In 1991, then Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the groundbreaking for a meetinghouse in Popendetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea.
Elder Russell M. Nelson and others break ground for Popendetta Meetinghouse 1991
Elder Russell M. Nelson and others break ground for a meetinghouse in Popendetta, Papua New Guinea in 1991.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.34 years later, the meetinghouse, which also served as a district centre, is about to make way for a new and larger stake centre to be built on the hallowed site.
Last weekend, 14-15 June, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo of the Seventy and a member of the Pacific Area Presidency, presided at a conference in Popendetta during which the first stake in the province—the fifth in the country—was organised.
The Oro Papua New Guinea Stake is so named due to its location in the Oro Province and for the Oro River which runs through the region, northeast of the nation’s capital of Port Moresby.
34 years ago, the new stake president, Tossip Salaiau, was a young man who attended the groundbreaking service presided over by Elder Nelson. President Salaiau is pictured in the photograph below.
Also attending the groundbreaking in 1991 was a little girl by the name of Chimolen Tererembo, standing to the right of President Salaiau in the photograph. This past weekend, that little girl, now an adult, was called to serve as the Oro Stake Relief Society President.
Elder Russell M. Nelson presides at a meetinghouse groundbreaking service in Popendetta Papua New Guinea in 1991.
Elder Russell M. Nelson presides at a meetinghouse groundbreaking service in Popendetta Papua New Guinea in 1991. Among those in attendance were Tossip Salaiau (first from the left) and his young sister Chimolen Tererembo (standing to his right), who were both called into leadership positions in the new Oro Papua New Guinea Stake on the weekend of 14-15 June 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Wakolo said, “President Nelson (then Elder Nelson) was there to do the groundbreaking of the Oro chapel which later became a district centre. They just started the renovation on Monday this week to have a stake centre.”
“This is a beautiful story. We welcome the many people who are coming unto Jesus Christ by being baptised now, and we also are very grateful for those Papua New Guinean Saints who have been faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ for many years. The roots of the restored gospel and Church of Jesus Christ are deep in this land, and many generations will be blessed in years to come as we continue to gather to the sacrament, to the house of the Lord, and to minister to one another to strengthen faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Elder Wakolo added, “This is the majesty of the moment President Nelson invited us not to miss.”