Two missionaries, Elders Dan Baldwin and Torlik Tima, arrived in Chuuk (Truk) on July 7, 1977. They baptized T.M. Conrad Mailo and his wife, Nisor Cerly David, on Oct. 22, 1977. The first Trukese missionary was Happiness Ichin, the second convert on the island. By 1980, membership reached 170, and on May 31, 1981, the Truk-Pohnpei District was created. A Church building was dedicated April 24, 1983. By 1990 the district had been divided and two more Church buildings had been dedicated.

A visit to Micronesia in June 1991 by Michaelene P. Grassli, general president of the Church's children's organization known as Primary, and Virginia H. Pearce, board member, included stops in Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Kwajalein.

KOSRAE

Work in Kosrae began in March 1985, but missionaries found little success. They worked hard to break down public opinion against the Church. The first Kosrean, Isidro Abraham, was baptized April 25, 1986. By October 1989 when a branch (a small congregation) conference was held at Lela, 72 people attended. Kosrae became a district on March 14, 1990.

The first seminary graduation took place on Aug. 1, 1990. Ground had been broken for the Malem Church building on Dec. 21, 1989, and the completed facility was dedicated Dec. 3, 1992. The Lelu Church building was dedicated in January 1993.

POHNPEI

Pohnpei Island was opened to missionary work on Oct. 23, 1976, when Elders George L. Mortensen and Aldric Porter arrived. The first baptism on the island, however, did not occur until Feb. 7, 1981. Missionary work progressed steadily and the Pohnpei District was created Nov. 22, 1985. In 1990, membership was 464. In late 1993, 18 young women in the Pohnpei District held their first camp on the island of Madolenihmn.

YAP

The Church came to Yap in 1977, when Charles Keliikipi (under contract to organize a police department on the island), was assigned to organize the Church here. The first missionaries, Elders David Ige and Douglas Andrews also came that year. The first convert was baptized in March 1978, and afterwards several families joined the Church. The first missionary couple was Elder and Sister Stewart, who arrived Aug. 2, 1979. The first Church building was completed Jan. 13, 1981. Membership on the island was then 150. The first seminary graduation on Yap was held Aug. 16, 1990.

For Journalist Use Only

Richard Hunter
Sydney,
Australia
Phone:  64-9-488-5572