Bringing Light and Hope to Remote Congregations

Reflecting on her service alongside her husband, Sister Maxine Meurs—wife of Elder Peter F. Meurs, Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—recently shared insights on his ministry and her support of his service across the Pacific. 

For the last four years, she has accompanied him as he ministered throughout the Pacific region, offering her own devoted strength and contribution.

Sister Meurs spoke in a devotional in Auckland on 25 June of a question her husband frequently asks himself and others when seeking solutions to challenging situations: “What would it take?”

In considering the needs of a growing Church membership in some of the most remote areas of the Pacific—where members often build their own chapels using whatever materials are available—the question became more specific: “What would it take to build simple but dignified meetinghouses for people in remote jungle areas, so they don’t have to walk hours to the nearest church building?”

It’s a question that demands an answer as devoted congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ in far off parts of the world seek to worship Heavenly Father as they remember the life and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

That answer came in the form of the Small Meetinghouse Project + (SMP+). Between 2025 and the first half of 2026, the program has built ten beautiful meetinghouses in some of the most remote parts of Pacific island nations. Thirteen to sixteen additional meetinghouses are scheduled for completion by the end of this year. That will include four in Vanuatu, one in Fiji, and one in Kiribati.

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One of these new SMP+ buildings is already making a difference in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. One of the counsellors of the congregation leader, Mack Ambota, sees how it’s attracting more people and spiritually blessing all who come there to worship each Sunday.

“It has helped us a lot with spiritual things. There is enough space to sit around and enjoy the environment. We have self-reliance courses here and it helps them learn more and have more opportunities. The chapel brings more people. Last week there was not enough space for everyone. Plenty of people coming in."

Rebecca Aga, president of the women’s organisation known as the Relief Society can also see how the new building helps all to feel included.

"For me, it's good. It's big and there is enough for all the Church members to be seated inside because the other small building we were using was really small and most of the Church members used to sit outside from the chapel. Now we have a new building here. It's very good. It's easy for us to fit everybody inside."

Rebecca’s counsellor and self-reliance class instructor, Betty Aputa, agrees and sees how it helps her congregation reach out to others in Port Moresby while strengthening her own faith.

"It is helping us to reach out in our ministry, to reach out to others in the community. The courses run by the Church is bringing everyone here to this chapel and we use it to introduce our self-reliance lessons. We are happy to share.

I just joined the Church last year. I am meeting a lot of people and grateful to the Lord. There was something that was left out in my life and I am happy that I am in here. I know this is the true church. With my faith, I believe I will continue working with the Lord."

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Kitana Teukari also recently joined the Church and is likewise excited to share the message of the restored gospel with others.

“When we come in the new chapel, we can invite our family and others come to Christ and come to know the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The SMP+ buildings are self-contained, off-grid structures that provide shelter from the sun and rain while harnessing both to improve the lives of the surrounding community. Solar panels on the roof convert sunshine to electricity that’s stored in batteries to power lights and other electrical resources. Rain from the roof is caught and diverted to large storage tanks for later use.

The lights provide an answer to another one of President and Sister Meurs' what-would-it-take questions. “What would it take to provide education to remote communities?”

Lights in the buildings enable school children to read and study after the sun goes down. In addition to the lights, Starlink satellite internet service has been approved for installation in SMPP buildings in Papua New Guinea. The satellite system will connect villagers to the internet and learning opportunities like BYU-Pathway Worldwide and will allow them to join the worldwide Church community at semi-annual General Conference broadcasts.

Another major advantage: It’s estimated that five of these SMP+ buildings can be built for the cost of one traditional meetinghouse. In Papua New Guinea where four new stakes – a group of five to ten congregations – were created over the past two years, that’s making a monumental difference in the lives of Heavenly Father’s children in that part of the world.

Seeing the finished product and knowing all that it took to build these houses of worship, President Meurs knows the lives and the eternities of all who worship in them will be changed for the better.

“These are more than just buildings. They’re spaces where even the most remote member can experience the light of Christ.”