Facts and Statistics

President Jay A. Quealy of the Southern Far East Mission and Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve (one of the highest governing bodies of the Church) visited Macau in April 1964. A short time later, in July, the first two missionaries, Darryl Thomander and Gilbert Montano, arrived. Steven Lau was the first person baptized in the colony in August 1964. Three more people were baptized one week later, and the missionaries started holding worship meetings.

Church meetings were suspended in December 1964 because the Church lacked a license from the Portuguese government to conduct religious activities. Legal recognition had still not been granted in September 1965, at which time the missionaries were banned from proselyting.

Four full-time missionaries returned to Macau in September 1976 after a constitutional amendment had been passed allowing religions to hold meetings, teach, and preach. One year later the Hong Kong Mission reported that the work in Macau was developing quickly, with 300-400 percent attendance at Church meetings. The Macau Branch (a small congregation) was organized in January 1977.

The Macau Branch was divided in May 1998. Cantonese-speaking members attended the 1^st Branch and English speakers attended the 2nd Branch. The Macau 3rd Branch was organized in March 2001 to serve the needs of the Mandarin speakers. Macau reverted from Portuguese to Chinese control in December 1999 but continued to enjoy religious freedom.

For Journalist Use Only

George Mak
Wan Chai,
Hong Kong
Phone:  852-2910 2941