Mission guide
Madagascar Antananarivo South Mission
The Madagascar Antananarivo South Mission serves in a highland capital shaped by royal, cultural, and Church history.
- Malagasy
Madagascar Antananarivo South Mission shirts
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Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
Weak Things Become Strong, in the language of this mission
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
Malagasy is the main local language. Missionaries may also encounter French and other languages in Madagascar, but Malagasy is the language identified for this mission.
At a glance
- Country
- Madagascar
- Main city
- Antananarivo, 1,274,225 inhabitants (2018 census)
- Language
- Malagasy
- Time zone
- East Africa Time (UTC+3)
- Climate
- Subtropical highland, with mild dry winters and warm rainy summers
- Church in Madagascar
- 20,395 members, 5 stakes, 52 congregations
A short history of the area
The city was later renamed Antananarivo, meaning “City of the Thousand,” in honor of the soldiers who guarded it. It became the capital of the reunited Kingdom of Imerina in 1794 and remained Madagascar’s capital after independence in 1960.
The Church here
- 1986Razanapanala Rameandricso, identified as the first member in Madagascar, was baptized in Bordeaux, France.
- 1989Razanapanala Rameandricso returned to Madagascar and began teaching the gospel to a small group in his home.
- 1990The first five converts were baptized during a visit by President Girard Giraud-Carrier of the Mascarene Islands Mission.
- 1990The first branch in Madagascar was organized in Antananarivo on 23 September.
- 1993The Church received legal status in Madagascar on 13 July.
- 1998The Madagascar Antananarivo Mission was created on 1 July.
- 1999A mission home that also served as a meetinghouse was dedicated in Antananarivo on 9 May.
- 2000The Malagasy translation of the Book of Mormon was published in February.
- 2000The Antananarivo Madagascar Stake was created on 17 September.
Temples nearby
Antananarivo Madagascar Temple
Under construction · Near Antananarivo
Harare Zimbabwe Temple
Dedicated March 1, 2026 · About 1085 miles from Antananarivo
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- Manao ahoanaHello or how are you?
- SalamaHello or goodbye
- MisaotraThank you
- VelomaGoodbye
Foods to try
- Romazava (a meat stew cooked with leafy greens)
- Ravitoto (crushed cassava leaves, often cooked with meat or coconut milk)
- Mofo gasy (small Malagasy rice cakes or pancakes)
- Vary amin’anana (rice cooked with leafy greens)
Fun facts
- Antananarivo stands at approximately 1,280 meters above sea level, making it the highest national capital among the island countries.
- The city occupies three intersecting ridges, and the royal palace at the summit can be seen from much of the city and surrounding hills.
- Antananarivo’s historic Zoma Friday market once spread through the valley under thousands of white parasols and was described as the world’s largest open-air marketplace.
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