Mauritius: Chronology

1856 • MauritiusBritish-born George F. W. Kershaw, who had been baptized in South Africa in 1854, served a two-month mission in Mauritius, baptizing six converts.

Late 1970s • Europe and North AmericaMauritians living in Europe and North America joined the Church. They wrote letters to Church headquarters requesting missionaries be sent to the island.

October 3, 1979 • Salt Lake City, UtahJoseph T. and Ruth Edmunds were set apart to serve as missionaries in the International Mission to establish the Church in Réunion and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.

October 18, 1979 • Réunion Island (Île de la Réunion)The Edmundses arrived in Réunion Island.

January 1980 • Curepipe, MauritiusDuring a month-long visit to Mauritius, the Edmundses contacted relatives of Mauritian Saints living abroad and placed advertisements in the local newspaper, Le Mauricien, inviting members and friends of the Church to contact them. Two future Church members, Harry Bhagal and Vjas Mohabeer, soon responded.

January 1980 • Port Louis, MauritiusThe Edmundses began working with Church members assigned to the United States Embassy in Mauritius to establish a branch there.

March 6 and 13, 1980 • MauritiusTwo articles were published in Le Weekend, a local newspaper. The first was about the Edmundses’ purpose for being in Mauritius, and the second was about the organization and history of the Church.

October 1980 • MauritiusTheo E. and Nita C. Verhaaren were the first couple to be called specifically to serve in Mauritius. They served until June 1981.

November 27, 1981 • Beau Bassin, MauritiusHarold Essoo, Rowen Narraidoo, Gerard Goder, Alain Kheeroo, Jayprakash Mohabeer, and Jocelyn Lenette were the first Mauritians to be baptized on the island.

Early members of the Rose Hill branch

February 25, 1982 • Mauritius

The first branch in Mauritius was organized by Elder Carlos E. Asay of the Seventy.

January 6, 1985 • MauritiusSommy Narraidoo and Charles Maguitte became the first Mauritian members to serve as counselors in a branch presidency.

July 6, 1985 • MauritiusThe Church received official recognition in Mauritius.

August 1985 • MauritiusThe first seminary classes in Mauritius were held.

September 29, 1985 • MauritiusGerard Noel became the first local member to serve as branch president when he was called to preside over the Mauritius Branch.

November 1985 • MauritiusThe Primary gave its first sacrament meeting presentation.

July 12, 1986 • MauritiusRowan Narraidoo became the first member called from Mauritius to serve a full-time mission. He served in the Belgium Brussels Mission.

July 15, 1986 • Mauritius and RéunionThe Mascarene Islands were transferred from the International Mission to the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.

July 1, 1988 • Mauritius and RéunionThe Mascarene Islands Mission was organized, with 400 members on the islands, attending two branches in Mauritius and three branches in Réunion.

November 22, 1988 • MauritiusElder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Mauritius for the preaching of the gospel.

July 28, 1998 • MauritiusTwelve local missionaries were set apart for short missions. They trained with full-time missionaries and served for a few months.

January 15, 2002 • Rose Hill, MauritiusThe first Church-built chapel in Mauritius was dedicated.

January 4, 2004 • Phoenix, MauritiusThe Phoenix Branch was organized, with Louis Mario Ramiah as the branch president.

June 19, 2011 • Flacq, MauritiusA group was organized in Flacq, with Michel Gracieuse as group leader.

February 5, 2017 • FlacqThe group in Flacq was organized into a branch, with Logan Gracieuse as branch president.

July 30, 2017 • MauritiusThe Mauritius District was organized.