The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing in many island nations in the Pacific region, but that growth poses some unique challenges.
In a recent video interview posted on the Pacific Area YouTube channel, Elder Peter F. Moors, a General Authority Seventy and President of the Pacific Area, described how some Latter-day Saints in remote areas live in impoverished conditions and lack access to electricity, internet, and running water.
“Typically in these places there are very few roads, and transportation is very poor or non-existent, and some people walk two to three hours to get to church,” Elder Moors said. “When they get there, they get to Bush Chapel, which basically has no technology, no equipment.”
As a solution, the district created what it calls the Simple Meetinghouse Plus project, an open-concept meeting place with an additional classroom building. These temporary meeting places are equipped with solar panels, batteries, lighting, and satellite internet service.
It protects you from the sun and rain while harnessing both for sustainability. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which is stored in batteries to power lights and other electronic devices. Tropical rain falls and is stored in tanks.
These buildings have all the amenities of a traditional Latter-day Saint house of worship, but the buildings are simple, Elder Moors said. A church can build 5 to 10 buildings at the cost of a regular meetinghouse. “But the most important thing about these buildings is not what they are made of, but what they are capable of.”
Lighting within the building allows school children to study and participate in the Church’s School Success Program. People can attend seminaries, institutes, and classes at BYU – Pathway Worldwide. Youth activities, presidency meetings, priesthood training, self-reliance courses, etc. may be held. Church members can listen to and watch worldwide broadcasts of general conference and other events.
Mac Ambota, second counselor at the Gelehu Papua New Guinea District Eight Mile Branch in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, told the church’s Pacific Newsroom: “They have helped us a lot in spiritual matters. It’s a great place to sit and enjoy the environment. We have plenty of space. We have independent courses here that will help us learn more and have more opportunities. Last week we didn’t have enough space for everyone. We had a lot of people.” in. ”
Rebecca Aga, the branch’s Relief Society president, said the old Bush Chapel was small and many attendees would have to sit outside. “Now we have a new building here, and it’s a great building. It’s easy to get everyone inside,” she said.
The new building also spurred missionary opportunities. Betty Aputa, the branch’s self-reliance class teacher, said the new building “helps us do missionary work and connect with others in the community. The courses run by the church bring everyone here to this chapel, and we use this chapel to introduce self-reliance lessons. We’re happy to share.”
Elder Moors said that in these remote places, when the sun goes down, everything is dark. “Here in the darkness, in the middle of nowhere, people can now gather together. These are more than just buildings, they are spaces where even the most remote members can experience the light of Christ.”
To date, 10 Simple Meetinghouse Plus structures have been built. Another 13 to 16 meetinghouses are expected to be completed by the end of this year, including four in Vanuatu, one in Fiji and one in Kiribati.
