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Trinidad Mormons - Mormon Doctrine Studies - Posted: 22nd Jun, 2003 - 3:33pm
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All things related to the Mormons in Trinidad & Tobago. This is specific to this country, general mission info should go in the West Indies Mission Thread. Related Information to Trinidad Mormons
Trinidad Mormons
Trinidad & Tobago Mormons
The History of the Mormons in Trinidad and Tobago is not as dramatic as the pioneers trek to Salt Lake City, nor were there any martydoms, but it has been very difficult to organize and establish the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints within the country. JB compiled two short volumes on the Mormons there entitled, 'THE HISTORY OF THE SAINTS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO' (Books I & II) The establishment of the Church in Trinidad begun with Elizabeth Anne Rogers. She wrote the prophet of the Church (At the time it was Pres. Spencer W. Kimball) requesting full-time missionaries to be sent to Trinidad. Pres. Kimball responded quickly by directing that the Caracas Venezuela Mission send two full-time missionaries to Trinidad to begin the work.Some Historical Facts:
Number in the District: Approx. 1500 members
The first baptized member: Lucy Josephine Payne, 2nd June, 1977
The first male member: Basil Dermont Borde, 31st August, 1977
The first local missionary: Judy Jattan
The first eight year old member: JB, 25th September, 1980
The first Branch: The Trinidad Branch
The formation of a District: 3rd March, 1996
The first District President: Albert Alleyne
The first District Presidency: Albert Alleyne, District President, Jean A. Borde, 1st Counselor, and, Huebert Sadaphal 2nd Counselor
Current District Presidents: President Choo - North
President Ramdeen - South
The present Mission President: Robison
The name of the Mission: The West Indies Mission
Number of Branches: Nine (9)
Names of Branches:
Port of Spain, Arima, Sangre Grande, and Curepe (North)
San Fernando, Couva, Chagunas, Princes Town, and Siparia (South)
The History of the Saints in Trinidad & Tobago
Books I & II plus Visit of the Prophet
Covers the earliest visits by Ezra Taft Benson, James E. Faust and the first missionaries to visit from the Caracas Venezuela Mission. First local members, expansion and opposition. Forming of the Port of Spain District, and Local Conference presided by Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley also elaborated. Learn more: Trinidad Mormon History.Changes
The following are some changes that happened as early as last Sunday, some happened some weeks ago...
Port of Spain Branch Presidency
President - Hooker
1st - Br. Balgobin
2nd - Br. Jasper
Arima Branch Presidency
President - Richardson
1st - Samad
2nd - (Darn! getting old!)
Other
Br. K. Diaz - Secretary Elders Quorum POS
Br. A. Maharaj - Exec. Sec. POS
Sr. M. Borde - District Family History Consultant
Sponsored Links:
Mormons Trinidad
CES History in Trinidad
The Church Educational System first begun in Trinidad in the 1980's with a couple called the Evans. They organized a small group of about six in what was still the Trinidad Branch in Port of Spain. After the Evans left C.E.S. More or less started and stopped with every couple that came and departed. In the late 1980's a man by the name of Kelvin Diaz joined the Church and was later appointed as the C.E.S. Co-ordinator for the region. He continued where the couples left off, but on a bigger scale. Following Br. Diaz, came Fritzner Joseph from Haiti. Br. Joseph took over from Br. Diaz and expanded C.E.S. In the region. The first C.E.S. Couple to be sent to work in Trinidad are the Mc Gills. This Couple has been able to organize Seminary and Institute in a special and specific way than any of the previous initiators. The Mc Gills stats are below:
QUOTE From Elder John and Sister Natalie McGill, 4 Dec 1999: We are senior couple missionaries currently serving as the West Indies Mission's first Church Educational System (CES) missionaries, and have four children and nine grandchildren. Sister McGill was converted in 1967 while a young mother of two daughters living in Covington, Kentucky, where Elder McGill was practicing law in Cincinnati, Ohio. Elder McGill was baptized 8 1/2 years later in Memphis, Tennessee. Our life in the Church has been rich and rewarding, and we count it as our greatest blessing that all our children were married in the temple, and their children are being raised in the Church. Because we never got to serve missions as young adults, and to show our gratitute to Heavenly Father for His great blessings, Elder McGill took early retirement from Reynolds Metals Co. In 1993 so we could begin our missionary service. Our first mission was as counselor to the Virginia, Richmond Mission President, so we moved to Virginia Beach in 1994 to serve there for 14 months. In February of '99 we left Richmond, Virginia, where we have lived for twenty years, to begin this mission, and we will serve here in Trinidad for 18 months (Until August, 2000). This is an exciting and rewarding mission, and we love working with the young people. Thus far, our work within the mission has been concentrated on the five branches in Trinidad, three each in Guyana and Barbados, and the branch in Suriname. In each counrty we help appoint, train and support seminary and institute teachers; visit their classes as often as possible; hold Super Saturdays every few months; work with district and branch leadership as youth advocates; help plan and carry out activities for the young single adults; teach a weekly institute class and provide substitute teaching; LOTS of record keeping; and are now working with the district president to form an Institute Council in Trinidad.
