Church History Overview, 1976–1982

The missionaries first arrived on Pohnpei, October 23, 1976. They came at the request of Ohren R. Ohry, a member that was baptized in Hawaii while attending college. The first missionaries were George L. Mortensen and Aldric L. Porter. A short time later two more arrived, Brian D. Tate and Chris Harrison. There have been missionaries on the island continuously since that date. 

The first baptisms occurred at Mand in which several members of the Ohry family were baptized on March 5, 1977, along with Seisero Solomon. A week later, on March 12, the Naped S. Elias family entered the waters of baptism along with Perden Samson in the Kolonia area. 

Elder Abraham Lincoln, Elder Heber Butler, Naped Elias. Photo by Heber Butler.

In June 1977, the Hawaiian missionary couple Abraham and Halloween Lincoln arrived, bringing the missionary strength to six (they served until September 1977). Soon two branches were organized with missionary branch presidents. In August the branches were organized with native leaders Naped Elias at Kolonia and Johnny Bridge at Mand. In May a small group began at Sapwalap, as a dependent of the Mand Branch. By December it became an independent branch.

The first branch was the Kolonia Branch, followed by the Mand Branch and later by the Sapwalap Branch. In 1978 a dependent branch was formed in Sekere, but it was later dissolved.

Near the end of 1980, a building project was started on the island by the church and Wallace B. Heap was in charge or the building projects. Brother Heap had previously served a full-time mission on Pohnpei. Three chapels were built between October 1980 and September 1981, the first at Sapwalap, second at Mand, and the last at Kolonia. The chapels at Sapwalap and Mand were rural-type chapels with a chapel, two classrooms, and a president and clerk’s office. The Kolonia Chapel was a multipurpose building with restrooms, kitchen, and library. The chapel portion could be divided into five separate classrooms, but there were no separate classrooms. There was also a baptismal font in Kolonia. This building could be added to as the branch grew.

In November 1980, Elder John S. DeLeon and Elder Stuart G. Strauss came to Pohnpei and teamed up with Elder Jeffrey K. Merrill, forming a threesome companionship. Ursel and Regina Rhodes were the only missionary couple on the island. Elder Rhodes was the branch president for the Kolonia Branch. These five missionaries spent Thanksgiving together just prior to the Rhodes’ departure for home.

On January 13, 1981, Robert W. and Irene Naef came in to replace the Rhodes. Elder Naef was the new branch president for the Kolonia Branch. With the Naefs came Elder Mark T. Durham.

In January 1982, a special baptism was held for a couple of people. This particular baptism required hiking, patience and devotion. Elders Strauss, DeLeon, Johnson, and Durham, along with the Grovers, hiked up a trail to hold the services. They were held in a thatched roof shack. The candidates for baptism were baptized in the river. In the background was a beautiful little waterfall. In this beautiful setting those in attendance experienced a great spirit of the Lord as it rested upon each of them.

Elder DeLeon began a weightlifting program. This proved very good as it brought some inactive members back into the fold. It also made new friends for the Church and developed good friendships with the youth of Mand area. Much good came from branch president Johnny Bridge’s love and devotion to the Church. Many faithful local members, too, contributed much to the growth of the Church there.