Temple-Focused Saints in Papua New Guinea See 107 Baptisms in One Day

From the Papua New Guinea Newsroom

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On Saturday, June 14, 2025, 107 disciples of Jesus Christ stepped into the Bangoho River in southeastern Papua New Guinea to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, causing many in attendance to reflect on the Book of Mormon account of the baptisms conducted by the prophet Alma in “the waters of Mormon” (see Mosiah 18:8-10.)   

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, a General Authority Seventy and First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, organized the Oro Papua New Guinea Stake, the fifth stake in the nation and the first in the remote province of Oro, the following day, June 15.

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For the meetings that weekend, the small Popondetta chapel in Oro could not hold the hundreds who gathered. Volunteers pitched rows of tents outside, while others tuned in from remote villages via the internet for the meetings.

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Elder Wakolo, assisted by Area Seventy Elder Jared V. Ormsby, taught about the sustaining and supporting power of covenants Church members make with Jesus Christ, and how, despite life’s adversities, confidence and inner peace can be found as they build our lives on the foundation of God’s plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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During the meetings, Elder Ormsby spoke of the deep faith of these local members. “The prophet Joseph Smith prophesied that the Church would fill the earth,” he said. “And although Papua New Guinea and the people living their lives here have many challenges, you wouldn’t know it if you spoke to them. That’s the nature of their faith. They believe the Lord will bless them, and we will see the Church flourish and grow here because of their faith.”

The newly sustained stake president, President Tossip Salaiau, was a teenager in 1991 when then-Elder Russell M. Nelson — now President of the Church — presided at the groundbreaking for a meetinghouse in Popondetta.

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Thirty-four years later, the small chapel is being razed to make way for a more modern and significantly larger Church meetinghouse to meet the needs of the growing Oro Stake. 

President Salaiau’s younger sister, Chimolen Tererembo — a little girl at the groundbreaking — now serves as stake Relief Society president.

The creation of the new stake caused Elder Wakolo to reflect on his first visit to Popondetta in 2011. “There has been a significant change,” he said. 

Twelve months ago, Papua New Guinea counted only two stakes; today, there are five. The total membership now exceeds 41,000, and many more are accepting the gospel. Church members in Papua New Guinea believe they are watching the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise that the Church of Jesus Christ is coming “out of obscurity” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30) in their blossoming island nation.

Leaders attribute much of the momentum to anticipation surrounding the nation’s first temple, now rising in the capital city of Port Moresby.

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“It is a miracle of faith,” said Elder Wakolo. “These people love God. They desire to come unto Christ, and that is the miracle we see. The key to this is really the leaders and the members focusing on the house of the Lord. When construction of the temple in Port Moresby is complete and the temple is dedicated, it will have a tremendous impact on the growth of the Church in Papua New Guinea.”

Elder Wakolo urged members to prepare now for temple ordinances that seal families eternally.

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