Yugoslavia recognized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a legal entity in 1975. In the same year, Church leaders formed Yugoslavia's first Latter-day Saint congregation in Zadar.

Kresimir Cosic, a Yugoslavian student and basketball player at Church-owned Brigham Young University, became a member of the Church. Cosic returned to Yugoslavia to coach and to play on the Yugoslavian Olympic Team. Cosic earned a gold medal in basketball in 1980. In 1992, Cosic was appointed the deputy ambassador to the United States from Croatia.

Between 1993 and 1998, the Church provided thousands of tons of food, clothing, bedding and medical supplies to Croatia. Since 1995 the Church has participated in a project to assist Croatian farmers.