People are often surprised to hear that Tonga is officially about 60% Mormon—but what’s behind this huge Mormon presence in Polynesia? In this video, I’ll explore the complicated history of Mormon colonization in Tonga, revealing how missionaries manipulated doctrine and leveraged schools like Liahona High School to cement their influence.
We’ll unpack how stories from the Book of Mormon were tailored specifically for Polynesian audiences and discuss my personal experiences visiting the controversial Mormon-owned Polynesian Cultural Center. Join me as we examine the difference between official church statistics and reality, and why Mormonism has such a huge foothold in this part of the globe.
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A few resources I mention in the video:
*Read the essay “To Be Young, Mormon, and Tongan:” https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V50N04_17.pdf
*Watch my reaction to Johnny Lingo on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/131238658?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
*Watch my video covering the Mormon church’s racism against black people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lhi_UaAMvM&t=4380s
*Salt Lake Tribune article about this topic: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/06/02/the-most-mormon-country-in-the-world-its-tonga/#:~:text=Of%20Tonga%27s%20106%2C513%20inhabitants%2C%2064%2C156,Radio%20New%20Zealand%20(RNZ).
*Mormon Church reporting membership numbers: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/tonga
*One in every 4 US Tongans call Utah home: https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/politics/52551592-90/california-family-hawaii-population.html.csp&_gl=1*170yewl*_gcl_au*MTIzNjcxNzA0My4xNzQ3OTM5MDkx*_ga*MTkxNzcwODI0OC4xNzQ3OTM5MDkx*_ga_DC2TJEE08T*czE3NDg1NTUwNDAkbzQkZzEkdDE3NDg1NTUwOTMkajckbDAkaDA.
*Baptize you TikTok video: https://www.tiktok.com/@kalebiong1/video/7401991071497997598?_r=1&_t=ZT-8wmxWBeHxHC
*Hear @queernesian676 explain his video about pālangi missionaries: https://www.tiktok.com/@queernesian676/video/7502526129719233822?q=mormon%20tonga&t=1749824635966
*Missionaries do the Haka example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_vduURZ07g
*Remove your name from the Mormon church’s records: https://quitmormon.com/resignation/73300/pending
*Tongan census: https://tongastats.gov.to/census-2/population-census-3/census-report-and-factsheet/
*Church counts people up till they are 110: https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=3123952&itype=NGPSID
*Other countries with high membership rates: https://www.ldsliving.com/10-countries-with-the-highest-percentage-of-mormons-the-country-in-each-region-with-the-most-mormons/s/85248
*Listen to Heaven’s Helpline: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Je06h0lSL8uVQsd2tbpCX
*Watch my explanation of The Book of Mormon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-pEWfx3tJM&t=1224s
*Hagoth in The Book of Mormon: https://rsc.byu.edu/book-mormon-alma-testimony-word/hagoth-polynesians
*More quotes from Mormon leaders about Hagoth: https://kealakai.byuh.edu/unearthing-faith-through-historical-finds?utm_source=chatgpt.com
*Wikipedia page about Tonga and Mormons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_in_Tonga#cite_note-Britsch_1986-5
*The Book of Mormon in Tongan: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures?lang=ton
*Watch my video explaining my experience at Brigham Young University: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=byu+alssa+grenfell
*Liahona High School dress code: https://www.facebook.com/100075925459772/photos/693033826570793/?_rdr
*Liahona High School job description: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10230054001117650&set=a.1083180963325
LDSLiving article about the PCC: https://www.ldsliving.com/why-there-are-tattoos-and-strapless-costumes-at-the-polynesian-cultural-center/s/83359?utm_source=chatgpt.com
*Polynesiean cultural center leadership: https://legacy.polynesia.com/our-ohana/
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Where to find me:
*Patreon (ad free & bonus content): https://shorturl.at/8bpnw
*TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfell?lang=en
*Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssadgrenfell/?hl=en
*Blog: https://www.mormontruths.com
*Email me: alyssadgrenfell@gmail.com
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Support my channel:
*Patreon (ad free & bonus content): https://shorturl.at/8bpnw
