The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Papua New Guinea refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The first missionaries arrived in 1980. As of December 31, 2022, there were 36,626 members in 92 congregations, making it the largest body of LDS Church members in Melanesia and the fifth largest in Oceania.[4]
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Papua New Guinea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Area | Pacific |
| Members | 36,626 (2022)[1] |
| Stakes | 2 |
| Districts | 12 |
| Wards | 10 |
| Branches | 82 |
| Total Congregations[2] | 92 |
| Missions | 2 |
| Temples | 1 Under Construction |
| Family History Centers | 2[3] |
History
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 280 |
| 1985* | 1,200 |
| 1989* | 2,100 |
| 1995* | 4,700 |
| 1999 | 8,954 |
| 2004 | 13,895 |
| 2009 | 16,664 |
| 2014 | 22,982 |
| 2019 | 30,825 |
| 2022 | 36,626 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. | |
Stakes & districts
As of February 2023, the following stake and districts exist in PNG:[6]
| Stake | Organized | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Daru Papua New Guinea Stake | 2 Jun 1999 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Gerehu Papua New Guinea District | 10 Mar 2002 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Goroka Papua New Guinea District | 14 Apr 2002 | Papua New Guinea Lae |
| Isumo Papua New Guinea District | 17 Mar 2002 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Lae Papua New Guinea District | 25 Jun 2017 | Papua New Guinea Lae |
| Madang Papua New Guinea District | 25 Jan 2012 | Papua New Guinea Lae |
| Minj Papua New Guinea District | 2 May 2010 | Papua New Guinea Lae |
| Moveave Papua New Guinea District | 16 Oct 2011 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Oro Papua New Guinea District | 7 Apr 2002 | Papua New Guinea Lae |
| Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Stake | 22 Oct 1995 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Rigo Papua New Guinea District | 27 Jul 2008 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Sepik River Papua New Guinea District | 14 Feb 2012 | Papua New Guinea Lae |
| Sogere Papua New Guinea District | 10 Nov 2010 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
| Suki Papua New Guinea District | 26 May 2011 | Papua New Guinea Port Moresby |
The following congregations are not part of a stake or district
- Alotau Branch (Port Moresby Mission)
- Kiunga Branch (Port Moresby Mission)
- Papua New Guinea Lae Mission Branch
- Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission Branch
The Papua New Guinea Lae Mission Branch and the Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission Branch serves individuals and families that are not in proximity of a meetinghouse.
Missions
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission | 7 Feb 1992 |
| Papua New Guinea Lae Mission | 1 Jul 2013 |
Temples
The Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple was announced on October 5, 2019 by church president Russell M. Nelson.
 |
| edit | |
| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Size: | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 5 October 2019 by Russell M. Nelson[7] 22 April 2023 by Peter F. Meurs[8][9] 9,550 sq ft (887 m2) on a 4.45-acre (1.80 ha) site | ||
See also
References
External links
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Papua New Guinea) - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Pacific) - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Pacific Newsroom
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site