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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mariana Islands

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Mariana Islands refers to the organization and its members in the Mariana Islands. The Mariana Islands consist of two jurisdictions of the United States: the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and, at the southern end of the chain, the territory of Guam. As of December 31, 2022, the LDS Church reported 2,547 members in one stake, five congregations (four wards[6] and one branch[6]), one mission, and one temple in Guam.[1] There are 906 members in a ward in the Northern Mariana Islands.[4] There are two family history centers, one in Guam and one at the Saipan Ward building in the Northern Mariana Islands.


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guam
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mariana Islands is located in Guam
Yigo
Barrigada
Barrigada
Talisay
Talisay
LDS Church meetinghouses and temple
Red = Yigo Guam Temple and
adjacent meetinghouse
Green = Stake Center
Purple = Other meetinghouse
AreaAsia North
Members2,547 (2022)[1]
Stakes1
Wards4
Branches1
Total Congregations[2]5
Missions1
Temples
  • 1 Operating
FamilySearch Centers2[3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern Mariana Islands
Members and missionaries mingle at the Saipan meetinghouse after Sunday services.
AreaAsia North
Members906 (2022)[4]
Wards1
FamilySearch Centers1[5]

History

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Membership In Guam
YearMembership
1940* 100
1950 271
1960* 300
1970 469
1983 764
1991* 1,000
1999 1,476
2009 1,874
2019 2,550
*Membership was published as an estimated or rounded number.
Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Guam[1]

Guam

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The first known church members on Guam were during World War II. From 1944 to 1945, servicemen's groups numbering 50-300 existed on Guam. In 1946, families were allowed to accompany servicemen and all servicemen's groups on the island were consolidated to one. The Guam Branch became part of the Honolulu Stake in 1959. On March 3, 1970, the Guam Branch became a ward in the Honolulu Stake.[7][8]

Full-time missionary work began in July 1970 when Michael Corrigan and Vern Liljenquist arrived from the Hawaii Mission. On November 21, 1971, the Honolulu Stake was divided due to size and the ward became part of the newly-created Kaneohe Stake. The first Chamorro couple to join the church was baptized on May 21, 1977.[9] In 1989, portions of the Book of Mormon were translated into Chamorro. Also in 1989, Herbert J. Leddy became the first to be called as the district president. On January 31, 2000, church president Gordon B. Hinckley visited Guam. He was welcomed by then-Governor Carl Gutierrez and 684 church members. On December 12, 2010, the Barrigada Guam Stake was formed. As of January 2021, this stake has five wards, one branch on Guam, one ward in the Northern Mariana Islands, two branches in Yap, and one branch in Micronesia.[10][1]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak, the church made multiple donations to Guam. Beginning in May, missionaries from the Micronesia Guam Mission (MGM) and Latter-day Saint Charities donated a large amount of food to the Catholic Agana Archdiocese Ministry to the Homeless. On July 24, Eric Hicks, president of the MGM, and seven missionaries helped the Ministry reorganize the cafeteria back from a supply room to a serving area. Also in May, the church made food donations for the Salvation Army Guam Corps. Starting in May, those serving in the MGM began volunteering weekly at the Salvation Army to organize the donations. Latter-day Saint Charities has made two donations to a local organization called Kadu Care-Givers.[11]

Saipan

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Membership in the Northern Mariana Islands
YearMembership
1980 85
1989* 200
2009 870
2009 757
2019 865
*Membership was published as an estimated or rounded number.
Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Northern Mariana Islands[4]

American servicemen's groups were set up to serve members in Saipan during World War II (1944 and 1945). One of these servicemen was L. Tom Perry.[12] After World War II, military presence remained on the island and servicemen's groups existed off and on until full-time missionaries arrived on the island in 1975.[13][9]

The first convert in Saipan was Juanita Augustine, from Palau, who was baptized on July 16, 1975.[9] Later that year, a dependent branch was formed on the island. This became an independent branch on January 24, 1976. In 1980, the Saipan branch had 85 members. The branch became part of the Guam District on April 18, 1982.[4]

Rota

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Missionaries assigned to Rota arrived on September 5, 1986. Since then, missionaries have made infrequent trips to Rota and members attend church in Saipan.[14]

Tinian

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A few members moved to the island and in March 1990, the San Jose Branch was formed as part of the Guam District. Full-time missionaries arrived on August 14, 1992. The branch was discontinued in 1997. Since then, missionaries have made infrequent trips to Rota and members attend church in Saipan.[4] The church donated more than $1,000 to the Red Cross and volunteers during the aftermath of Typhoon Yutu which made landfall on October 25, 2018.[15]

Stake and Congregations

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As of February 2023, the Barrigada Guam Stake consists of 5 wards and 4 branches in Guam, Northern Marianna Islands, Yap (Micronesia), and Palau.

