The World’s Linguistic Treasurehouse

With over 800 languages spoken, there are more languages in use in Papua New Guinea than anywhere else on earth. On October 1, 1988, the Latter-day Saints in Papua New Guinea held their first women’s conference in Papua New Guinea. Many of the 130 sisters traveled long distances to attend the conference in the Gabutu meetinghouse in Port Moresby. The two-hour conference began with a musical number sung in Motu, a language prominent in southern Papua New Guinea, by sisters from the Konedobu Branch. Talks and workshops followed in English, Tok Pisin, and Hiri Motu. In addition to communicating with their voices, sisters displayed handicrafts showing the expressions of their hands: colorful bilums (string bags), baskets, and European-style crafts.

It is common to hear multiple languages spoken in Church meetings and lessons, including Tok Pisin, English, Motu, and other local languages. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are available in Tok Pisin, and the sacrament prayers have been translated into Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu.