Members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the South Pacific united in faith over the last several days to hear inspiring words and guidance given by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Elder Bednar, his wife, Susan, and members of the Pacific Area Presidency of the Church and their wives visited Brisbane, Australia; Honiara, Solomon Islands; Port Vila, Vanuatu; and Suva, Fiji.
They provided counsel to the Latter-day Saints of these countries and reminded them of the power Heavenly Father holds to bless and guide His children on the earth.
In Fiji, Elder Bednar met and addressed students at Church College Fiji, missionaries, and other members and friends of the Church of Jesus Christ.
At a special stake conference attended by almost 3,000 people on 25 May 2025, Elder Bednar said becoming a member of the Church will grant blessings and provide strength to overcome life's challenges.
"The time is now to lengthen our strides. The time is now to accelerate the work, to do more," he said. "We have a responsibility to share with every soul the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
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Sister Susan K. Bednar speaks during a special devotional with Elder Bednar at Church College Fiji.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.For Sister Dolavi of the Kadavu Branch, hearing from Elder Bednar in person was historic and a blessing that her family will always cherish.
"I am so encouraged that Elder Bednar said we need to move it," she said. "We can’t stay comfortable. We have to move fast and share this beautiful gospel that even I have come to love, live, and enjoy."
Latter-day Saints in Brisbane, Honiara, and Port Vila also expressed gratitude for the peace and Spirit they felt after listening to an Apostle of the Lord.
After hearing Elder Bednar’s devotional address to young adult Latter-day Saints in Brisbane, attendee Hayley Vowels said, "The Spirit was present in the devotional and confirmed many of the things that were being shared. I know that I can do more with the power of the Lord and that I can learn more of His doctrine."
Elder Bednar’s address to Latter-day Saints in Solomon Islands gave devotional attendee Velma Kenny of the White River Branch the strength to keep moving forward despite her struggles.
"It was like Elder Bednar was speaking to me. I started to cry because I face these challenges," Kenny said. "I sometimes think, 'Should I not go to church?' because it's hard sometimes. But I felt I could keep going. I remembered that I've been to the temple. I have hope."
In Port Vila, devotional attendee Holore Elasinnen hoped Elder Bednar’s visit would bring peace to the people of Vanuatu after an earthquake in December 2024 had damaged areas of Port Vila and brought hardship upon the people there.
"Members of the Church are gathering from all the Islands, and we are even giving space in our houses to help those from other Islands," Elasinnen said. "They will go back with a great memory of what they heard, feel and see."
During his visit to Port Vila, Elder Bednar also met with the Hon Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, to discuss humanitarian needs such as clean water, education, and emergency shelter.