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    French Polynesia Click here for the Pacific Newsroom (French)

    29,397

    Total Church Membership

    1-in-

    11

    Stakes

    10

    97

    Congregations

    75 Wards
    22 Branches

    29

    FamilySearch Centers

    29

    1

    Temples

    1

    Missions | 2 Districts

    History

    In 1843, the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called four missionaries to take the gospel “unto the islands of the sea” in the Pacific (Doctrine and Covenants 133:8). On Tubuai, Addison Pratt became the first Latter-day Saint missionary to preach in a language other than English. Benjamin Grouard established the Church in the Tuamotus; early native converts Haametua and Hamoe laid the foundation for Church growth in Tahiti. Telii, one of the earliest members baptized by Pratt, taught Tahitian converts to sing Latter-day Saint hymns, which they adapted to Polynesian singing styles.
     

    In 1852, amidst religious conflicts between the French and the English, Latter-day Saint missionaries were expelled from the islands. For the next 40 years, Saints in French Polynesia maintained the faith in the face of persecution. Saints in Anaa, for example, were attacked, and five were executed after an altercation with a police officer. Despite limited contact with Church headquarters, local leaders endured imprisonment, spread the gospel, and organized a Relief Society.

    After missionaries returned in 1892, Church programs were more fully established, and publishing efforts began. Saints built meetinghouses, gathered for conferences, and organized singing groups. In 1963, a group of Saints made the trip to New Zealand for the first Tahitian-language temple sessions. In 1983, President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Papeete Tahiti Temple. Today, French Polynesian Saints honor their deep roots in the Church while reaching out in service to their community.

    For Journalist Use Only

    Richard Hunter
    New Zealand
    Phone:  64(9)488-5572
    Mobile: 64-21-240-7804

    E-mail

    Africa

    Total Church Membership

    Members
    Congregations

    791,837

    Members

    2,559

    Congregations

    Missions

    40Missions

    FamilySearch Centers

    421

    Temples

    6Temples

    Asia

    Total Church Membership

    Members
    Congregations

    1,281,560

    Members

    2,103

    Congregations

    Missions

    45Missions

    FamilySearch Centers

    368

    Temples

    8Temples

    Europe

    Total Church Membership

    Members
    Congregations

    503,692

    Members

    1,318

    Congregations

    Missions

    36Missions

    FamilySearch Centers

    660

    Temples

    14Temples

    North America

    Total Church Membership

    Members
    Congregations

    9,551,107

    Members

    18,426

    Congregations

    Missions

    175Missions

    FamilySearch Centers

    2,819

    Temples

    113Temples

    Oceania (Pacific)

    Total Church Membership

    Members
    Congregations

    591,950

    Members

    1,308

    Congregations

    Missions

    18Missions

    FamilySearch Centers

    317

    Temples

    11Temples

    South America

    Total Church Membership

    Members
    Congregations

    4,269,273

    Members

    5,616

    Congregations

    Missions

    97Missions

    FamilySearch Centers

    1,119

    Temples

    24Temples