It is a rich and varied work, sometimes exhausting and frustrating, but has brought so many blessings. We feel the Lord's hand in countless ways in this work, and realize how precious the youth are to Him. We miss our family terribly, but they have been so blessed as we serve that we don't worry about them. Our testimony of the Savior has increased immeasurably these past 9 plus months, and we realize the need for strict obedience as we have never understood it before. We hope to be able to serve more missions in the future.
It is a rich and varied work, sometimes exhausting and frustrating, but has brought so many blessings. We feel the Lord's hand in countless ways in this work, and realize how precious the youth are to Him. We miss our family terribly, but they have been so blessed as we serve that we don't worry about them. Our testimony of the Savior has increased immeasurably these past 9 plus months, and we realize the need for strict obedience as we have never understood it before. We hope to be able to serve more missions in the future.
Br. Joseph dancing with one of the Seminary Students from Couva at a Seminary Graduation.
9th June, 2002
The many return missionaries at the Armia Branch. 'Dawn' Lutchman gave her home coming talk today and spoke about her mission and testimony. Her father expressed much pleasure in seeing two of his daughters serve missions. Not included in the photo below is Seema Lutchman as she was abroad.
(LtoR) Arima Chapel Grounds: Sr. Woods, Sr. Lutchman, Sr. Lares, Br. Clark, and
Elder Nandlal (Currently serving from the San Fernando Branch)
20th May, 2002
Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, Sr. Hinckley, daughter,
Pres. James E. Faust and grandson visit Trinidad!
The visit was magnificent and soul edifying for all. They (Pres. Hinckley and Faust) met with the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Hon. Patrick Manning at the White Hall in Port of Spain.
Pres. Hinckley expressed appreciation to Mr. Manning for his involvement in allowing Church organizations such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and its missionaries to be in Trinidad.
The special fireside at Cascadia was conducted by Pres. Albert Alleyne. Speakers were the Van Noys (West Indies Mission), Pres. Faust and Hinckley). The District Primary sung two delightful primary songs that made the Hinckleys smile. The words of the evening were significant, heartfelt, enlightening and full of Spirit for all those who attended. See more: Fireside: Pres. Hinckley
Above: (LtoR) Pres. Van Noy, Sr. Van Noy, Pres. Hinckley, Pres. Faust, Pres. Gould, and Sr. Gould stand still for a photo at the Piarco Airport.
Many ask - when will Trinidad become a Stake?
We need to fulfill these things...
* Have 99 active Melchizedek Priesthood holders
* These priesthood holders must be full tithe payers
* At least 5 branches
* Membership total should be 1200+
The only one we are lacking from the above is the first two. So it is up to the Elders of the Church locally to become active and pay their tithes.
5th May, 2002New POS Branch Presidency
(L to R) Br. Hooker, 1st Counselor, Reuben Raphael, President
And Peter Rojas, 2nd Counselor
28th April, 2002
Felipe Borde (Left) and Sr. Alleyne after Conference
Today the Port of Spain Trinidad District Presidency's Counselors were changed by the West Indies Mission Presidency. The following are the details:
District President: Albert Alleyne
1st Counselor: JB
2nd Counselor: Emrol Gould
District Clerk: Austin Mendoza
New District Councilman: Ramesh Ramoutar
The Conference was very reverent and many had to stand as there was not enough seats for everyone. The Sangre Grande Branch choir under the direction of Sr. Karen Williamson did a lovely rendition of one of the hymns.
Pres. Don Van Noy, President of the West Indies Mission announced that Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley and Pres. James E. Faust of the First Presidency will be visiting Trinidad on the 20th May, 2002. More details to come.
Pres. Alleyne spoke about the requirements for a Stake in Trinidad and hoped for the members to press forward collectively to accomplish this goal. He said that the District had approximately 1,418 members but needed more active Melchizedek priesthood in each of the five Branches.
Pioneer
Elizabeth Rogers, a true pioneer of the Church in Trinidad
Mormons Trinidad
QUOTE JB, may I ask what's the District specifically is doing to obtain this goal?. Is there a plan set to reach these number?.
Sorry, I did not see that reply or would have answered sooner. Anyway, the only thing left in those aforementioned goals is having at least 99 full tithe payers. So the District is hoping everyone strengthens their testimony, especially the Elders. Lots of training and interviews are taking place.
New Calls
1. C. Danzelle - District YSA Rep.
2. R. Roopnarinesingh - 1st Counselor Relief Society
Trinidad Mormons
New District Executive Secretary
Ashton Garcia is the new District Executive Secretary.
District conference recently took place, the focus was on the life, death and ressurection of Christ. It was the Van Noy's last Conference (they leave end of June).
YSA Fireside last Sunday about dating - great attendence 
Trinidad Mormons
Ainsley Alleyne, son of Pres. Alleyne, District President in Trinidad was believed to have died tragically on the 3rd May. He was buried in the Mucurapo Cemetery on the 14th of May, 2003. Funeral services was conducted by President D. Hooker, Branch President of POS Branch.
Trinidad Mormons Mormon Doctrine Studies
Pres. Van Noy will be leaving on the 30th June and the new Mission President is expected here on the 29th June. More to come as we meet him.
We recently had a well attended CES Graduation in the District. A dance was the activity and everyone enjoyed themselves. Thanks to the YSA for putting up decorations and preparing everything.
TOPIC: Trinidad Mormons