October 25, 2025, 3:30pm MDT
What began with a few mothers teaching their children under the canopy of palm fronds in a jungle village in Papua New Guinea has grown into a national network of more than 100 kindergartens inspired by the words of God’s prophets.
The prophet’s voice reaches the jungle
In October 2015, then-President Thomas S. Monson called on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to “shine” wherever they are.
“You have come into the presence of the Lord to live a season on this earth to reflect the love and teachings of the Savior and to courageously shine your light for all to see,” he said.
More than 7,000 miles away, in the small coastal village of Madang, a group of Latter-day Saint women huddled around the area’s only television to watch general conference, the Church’s Papua New Guinea Newsroom reported.
Inspired by President Monson’s counsel, they decided to “shine” in their own way by helping children in their rural villages receive an education that was unavailable to many.
Among them was Lulu Hota, who helped found the first Mum’s Preschool. Lacking money, electricity, and modern conveniences, she and her friends built makeshift classrooms using pillars, woven leaves, and dirt floors. The lesson was written on a piece of paper found in a village trash can. But what I lacked in faith I made up for.
Humble beginnings, inspiring endeavors
Within months, the women’s efforts attracted the attention of the Church’s Pacific Area Presidency, which provided organizational guidance. Within a few months, eight mom kindergartens opened around Madang. Children learned about letters, numbers, colors, and how to learn together through kindness and cooperation.
The Founders felt their prayers had already been answered, but the Lord had something more in store. Their small effort to follow prophetic counsel soon became a movement.
Ten years later, the initiative has grown to more than 100 mom preschools across Papua New Guinea, serving thousands of children in both rural villages and crowded urban areas.
The school’s mission is rooted in the scripture: “Seek learning even by study and faith” (D&C 88:118). Teachers value respect, honesty, fairness and unity.
In 2019, the Pacific Area Presidency helped create a guidebook to help train instructors.
“Moms’ preschool groups are organized and taught by mothers and other family members,” the document says. “Families take turns hosting preschool at home. Families can provide preschool for their own children and do not have to pay to send their children to outside preschool. Parents and families are a child’s most important teacher.”
State governments, educators, and parents are all focused on kindergarten success, especially how graduates enter public schools who can already read, write, count, and are ready to learn.
Lead with love and faith
In the capital, Port Moresby, Nina Frank heads 48 Mums Preschools, serving around 1,800 students.
“Mom’s school is good for our country,” she said. “It is growing and will grow even faster in the future. Mama’s Kindergarten is all about God’s children and I love this job that God has given me. God has given me the strength to carry out that work and help children return to Him. The world is not good right now. We need schools that teach and guide our children.”
Ranu Hebore, another teacher who heads Mams River Kindergarten in Gelephu, said she saw the Lord’s hand in her daily work.
“I am grateful to Heavenly Father for the opportunity to run the school. I know the Lord is on my side. He is watching me and He is teaching me. It is not easy for me, but I will keep going,” she said.
A growing generation of learners
Currently, Mum’s Preschools is run through a national foundation with the support of the church and in cooperation with AcaPNG. Schools continue to face challenges such as limited power, scarce supplies, and expensive government approvals, but faith remains their foundation.
What started in one village has now spread across the country, with a rise of literate, confident learners whose lives are forever changed by their mothers who believed in the prophet’s voice.
For these women, teaching is as much a blessing to themselves as it is to their children.
“Sometimes I struggle, but when I see the Lord bless little children, I know He is with me. When I was teaching little children, I was learning myself. They were learning from me, and I was learning from them. As they learned to read and write, I learned to read and write. I know that the Lord knows what I am doing. He is always in front of us.”
As President Monson taught, “Opportunities to shine are all around us every day, no matter our circumstances. As we follow the Savior’s example, our example will be an opportunity to be a light in the lives of others.”
