Vanuatu: Church Chronology

1950s • Vanuatu (New Hebrides)During the rule of the Anglo-French Condominium government, a few Latter-day Saint expatriates from Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States lived in what was then known as the New Hebrides. In the late 1950s, several Tongan Latter-day Saint families migrated to Port Vila.

July 15, 1973 • Port Vila, VanuatuThe Port Vila Branch was created, with Lanipotu Fehoko as president, though he had to leave shortly thereafter due to a changed work assignment. Local member Saikem Jackson led the congregation, which met in the Kalabun Guest House.

January 12, 1975 • Port VilaElders Mokofisi and Malohifoʻou from Tonga began missionary work in the New Hebrides.

July 30, 1980 • VanuatuVanuatu gained independence and a new name.

1980–81 • VanuatuThe government required foreign missionaries to leave the country. After the missionaries’ departure in late 1981, local members, including Fred Massing, Jack Taso Hokau, Paul Hilliman, and Edwin Basil, took responsibility for missionary work.

August 1981 • VanuatuJack Taso Hokau was called as president of the Port Vila Branch.

1989 • VanuatuThe first meetinghouse in Vanuatu was dedicated.

1991 • VanuatuLocal Latter-day Saint Edwin Basil helped convince Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman to allow missionaries from outside the country to return.

July 15, 1996 • Luganville, VanuatuThe Luganville Branch was established, with Berry Taravaki Vigouroux as president and Nesline Toakuru as Relief Society president. Later that year, Nancy Fred was sustained as Primary president.

July 25, 1996 • Ambae, VanuatuThe Ambae Branch was established, with Livu Titus as branch president.

October 1998 • VanuatuTom and Janet Tarohati became the first couple from Vanuatu to be called on a mission. They served in Vanuatu.

September 2000 • Port VilaMore than 100 young adult Latter-day Saints from five islands gathered for the first annual youth conference.

2002 • Mere Lava, VanuatuMissionary work began on the island of Mere Lava.

June 2003 • Port VilaChurch President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Vanuatu and met with members.

July 2004 • Salt Lake City, Utah, USAThe Book of Mormon was published in Bislama.

2005 • VanuatuUnder the Clean Water Vanuatu Project, Church Humanitarian Services shipped 75 water tanks to Ambae, Espiritu Santo, Malekula, Banks, Pentecost, and Ambrym.

September 2005 • LuganvilleThree hundred young adults gathered for their annual conference in Luganville. They visited local companies, including a coconut production operation, a Fanafo hydropower station, and an abattoir; attended trainings by the local police and health departments; and learned about local island food traditions.

2011 • Erakor, VanuatuLatter-day Saints on the remote island of Erakor created open-air meetinghouses, similar to pioneer-era boweries.

September 2, 2012 • New CaledoniaThe Quetzal Chorale, directed by Rachel Guidi and composed of members and nonmembers of the Church, sang at the annual festival of choirs, “Les Voix du Sud,” in the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

September 9, 2012 • New CaledoniaThe first stake conference in New Caledonia was held. Abel Seiko was called as patriarch.

November 18, 2012 • Honiara, Solomon IslandsHonorable Gordon Darcy Lilo, prime minister of Solomon Islands, attended the Honiara Solomon Islands District Conference and spoke to the assembly alongside district president Matthew Sauseru and other visiting Church leaders.

March 13, 2015 • VanuatuSuper Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, causing destruction on the islands of Efate and Tanna and affecting many Latter-day Saints. Church members worked to rebuild homes and distribute food and water.

June 21, 2015 • Port VilaThe Port Vila Vanuatu Stake was organized, with Yvon Basil as president.

March 2016 • Port VilaHis Excellency Sir Baldwin Lonsdale, head of state of Vanuatu, attended a Sunday block of Latter-day Saint meetings and also toured the family history center.

October 2017 • LuganvilleWhen a threatened volcanic eruption forced 11,000 people to evacuate from the island of Ambae, Latter-day Saints on the island of Espiritu Santo hosted evacuees in their meetinghouse.

September 20, 2018 • Port VilaIn partnership with the government of Vanuatu, Church representatives launched a “Village Health Worker Program” to train 250 health workers in six provinces to prevent and diagnose noncommunicable diseases.

Port Vila Vanuatu Temple

October 4, 2020 • Vanuatu

Latter-day Saints celebrated the announcement that a temple would be built in Port Vila.

February 2021 • Malekula, Wala, VanuatuMembers of the Wala Branch participated in a day of service, tidying a beach on the island of Wala to help a local Presbyterian congregation that was preparing to hold a conference.

March 2021 • Port VilaMembers worked with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to offer trainings in backyard gardening to the community.