The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Marshall Islands
Encyclopedia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has had a presence in the Marshall Islands
since 1977, and currently claims a membership of 4,486, or approximately 7.5% of the country's population.
. Lokeijak had previously been introduced to Mormonism
in Hawaii
.
On 11 May 1978, the Laura
Branch of the church was created and Lokeijak was made the first branch president
in the Marshall Islands.
(of the Micronesia Guam Mission
) was organized with five constituent branches. By 1990, there were over 1000 members of the church in the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands Majuro Mission
was created in 2006 and the first stake was established in Majuro in June 2009.
, 11 wards and branches, and 1 mission
.
The Majuro Marshall Islands stake, Marshall Islands first, was organized on June 14, 2009 with Arlington Jabat as president.
The United States Department of State
has estimated that members of the church make up 8.3% of the population, making the church the fourth largest in the nation.
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
since 1977, and currently claims a membership of 4,486, or approximately 7.5% of the country's population.
First missionaries, convert, and congregation
The first Mormon missionaries in the Marshall Islands were William Wardel and Steven Cooper, who arrived on 3 February 1977. Misao Lokeijak was the first person in the Marshall Islands to become a member of the LDS Church. Lokeijak was baptized in 1977, shortly after Mormon missionaries first arrived in MajuroMajuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
. Lokeijak had previously been introduced to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
On 11 May 1978, the Laura
Laura, Marshall Islands
Laura is an island town in the Marshall Islands. It is located in the west of Majuro Atoll. At approximately 10 feet above sea level, Laura has the highest elevation of any islands in the Majuro Atoll. Marshall Islands International Airport is located on the island of Laura. A road connects the...
Branch of the church was created and Lokeijak was made the first branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
in the Marshall Islands.
Church growth
At the end of 1977, there were 27 members of the LDS Church in the Marshall Islands. By the end of 1979, there were 177. In 1984, there were enough members to justify the construction of two meetinghouses, one in Laura and one in Rita. The meetinghouse in Laura was dedicated on 13 January 1986 and the one in Rita on 14 January. In 1987, the Majuro DistrictDistrict (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
(of the Micronesia Guam Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
) was organized with five constituent branches. By 1990, there were over 1000 members of the church in the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands Majuro Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
was created in 2006 and the first stake was established in Majuro in June 2009.
Membership History
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 27 |
| 1979 | 177 |
| 1990 | 1,100 |
| 1993 | 2,200 |
| 1995 | 2,900 |
| 1997 | 3,400 |
| 1999 | 3,369 |
| 2001 | 3,625 |
| 2003 | 4,079 |
| 2005 | 4,296 |
| 2007 | 4,623 |
| 2011 | 4,486 |
Current status
As of April 2011, the LDS Church reported 4,486 members, 1 stake, 1 districtDistrict (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
, 11 wards and branches, and 1 mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
.
The Majuro Marshall Islands stake, Marshall Islands first, was organized on June 14, 2009 with Arlington Jabat as president.
The United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
has estimated that members of the church make up 8.3% of the population, making the church the fourth largest in the nation.
See also
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (South Pacific)
- Religion in the Marshall IslandsReligion in the Marshall IslandsMajor religious groups in the Republic of the Marshall Islands include the United Church of Christ , with 51.5 percent of the population; the Assemblies of God, 24.2 percent; and the Roman Catholic Church, 8.4 percent...
External links
- New Zealand/Pacific Islands LDS Newsroom
- LDS Church News: Country information: Marshall Islands
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site (New Zealand/Pacific Islands)