The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) established its first New Zealand branch in 1855. It reported 117,319 members in 228 congregations in New Zealand as of 2022,[1] making it the second largest body of LDS Church members in Oceania behind Australia.[4] The LDS Church has one temple in New Zealand, with a second under construction and a third announced. The 2018 census recorded 54,123 individuals, or 1.2% of respondents, self-identify as belonging to the faith. 313,000 respondents objecting to answer the religion census question in 2018 were not counted in the number or percentages.[5]
A Latter-day Saint assembly hall in New Zealand in 1912
New Zealand was already deeply religious with many Christian sects by the time Mormon missionaries arrived.[7] Formal LDS Church missionary proselytizing began on 20 October 1854 by William Cooke and Thomas Holden, under the direction of mission president Augustus Farnham. All three men left for the island from the United States on the William Denney. However, due to lack of materials and interested individuals, the initial work was slow up until the 1870s when missionaries had more resources.[8] These first proselyting efforts began as part of the Australasian Missionary efforts. In 1855, the first branch of the LDS Church was organised at Karori, with the next organised in Kaiapoi in 1867.[7] The first stakes of New Zealand were created in Auckland on 18 May 1958, and then in Hamilton and Hawkes Bay in 1960.[8]: 93 On 4 August 1897, the Australasian Mission was divided to give New Zealand its own respective mission.[8] The mission was again divided in May 1958 to include a New Zealand South portion.[8] As of May 2017, New Zealand has three missions based in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton, respectively.[9] The LDS Church continues to hold a notable and respected presence in New Zealand, the first account being when Colonial Minister of Native affairs praised Mormonism for bringing good citizens to his nation back in 1912.[10]
Despite the country being more than three quarters Māori, primitive missionary efforts focused on teaching the English-speaking Europeans living within New Zealand.[11]: 284 It was not until the 1880s that missionary efforts shifted from exclusively preaching to the Pākehā (Europeans) to branching out to the native Māori population.[11]: 253 The early success that Mormon missionaries had amidst Māori has been thought to be because the Mormon religion was founded in the United States. One theory was that the churches associated with the British were despised by these natives, and the LDS Church was more accepted as a result. Other theories attribute Mormon success in New Zealand to early Christian missionaries who first began to persuade the natives out of their traditional habits that were alarming to Europeans and contrary to Mormon standards of living (cannibalism, nudism, etc.), thereby creating a more Westernized people for the Mormons to influence.[7][8] Another factor was that both the church and Māori had a focus on genealogy (whakapapa).[12]
Māori translations
By 1886, translation of the Word of Wisdom and the Articles of Faith was completed by Ezra F. Richards.[8]: 23 In this same year, attempts to translate the Book of Mormon by various elders and mission presidents began. The most notable translators were Ezra F. Richards and Sondra Sanders, although some records state that William T. Steward and James Jury were other notable translators.[11]: 278 On 26 April 1887, a home in the Waiapu District was dedicated for the translation of the Book of Mormon and in November of that same year, translation of the book was officially completed.[8]: 24 The first editions of the Book of Mormon in the Māori language were published by the Star Publishing Company of Auckland. The entire cost of £371 to print the Book of Mormon was paid for by local New Zealand church members.[11]: 279 In 1917, the second edition was published after extensive edits were made by Matthew Cowley under the direction of James N. Lambert. Shortly after its publication, Cowley was called to start the translation of other sacred texts. With the help of Wiremu Duncan and Stuart Meha, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were translated and eventually published in 1919.[8]: 25
State Involvement
Māori Language Act of 1987
Prior to the Māori Language Act (MLA), the church operated only in English. The MLA declared Māori as an official language of New Zealand and greatly encouraged biculturalism in the church. Following the MLA, the church removed language restrictions from its meetings, blessings, and more importantly, funerals, a sacred Māori practice. The first noted church events under the MLA include the dedication of the LDS marae (community centre) and wharenui (large ceremonial house). These buildings were dedicated in 1994 at the Church College, with prayers in Māori.[13]
