Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to members and friends of the Church on Sunday 28 May at a special stake conference in Penrose, Auckland. A stake is a group of congregations in a geographical area.
Elder Christofferson and his wife, Sister Katherine Christofferson, met with members and friends of the Church over the last week in Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin, Alice Springs; and on Sunday, in Auckland.
It was also Elder and Sister Christofferson’s 55th wedding anniversary. “Thank you for coming and celebrating our anniversary,” Elder Christofferson smiled as he began his remarks.
DOWNLOADThe Apostle spoke about the Auckland New Zealand Temple, which is under construction in south Auckland, just a few suburbs away from where they were meeting.
DOWNLOAD“I remind you of the ancient practice, when people would go to the temple,” Elder Christofferson said, “in Old Testament times. They would always bring some kind of sacrifice or offering or gift. Usually, it was something for a burnt offering.”
DOWNLOAD“And then, when the Saviour performed the Atonement and was resurrected, and appeared to the ancient Nephites, he told them that the day of burnt offerings was over. When he appeared, he said, ‘You shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away. I will accept none of your sacrifices and burnt offerings. Ye shall offer for a sacrifice a broken heart, and a contrite spirit.'"
DOWNLOAD“Elder Christofferson continued, “We become the sacrifice, we are the offering. What we are and what we are becoming are the gifts to bring to the temple in this day and time. And so as you think about the upcoming dedication here, and you know the words that will be at the entrance of this temple, as they are on every temple: ‘Holiness to the Lord; The House of the Lord,’ what could I do that would make me a holier person, a better offering and gift of myself to present to the Lord on that day of the dedication?”
“If you pray and ask God to reveal to you anything that you should change, He will answer that kind of prayer,” Elder Christofferson said. “On the other hand, you may think about things that you ought to incorporate in your life and character more fully."
Elder D. Todd Christofferson speaks in Auckland New Zealand. 28 May 2023.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson speaks in Auckland New Zealand. 28 May 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“It's wonderful that we don't have to do that alone. It's not like God or the Saviour are disinterested observers. They are anxious to bless, to expand our abilities, to give us the help we need every day, " Elder Christofferson said.
In her remarks, Sister Christofferson said, “As disciples [of Jesus Christ] we often have to make tough decisions to be true to our discipleship."
Sister Katherine Christofferson speaks in Auckland, New Zealand on 28 May 2023.
Sister Katherine Christofferson speaks in Auckland, New Zealand on 28 May 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.She added, "I love to see how people around me deal with their issues...how they handle difficult challenges or problems and not stray from the gospel path. How they keep their faith and stand in their testimonies to testify of the love of Jesus Christ and their Heavenly Father.”
Attendees at a conference in Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand on 28 May 2023.
Attendees at a conference in Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand on 28 May 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Glenn Burgess, Area Seventy, also attended the meeting. In his remarks, he testified of the Lord Jesus Christ and the blessings that come into our lives as we follow Him.
Faaleaga Young Yen, president of the Church's Auckland Penrose New Zealand Stake (group of congregations), conducted the conference.
One young attendee at today’s meeting, Elly, said, “I appreciated Elder Christofferson’s message about not comparing ourselves to others. The Lord doesn’t see us that way and we shouldn’t see ourselves that way either. What matters most is what we are doing with what the Lord has given to us.”
Members and friends of the Church attend a special stake conference in Penrose, Auckland on 28 May 2023.
Members and friends of the Church attend a special stake conference in Penrose, Auckland on 28 May 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Another attendee, Poasa, said, “The talks today were all about preparing for the Second Coming [of Jesus Christ]. I think that is the most important thing for myself, my family, and my ward [congregation]. That’s what I heard them say over and over today. We need to keep our Saviour Jesus Christ as our focus and stay on the covenant path.”
DOWNLOAD13-year-old Beatrice, said, “It touched me when Elder Christofferson said that the Lord understands everything because He has experienced everything. Through all your trials and challenges the Saviour is always the way to help you get through it. When you make covenants with God, you have a special place in His heart, and He will never tire of helping you."
A missionary serving in Auckland, Sister Lomani Taylor, said, “I loved it when Elder Christofferson told us that 'the gift of the Holy Ghost is the gift of love.’”
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DOWNLOADAnother attendee, Mele, said, “As I listened, I felt that I want to prepare myself daily to be ready for the new temple. I want to become better by serving others.”
Elder and Sister Christofferson also met with missionaries, local Church leaders and visited the Auckland New Zealand Temple construction site during their visit to New Zealand.