The Church in Jamaica

Missionaries briefly taught in Jamaica in 1853, but the Church’s steady presence in the country began only in 1974. Despite political upheaval, many Jamaicans joined the Church over the next few years, allowing for the establishment of a district and several branches of the Church in the 1980s. The first stake in Jamaica was organized in 2014.

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History of the Church in Jamaica

Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first preached in Jamaica in January 1853. The missionaries departed after one month of preaching exclusively to the white inhabitants of the island. More than a century passed before members of the Church, who came to Jamaica for work in the 1960s, began sharing the gospel with their neighbors.

In 1973, Paul Schmeil invited Victor Nugent, his coworker, and Victor’s wife, Verna, to come to his home to learn about the Church. Victor and Verna were impressed by Joseph Smith’s story and the Book of Mormon and quickly developed a conviction of their truthfulness but were disturbed by the restriction on priesthood ordination and temple attendance for black members of the Church. Despite their misgivings, the Nugents followed the spiritual impressions they received and were baptized on January 20, 1974.

Over the next several years, despite political upheaval around them, other Jamaicans joined the Church. On June 18, 1978, shortly after the priesthood and temple restriction was rescinded by revelation, Victor Nugent, Amos Chin, and Errol Tucker were ordained and soon assumed leadership of the Church in Jamaica. Within six years, a district with several branches and a mission had been organized. The Saints of Jamaica have “offer[ed] the sacrifices of righteousness, and put [their] trust in the Lord” (Psalm 4:5). In the decades since, the Church in Jamaica has steadily grown. In 2014, the Kingston Jamaica Stake was organized.

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