The Church in Papua New Guinea
Following World War II, Latter-day Saints in the United States military sometimes gathered for informal Church meetings in Papua New Guinea. In 1980 missionaries began to preach in the country, and the Church soon received legal status and established four branches. Since then, the Church has grown steadily in Papua New Guinea, especially in the 21st century.
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History of the Church in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea, an archipelago nation in Oceania, had many decades of Christian history when the first Latter-day Saints arrived—US Army personnel during World War II. Some missionary work took place in 1961, but sustained Latter-day Saint missionary work did not occur until 1980. Shortly after Papua New Guinea became an independent nation, a senior missionary couple began preaching in Port Moresby. In a short time, several local converts were baptized.
The Church grew rapidly through members’ enthusiastic outreach to friends and family members. During 1981, the Church received legal status, and the Port Moresby Branch—with more than 200 members—was divided into four branches. Local members, along with young foreign missionaries, continued sharing the gospel. Consequently, the first stake in Port Moresby was organized in 1995, with Vaiba Rome as president.
Because of Papua New Guinea’s rugged topography and wide ocean distances, local Latter-day Saints often expend considerable effort just to attend regional Church meetings. It is not surprising that in a country with over 800 languages, Latter-day Saints speak multiple languages but use English and Tok Pisin at church.
In 2011, Papua New Guinea was the Church’s fastest-growing area in the Pacific. In the October 2019 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced a temple to be built in Port Moresby. Now, faithful Saints in this country “may go forth from this house armed with . . . power, and that [God’s] name may be upon them, and [his] glory be round about them” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:22).
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Notes
- Britsch, R. Lanier, Unto the Islands of the Sea: A History of the Latter-day Saints in the Pacific (Deseret Book, 1986).
- Morris, Michael R., “‘One Talk’ in Papua New Guinea,” Ensign, Feb. 1995, 22–29.
- Rome, Vaiba and Mauveri. Interview, April 1984, Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Schmutz, Luree Sargent, “A Legacy of Friendship: History of the Development of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Port Moresby Region of Papua New Guinea from 1964.” Papua New Guinea Church History File, 1992–2005. Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Wakeley, Alan, “Members Make Historic Trip to Temple,” Church News, Dec. 21, 1991.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane, “Self-Reliance: A Plan for Papua New Guinea,” Church News, Jan. 18, 2003, https://www.thechurchnews.com/2003/1/18/23240980/self-reliance-a-plan-for-papua-new-guinea.