Mission guide
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission
The Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission serves in a tropical capital shaped by island history, many cultures, and growing Church membership.
- Tok Pisin
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission shirts
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Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission T-Shirt
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Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission Heart Map Shirt
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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
Tok Pisin is a local language used in the mission area.
At a glance
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Main city
- Port Moresby, 756,754 people (2024 census)
- Time zone
- Papua New Guinea Time (UTC+10)
- Climate
- Tropical savanna, with a wet season from December to May and a dry season from June to November
- Church in Papua New Guinea
- 46,583 members, 96 congregations
- Church congregations
- 33 wards and 63 branches
A short history of the area
Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975, with Port Moresby as its capital. Today, the city is separate from Central Province and forms the National Capital District.
The Church here
- 1944–1945Latter-day Saints serving in the United States military held regular Church services in Papua New Guinea.
- 1961The first missionaries were sent to Port Moresby and Lae, but missionary work was later closed that year.
- 1979The first branch in Papua New Guinea was created in Port Moresby.
- 1980Sustained missionary work began again in Papua New Guinea.
- 1980The first baptismal service for local converts was held in Port Moresby on October 19.
- 1981The Church received formal recognition and legal status in Papua New Guinea.
- 1992The Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission was organized on February 13.
- 1995The first stake in Port Moresby was organized on October 21.
- 2019President Russell M. Nelson announced the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple on October 5.
Temples nearby
Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple
Under construction · Near Port Moresby
Brisbane Australia Temple
Dedicated June 15, 2003 · About 1300 miles from Port Moresby
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
- Gutpela moningGood morning
- Yu stap gut?Are you well?
- TenkyuThank you
- PlisPlease
Foods to try
- Mumu (meat and vegetables cooked in an earth oven)
- Kaukau (sweet potato, a common staple food)
- Sago (starch made from the sago palm)
- Kokoda (fish prepared with citrus and coconut)
Fun facts
- Port Moresby is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific outside Australia and New Zealand, along with Jayapura.
- Port Moresby is the driest place in New Guinea, with average yearly rainfall of about 898.8 millimeters.
- The city hosted the APEC summit in November 2018.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.