The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kiribati refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Kiribati. In 1976 the first branch (small congregation) was organized in Tarawa. As at the 2020 Census, there were 6,720 people declaring as LDS members.[1] According to LDS church, as of year-end 2022, there were 22,210 members in 43 congregations,[2] making it the largest body of LDS Church members in Micronesia. Kiribati also has the most LDS Church members per capita in Micronesia, and the third most members per capita of any country in the world, behind Tonga and Samoa.[5]
In 1972, teacher Waitea Abiuta encouraged his students to attend Liahona High School in Tonga. Ebbie L. Davis, president of the Fiji Mission, recommended 12 students to be enrolled on a trial basis, with 12 more enrolled each subsequent year. By 1976, 60 students had been enrolled in Liahona High School. All but a few of these were baptized and were the first known church members from Kiribati. Six of these were called to the Fiji Suva Mission and assigned to their native Kiribati, arriving in Tarawa on October 19, 1975.[7]
Waieta Abiuta, and several of the staff at his school, were amongst those who were baptized by these 6 missionaries. On January 24, 1976, the Tarawa Branch was organized, with Wieta Abiuta as branch president. In 1977, the church purchased the school and renamed it Moroni Community School. It later became known as Moroni High School.[8] The Gilbert Islands became the independent Republic of Kiribati in 1979.
In 1984, the student body of Moroni Community School reached 240, with many of its teachers being graduates of BYU-Hawaii. In 1994, Teatao Teannaki, president of the Republic of Kiribati, was the main speaker at the graduation ceremonies at Moroni High School. In 1999, President Teburoro Tito also visited Moroni High School and spoke to students.[7]
In 1981, Baitika Toum became the first of several church members to be elected to parliament. He went on to serve as a cabinet minister for 13 years.[8];The Tarawa Branch meetinghouse was completed in 1981, but meetings were not held in the meetinghouse until February 1982. In October 1985, the Tarawa District was organized and included the Alieu, Abaiang, and Eita branches. L. Tom Perry organized the Tarawa Kiribati Stake, with Atunibeia Mote sustained as president.[7]
Seminary began on Kiribati in March 1997. On May 23, 1999, the Kiritimati Island Branch was created. On 26 January 2000, church president Gordon B. Hinckley, on a tour of Pacific Rim countries, visited members at Tarawa. On, June 19, 2003, Hinckley visited members on Kiritimati Island. On June 20, 2014, the Kiritimati Island Kiribati District was organized, with Naitinua Teitikai Tokinteiti as president, and included branches on Kiritimati and Tabuaeran.[8] In January 2020, Ian S. Ardern, president of the church's Pacific Area, met with Taneti Maamau, President of the Republic of Kiribati. Maamau accepted an invitation from Ardern to attend the Tarawa East Stake conference the next Sunday where 1,200 were in attendance.[9]
In October 2014, church members in Tarawa Kiribati volunteered to help construct a seawall to protect the community from flooding.[12] On February 7, 2018, a memorial service was held at Moroni High School to honor victims of the sinking of the MV Butiraoi. The service was attended by government officials, Church leaders, and the victims’ family members.[8]
Stakes & Districts
As of February 2023, the following Stakes and Districts were in Kiribati: [13][14]
Stake/District
Organized
Kiritimati Island Kiribati District
20 Jun 2014
Southern Kiribati District
11 Jun 2019
Tarawa Kiribati East Stake
28 Jan 2007
Tarawa Kiribati North District
17 Jan 2016
Tarawa Kiribati West Stake
11 Aug 1996
Congregations in Kiribati not part of a stake or district
South Tarawa, Kiribati 4 October 2020 by Russell M. Nelson[15] 2 November 2024 by Jeremy R. Jaggi[16] 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) on a 0.8-acre (0.32 ha) site Renderings and floor area were released on May 19, 2021.[17]
