Transcript
In Tonga, with a population of just over 106-thousand people, 60 percent of the population are registered as members of the Mormon church. The data was collated by a Colorado researcher Matt Martinich who has been studying the Latter-day Saints Church growth since 2002. Mr Martinich says that what surprised him was how high the numbers were in nations with a small population.
"In Tonga, which has the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints of any country in the world in terms of nominal ones on church record. At one point the church in Tonga actually closed its mission because it was so ineffective in the late 19th century because the missionary efforts appealed to so few converts."
Elder Aisake Tukuafu from the Nuku'alofa South Stake is not surprised at the figure. Mr Tukuafu says like with all churches, there are some inactive members, but confirms Latter-day Saints is definitely growing in Tonga.
"When you accept our teachings, you get baptised and we keep a record of each individual who has been baptised and the average people who have been baptised is a range from 800 to 1400 a year."
Mr Tukuafu's stake has more than 2,000 members on record. He says the opening of more stakes around Tonga is a sign of members of the Mormon church increasing.
"Some of the stakes are 2800 members and some are going up to almost 8000 per stake. But on the main island Tongatapu, we have 14 stakes and we have one in 'Eua and also Ha'apai and we also have 3 stakes in Vava'u. We are in the process of creating another two stakes in the near future."
An churchgoer of the Nuku'alofa Habour Stake, Ana Ve'ehala was born and raised into the Mormon church. She says the main reason for why Tongans are attracted to the Mormon teachings is because of its strong emphasis on family.
"I think those are our main core in the doctrines is having faith in Christ and that family matters most to us. Having that faith in Christ and knowing that my family can be forever together."
Researcher Matt Martinich says the Pacific culture is more receptive to the teachings of the Mormon church. He says establishments in the islands has also been a factor.
"If you look at the history of the membership growth and a lot of these South Pacific nations, what really has fuelled a lot of that strong growth were chapel meeting house construction programs in the mid-twentieth century as well as the foundation of LDS schools."
Samoa has ranked second in the world with Mormon membership, followed by American Samoa.