Macau
1,455
Total Church Membership
3
Congregations
1
Family History Centers
History
President Jay A. Quealy of the Southern Far East Mission and Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve (one of the highest governing bodies of the Church) visited Macau in April 1964. A short time later, in July, the first two missionaries, Darryl Thomander and Gilbert Montano, arrived. Steven Lau was the first person baptized in the colony in August 1964. Three more people were baptized one week later, and the missionaries started holding worship meetings.
Church meetings were suspended in December 1964 because the Church lacked a license from the Portuguese government to conduct religious activities. Legal recognition had still not been granted in September 1965, at which time the missionaries were banned from proselyting.
Four full-time missionaries returned to Macau in September 1976 after a constitutional amendment had been passed allowing religions to hold meetings, teach, and preach. One year later the Hong Kong Mission reported that the work in Macau was developing quickly, with 300-400 percent attendance at Church meetings. The Macau Branch (a small congregation) was organized in January 1977.
The Macau Branch was divided in May 1998. Cantonese-speaking members attended the 1st Branch and English speakers attended the 2nd Branch. The Macau 3rd Branch was organized in March 2001 to serve the needs of the Mandarin speakers. Macau reverted from Portuguese to Chinese control in December 1999 but continued to enjoy religious freedom.
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Bradford Hillam
Wan Chai,
Hong Kong
Phone: 852-2910-2941
Africa
Total Church Membership
621,448
Members
2,150
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
3Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,206,148
Members
2,139
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
493,970
Members
1,382
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
12Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,336,465
Members
18,071
Congregations
Missions
182Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
109Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
562,341
Members
1,253
Congregations
Missions
17Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,093,363
Members
5,541
Congregations