Church schools
After seeing a growing need for education in Māori villages, the LDS Church opened elementary schools to teach children in the English Language.[11]: 288 As early as 1877, multiple efforts were made to start private schools that were eventually closed due to lack of interest or government schools opening in similar geographic areas.[8][11]: 288 A government policy passed in 1922 caused more primary schools to open and required all schools to undergo inspection. Most church schools did not pass this inspection. Despite the mass reduction in church schools, one school, the Māori Agricultural College, was opened in an effort to educate local Mormons in agriculture as well as to combine secular knowledge with the spiritual. The school was dedicated in 1913 by Orson D. Romney.[8]: 35 The school had strong music and sports programs, and the majority of its teachers and supplies came from the United States.[8]: 41 In 1915, the church invested in 136 acres of land to add to the school. On this land they began raising pigs, chickens and other farm animals as an added means of income.[8]: 43 Despite the school's growth, church leaders in Salt Lake City were concerned with its lack of matriculate growth and prestige and considered closing it down. Before this order could be made official, however, the Napier earthquake of 1931 destroyed the building and ended its use.[7][8]
Church College of New Zealand with the New Zealand temple in the background
Years later, under the direction of the church and a local desire to reinstate a church-run school, the Church College of New Zealand was built and later dedicated on 24 April 1958.[8]: 20 The college experienced great success, and on 11 January 1958, 18 American teachers were sent on the Mariposa to meet the needs of the area. This new college church emphasized the need to hire fully qualified teachers.[7] In addition to involvement in formal education, the church also began to operate the seminary program in New Zealand. In 1968, the first seminary class was held in Kaikohe.[11]: 337 In 1970, the seminary programme was officially instituted in the country.[8] Church College closed in 2009 after the church decided to switch its educational work to developing counties.[14]
Government relations
The church experienced various interactions with local New Zealand leaders. One of the first recorded incidents took place in 1902 when the mission president requested permission for various elders to perform weddings. The request was denied, and he took legal measures to re-appeal. He eventually received permission for two elders.[8][11] In 1917, a temporary missionary ban was instituted. This ban was formed under the premise that American missionaries were allegedly trying to convince Māori to move to the United States with them.[8]: 53 [11]: 296
1921 report of miraculous language comprehension
David O. McKay (Church president from 1951 to 1970) toured New Zealand in 1921.
In 1921, David O. McKay and Hugh J. Cannon began a Pacific-wide tour of the Church. McKay was the first apostle to visit New Zealand; celebrations were organised to commemorate the event. On 21 April 1921, they were received with various cultural performances, athletic competitions, and feasts of local cuisine. After the celebration concluded, a more spiritual meeting was held. Regarding his remarks, McKay felt strongly that he should deliver his address without translation.[11]: 304 Multiple accounts state that during his address to the native Māori people, McKay was initially going to have a translator. When he went up to speak, however, he decided that a translation would inhibit the power of his message and decided to give the speech in English instead. Despite this language barrier, Māori people recall being able to understand his talk with complete clarity. When the message was eventually translated into Māori, many natives who were in attendance offered up correct translations of the speech from what they understood (regardless of the message being delivered in English).[8] Members attributed their comprehension of the English speech to the gift of tongues.[13][8]: 55
During the church's October 2018 general conference, the intent to construct a temple in Auckland was announced. During the April 2022 general conference, the President announced the intention to construct a third New Zealand temple in Wellington.
^Ottley, Sidney James (1912–1913). "Journal vol. 1". Mormon Missionary Diaries. Harold B. Lee Library.
^ abcdefghijBritsch, R. Lanier (1986). Unto the islands of the sea: a history of the Latter-day Saints in the Pacific. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book. ISBN9780877477549.
^ abcUnderwood, Grant (2005). Pioneers in the Pacific: memory, history, and cultural identity among the Latter-day Saints. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University.
.jpg)