  • Barrigada Ward (Guam)
  • Colonia Branch (Yap)
  • Dededo Ward (Guam)
  • Koror Branch (Palau)
  • Saipan Ward (Northern Marianna Islands)
  • Talisay Ward (Guam)
  • Talofofo Branch (Guam)
  • Thol Branch (Yap)
  • Yigo Ward (Guam)

Missions

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Missionaries in Guam
  • The MGM covers Guam, the Northern Marianna Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.

Temples

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Main articles: Yigo Guam Temple and Tarawa Kiribati Temple

Groundbreaking for the Yigo Guam Temple was on September 4, 2019, with Yoon Hwan Choi, who was then president of the church's Asia North Area, presiding.[16][17][18] The temple was dedicated by David A. Bednar on May 22, 2022.[19][20]

 
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Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size: 		Yigo, Guam
7 October 2018 by Russell M. Nelson[21][22]
4 May 2019 by Yoon Hwan Choi
22 May 2022 by David A. Bednar[24]
6,861 sq ft (637.4 m2) on a 5.8-acre (2.3 ha) site

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Guam", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 28 May 2022
  2. ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
  3. ^ Category:Guam Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 18, 2022
  4. ^ a b c d e "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Northern Mariana Islands", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 28 May 2022
  5. ^ Category:Northern Mariana Islands Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 18, 2022
  6. ^ a b LDS Meetinghouse Locator.Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).
  7. ^ Mormon Church of Guam: History on Guam, Guampedia, July 22, 2020, retrieved 2021-01-15
  8. ^ Deseret News 2012 Church Almanac. Jim M. Wall. p. 488. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
  9. ^ a b c Rosalind Meno Ram and Sanoma Irons Goodwill, Netting the Stories of Pioneers from Micronesia, BYU Religious Studies Center, retrieved 2021-01-15
  10. ^ Deseret News 2012 Church Almanac. Jim M. Wall. pp. 488–489. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
  11. ^ "Church Makes Donations to Alleviate COVID Suffering in Guam", Church Newsroom, LDS Church, August 30, 2020, retrieved 2021-01-24
  12. ^ Guam News Watch (December 10, 2010), Elder Perry visits Guam and Saipan, remembers serving in WWII, LDSLiving, retrieved 2021-01-15
  13. ^ Deseret News 2012 Church Almanac. Jim M. Wall. pp. 585–586. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
  14. ^ Deseret News 2012 Church Almanac. Jim M. Wall. p. 586. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
  15. ^ Press Release (February 1, 2019), LDS Charities donates over $1M to Red Cross, Saipan Tribune, retrieved 2021-01-15
  16. ^ "Ground Broken for Three International Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2019-05-04
  17. ^ Staff, Daily Post (28 April 2019). "Latter-day Saints to build temple in Yigo". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. ^ Weiss, Jasmine Stoe (2 May 2019). "New temple to be built in Yigo". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Dedication Date Announced for the Yigo Guam Temple: Public open house to be held in May". Newsroom. LDS Church. 2019-06-18.
  20. ^ "Apostle Dedicates Yigo Guam Temple". Church Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Twelve Temples Announced as October 2018 General Conference Closes: Number of temples operating, announced or under construction now above 200", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 October 2018
  22. ^ LDS Church announces plans to build 12 new temples worldwide, pioneer generation temples will be renovated, KSTU Fox 13, 7 October 2018
  23. ^ "Temple Groundbreakings Announced for Pocatello and Guam: Artist renderings for each temple also available". Newsroom. LDS Church. 1 February 2019.
  24. ^ https://news-gu.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/apostle-dedicates-yigo-guam-temple
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