1999, the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple was dedicated by church president Gordon B.