Caribbean

Black Members of the Church Research Guide

Victor E. Nugent (1938– )

Biographical Sketch

Victor Nugent grew up in a religious home and found himself looking for more as an adult. As he began seriously studying the Bible, his Latter-day Saint coworker Paul Schmeil noticed and invited Victor to learn more about his faith. Schmeil began teaching Nugent and his family in their home. When Schmeil informed Nugent about the priesthood ban, Nugent recalled, “My ego was hurt, but I had a strong feeling that the message was the truth, and more was involved than pride and vanity. I sought the Lord in prayer and the answer came back loud and clear. It was the truth!” The Nugents continued to investigate the Church, read the Book of Mormon, attend the Mandeville Jamaica Branch, and participated in other local Church activities.

On January 20, 1974, Nugent; his wife, Verna; and his eldest child, Peter, were baptized members of the Church, becoming the first Jamaican converts. After revelation lifted the priesthood and temple restriction in 1978, Nugent became the first black Jamaican to hold the priesthood. The family was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in September of that year. Nugent and his family were in attendance when Jamaica was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel in December 1978. They did what they could to help build the Church in Jamaica, including driving a 15-passenger van to pick up people for church and diligently doing home teaching.

In 2000 the Nugent family immigrated to Utah, where the children all attended and graduated from Brigham Young University. In 2014 the Church celebrated the efforts of Nugent and his family when membership in Jamaica reached more than 5,700 members.

Sources: Elizabeth Maki, “‘It Was the Truth!’: First Convert Became Foundation of Church in Jamaica,” Pioneers in Every Land series, July 23, 2015, history.lds.org; Trent Toone, “Pioneers, Former Mormon Missionaries Celebrate First Stake, Growth of the LDS Church in Jamaica,” Deseret News, July 17, 2014.

In Our Collections
Primary Sources

Victor E. Nugent Papers, 1978–89 (MS 17725)

Oral History Interview, 2003 (OH 3193)