Micronesia: Church Chronology

August 28, 1976 • Lāʻie, HawaiiOhren Ohry, the first convert from Micronesia, was baptized.

October 1976 • Pohnpei, MicronesiaGeorge L. Mortensen and Aldric L. Porter, missionaries from the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, began preaching on Pohnpei.

December 10, 1976 • PohnpeiOhren Ohry was ordained a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.

March 5, 1977 • Mand, PohnpeiThe first baptismal service in Micronesia was held. Rihne Ohry, Ohren’s wife; their children; and Siesero Saloman were baptized.

March and August 1977 • PohnpeiBranches were organized in Kolonia (with Naped Elias as president) and in Mand (with Johnny Bridge as president).

July 1977 • Yap, MicronesiaCharles and Odetta Keliikipi, Latter-day Saints from Hawaiʻi, were asked to organize a group in their home, with Charles as group leader and Odetta as Relief Society president.

October 22, 1977 • Chuuk, MicronesiaT. M. Conrad Mailo and Nisor Cerly David were the first converts baptized in Chuuk.

January 18, 1978 • PohnpeiThe first seminary class, with 15 students, was held.

February 1978 • PohnpeiMembers in Pohnpei began recording a weekly radio broadcast, patterned after The Tabernacle Choir’s Music & the Spoken Word, which was broadcast throughout the country in Pohnpeian.

March 30, 1978 • Micronesia, Trust Territory of the Pacific IslandsThe Church received official registration from the government.

1979 • Pohnpei and YapMembers and missionaries in Pohnpei and Yap were driven from villages, refused service in stores, threatened with violence, and ostracized by family and friends. In response, the Yapese legislature passed a resolution offering support to the Church.

Mwan meetinghouse

1980–82 • Micronesia

Members and missionaries built meetinghouses on Yap and in Sapwalap, Mand, Kolonia, Pohnpei, and Chuuk.

August 1982 • MicronesiaNellie Elias became the first Micronesian Saint to serve as a full-time missionary. She served in the Iowa Des Moines Mission.

November 10, 1983 • PohnpeiElder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited the Saints in Pohnpei.

March 27, 1985 • Kosrae, Tofol, MicronesiaThe first meeting of the Church in Kosrae was held.

October 24, 1986 • PohnpeiUnder the direction of Herlino Makaya, Pohnpei District president, the Saints in Pohnpei held a special Pioneer Day celebration to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Church in Micronesia.

1987 • Salt Lake City, Utah, USASelections of the Book of Mormon were published in Chuukese and Pohnpeian.

June 1990 • MicronesiaPresident Ardeth G. Kapp, Young Women General President, visited members and Church leaders in Micronesia.

May 1991 • MicronesiaMichaelene P. Grassli, Primary General President, and Virginia Pearce, Primary general board member, visited children and Primary leaders in Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.

1996 • YapThe Colonia meetinghouse caught fire and burned down.

1998 • MicronesiaA drought, caused by unusual weather patterns, led to widespread crop failures and water shortages throughout Micronesia.

March 24, 1998 • PohnpeiThe Church, responding to letters from local members, donated medical supplies, sporting equipment, and books to hospitals and public schools in Pohnpei.

July 2002 • ChuukTropical Storm Chataʻan devastated the islands of Chuuk and the island of Tonowas. A mudslide pushed a village into the ocean and killed 22 people, including five members of a Latter-day Saint family. When the storm strengthened into a typhoon, it cut off power for weeks and water service for up to six months.

2004 • MicronesiaThe Book of Mormon was published in Yapese.

May 12, 2010 • ChuukElder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Chuuk to dedicate the Namoneas Chuuk District Center.

March 16, 2014 • Panasang, PohnpeiThe Panasang Pohnpei Stake was created, with Lensper Kalio as president.

2015 • MicronesiaThe Book of Mormon was published in Kosraean and Chuukese.

October 7, 2018 • Salt Lake CityThe construction of the Yigo Guam Temple was announced during general conference. This temple will serve the Saints of Micronesia.