World
Mormon Missionaries and Indigenous Outreach in Australia
Explore the impact of Mormon missionaries on Indigenous communities in Australia. Discover their outreach efforts, cultural exchanges, and the challenges faced in bridging faith and tradition within diverse Aboriginal cultures.
The Australia Letter
The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to receive it by email. This week’s issue is penned by Julia Bergin, who recently reported from the Northern Territory.
The journey began as the car, piloted by a pair of dedicated Mormon missionaries, rattled along the sun-baked red dirt road for a solid 90 minutes. Just as the scenery began to blend into a blur of ochre, the driver broke the silence, declaring that it was “time for a lesson.”
In a seamless motion, the front passenger unfastened her seatbelt, pivoted her body, and half-leaning into the back seat where I was seated, opened a meticulously organized black binder. With a warm smile, she began to teach.
The focus of our discussion was the “Plan of Salvation,” which outlines what Mormons believe is God’s overarching plan to redeem humanity and foster spiritual growth. The instructor, Sister Bonnie Jackson, a senior missionary, was utilizing a unique version of scripture that set this lesson apart from typical religious teachings.
This was a special Indigenous edition of the Book of Mormon.
“It’s a beautiful blend of cultural elements and the message we aim to share,” Mrs. Jackson explained, flipping through the colorful pages of this illustrated version of the Mormon scripture, where each image had been thoughtfully crafted by local Aboriginal artists.
The Jacksons, who are originally from the United States and are now in their late 60s, embarked on their mission to the Australian outback 18 months ago. As senior missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they were part of a group of 12 volunteers assigned to the bush regions, particularly around Alice Springs and nearby Indigenous communities such as Mulga Bore, Engawala, and Atitjere.
The Mormon Church has a rich history in Australia, having established its presence in 1840. Currently, it boasts over 157,000 members, more than 200 formal meeting houses, and upwards of 300 congregations spread across the country. This includes several small outposts located within remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Although the populations in these areas are modest—ranging from 50 to a few hundred individuals—the influence and presence of the Mormon Church remain significant and impactful.