Elder Robert Maurice Goodman maintains a special connection with the people of Polynesia. He and his companion, Elder Wallace L. Barrett, became the first full-time LDS missionaries to serve on the Island of Niue.

Photo courtesy Robert Goodman

Church membership has grown to about 10 percent of the population in Niue, an island in the South Pacific. In 1950s, homes such as this were common.

Photo courtesy Robert Goodman

Sister Shirley Goodman and Elder Robert Goodman

Photos courtesy Robert Goodman

In photo taken in early 1950s, first branch members stand near meetinghouse. Many Niueans have since left the South Pacific island, adding strength to wards and branches in such places as New Zealand and the United States.

Lying in the South Pacific east of Tonga, the island is about one and a half times the area of Washington, D.C., with a diminishing population of some 2,100 people. Of those, more than 10 percent, or 260, are members of the Church.

There were more than twice that many residents in 1951 when Brother Goodman was called to New Zealand on a mission. This "began a wonderful spiritual odyssey that continues to this day; one that has deepened my love for the Lord and His Church. My missionary experiences taught me about the blessings of service and fostered a sincere devotion to the people of Polynesia."

Brother Goodman recalls some of the challenges he faced when transferred to Niue, where he arrived May 10, 1952, about a year after serving in New Zealand. While most of the islanders were friendly, some on the island preferred to keep out new religions. Stonings and cursings were two methods employed to exercise control over the population.

Two months after their arrival, Elders Goodman and Barrett were to experience these stonings first-hand. In the middle of the night, "there suddenly came a thunderous hail of stones and rocks upon our tin roof. The racket was so terrible that we were sure our roof was going to cave in." In their haste to get out of their quarters and into the bush, "Elder Barrett failed to put on his shoes, and he suffered severe cuts on his feet from the poisonous coral rock that is prevalent on the island."

Elder Barrett's wounded feet became badly infected — which, over the next several days, caused his legs and body to swell, resulting in tremendous pain.

Some two weeks later, as Elder Goodman stood on the dock watching the ship disappear carrying his friend and companion back to New Zealand for much needed medical care, he suddenly realized he was alone. It would be nearly a month before his new companion, Elder Horace Thayne Christensen, arrived. In the meantime, one of the young men on the island who spoke English, Moumou, became his temporary companion.

Opposition to their presence continued and extended to the governing British Commonwealth. Then-New Zealand Mission President Sidney J. Ottley stopped the debate that waged as far away as Auckland by emphasizing that missionaries would remain on the island.

The first baptisms took place on Aug. 14, 1952, with Fritz Kruger, a member missionary from New Zealand, baptizing the first 10, Elder Goodman baptizing the second 10 and Elder Christensen baptizing the final six.

Brother Goodman reflected: "Marvelous life-changing experiences followed that sealed in the mind of this young missionary the goodness of God and His determination to bring forth His promises."

The many fond memories of the three years spent as a missionary to the Isles of the Sea have remained with Brother Goodman, who has kept in touch with several of his missionary companions. In November 2000, Brother Goodman and his wife, Shirley Motschman Goodman, returned to Niue for a visit that included reunions with some of the Polynesian people who were among the first members of the Church on the island. In the years following Brother Goodman's nearly three-year mission to New Zealand and the Island of Niue, he has many times been able to draw upon the testimony of service he gained as a young missionary, perhaps never more so than now, as he, along with his wife, Shirley, have recently begun a full-time mission for the Church in the Virginia Richmond Mission.

Of the Polynesian people, Brother Goodman said, "Great and pure indeed was their faith in God. They lived close to nature and relied upon it for every aspect of their lives. And the God of nature, whatever their concept of Him, was always in their hearts. When we began to teach of the Restoration of the gospel, of prophets, and of the true personality of God, many became intensely interested. When we established these truths with Bible scriptures, their hearts were filled with love and appreciation for God and for us, His humble servants who brought them the message."

Brother Goodman recently donated all of the artifacts he received from the grateful saints of Niue — 120 pounds of spears, shellwork and tapa cloths — to the Church's Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, to be memorialized and available for all to enjoy.

The lessons learned from his early missionary years have served him well and will undoubtedly continue to provide strength in his current calling.

A lifelong Church member, Elder Goodman has served as stake president, stake president's counselor, bishop, bishop's counselor, and stake Young Men president. Prior to his current missionary calling, he served as president of the newly formed Powhatan Branch in Richmond, Va.

In his professional life, he was a real estate developer, broker and syndicator for many years. He is also the author of a real estate guide and is president of a real estate sales, rentals, and management company in Texas.

Brother and Sister Goodman reside in Powhatan, Virginia. They have seven children and 18 grandchildren.