The First Presidency has approved the creation of the first stake in Guam, which will be known as the Barrigada Guam Stake. Apostle Elder L. Tom Perry will create the stake on the weekend of December 11th and 12th. The Guam District had only four branches until just a year or two ago, when a fifth branch was created. Missionaries report that branches in the district have high church attendance and that the creation of a stake has come after many years of preparation. The Guam District currently consists of four branches on the island of Guam, and one branch in Saipan (which is part of the Northern Mariana Islands).
Guam is the country/territory with the twentieth most Latter-day Saints (1,971) without a stake according to membership totals reported by the LDS Church at the end of 2009. There were 735 members in the Northern Mariana Islands at the end of 2009. Once the stake is created, only one nation will have a stake and fewer Latter-day Saints than Guam, which is Bahrain. The Church bases the stake for wards and branches on the Arabian Peninsula in Bahrain due to greater religious freedom than neighboring countries and its central geographic location. Bahrain had 281 members and one branch at the end of 2009.
This is exciting news. I have a love of Guam, although not as much as some people I have known. The work of God is moving forward.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is not new for Guam. For many years in the 60s and 70s, Guam was a ward in the Honolulu Stake. Bet that was quite a drive to stake conference :-)
ReplyDeleteThe difference is that the earlier ward was almost entirely military, while I've heard that most of the recent growth is with the native Chamorro.
Yes, it is true that Guam was part of the Honolulu Stake for a number of years. A stake headquartered in Guam indicates the growth and maturity of the local Chamorro population, like what you indicated in your comment.
ReplyDeleteI just found out about the great news of a stake in Micronesia. I am pleased and happy for the people in Guam and Saipan. I have prayed for you to have the blessings of a stake.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Johnson (Former Mission President).