The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand reported 107,511 members in 26 stakes, three districts, 207 congregations, three missions, and one temple, as of 6 April 2013. In contrast, the 2013 New Zealand census counted 40,728 people who gave their religion as Latter Day Saints.

History

New Zealand was already deeply religious with many Christian sects by the time Mormon missionaries arrived. 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. These first proselyting efforts began as part of the Australasian Missionary efforts. In 1855, the first branch of the LDS Church was organized at Karori, with the next organized in Kaiapoi in 1867. The first stakes of New Zealand were created in Auckland on 18 May 1958, and then in Hamilton and Hawkes Bay in 1960. On 4 August 1897 the Australasian Mission was divided to give New Zealand its own respective mission. The mission was again divided in May 1958 to include a New Zealand South portion. As of May 2017, New Zealand now has three missions based in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton, respectively. 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.
Despite the country being more than three quarters Māori, primitive missionary efforts focused on teaching the English-speaking Europeans living within New Zealand. It was not until the 1880s that missionary efforts shifted from exclusively preaching to the Pakeha to branching out to the native Māori population. 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, thereby creating a more Westernized people for the Mormons to indoctrinate.

Māori translations

By 1886 translation of the Word of Wisdom and the Articles of Faith was completed by Ezra F. Richards. In this same year attempts to translate the Book of Mormon began by various elders and mission presidents, the most notable being Ezra F. Richards and Sondra Sanders, although some records state that William T. Steward and James Jury were other notable translators. 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. 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. 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 again 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.

State Involvement

Māori Language Act of 1987

Prior to the Māori Language Act, the church operated only in English. The MLA declared Māori as an official language of New Zealand and greatly encouraged biculturalism into 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 and wharenui. These buildings were dedicated in 1994 at the Church College, with prayers in Māori.

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. As early as 1877, multiple efforts were made to start private schools that were eventually closed due to lack of interest or to government schools opening in similar geographic areas. A government policy passed in 1922 caused more primary schools to open and for 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 as 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. The school had strong music and sports programs and the majority of its teachers and supplies came from the United States. 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. 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.
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. 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. What was different about this new college church was the emphasis to hire fully qualified teachers. 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. In 1970, the seminary program was officially instituted in the country.

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 that various elders be given permission to perform weddings. The request was denied, and he took legal measures to re-appeal. He eventually received permission for two elders. 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.

1921 report of miraculous language comprehension

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 organized 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. 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. In fact, 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. Members attributed their comprehension of the English speech to the gift of tongues.

Contemporary history

In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings indefinitely in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Missions

As of October 2018, there is a temple in Hamilton and a newly-announced intent to construct another in Auckland.

Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Groundbreaking for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple was held on 21 December 1955. Following construction, a general public open house was held from 23 March to 13 April 1958, with the dedication by LDS Church president David O. McKay taking place seven days later on 20 April 1958. Other officials from Salt Lake City in attendance included Delbert L. Stapley, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Marion G. Romney.

Auckland New Zealand Temple

During the church's October 2018 general conference, the intent to construct a temple in Auckland was announced.