Brent and Debbie Buckner Say Goodbye to the Pacific Area

Brent Buckner, Area director for temporal affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Debbie Buckner, are heading home to the United States after four years in the Pacific Area.

The parents of six children and 18 grandchildren will be welcomed by many of their family when they touch down in Salt Lake City next week.

As director for temporal affairs in New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the islands of the South Pacific, Mr Buckner has overseen the Church’s construction, welfare, self-reliance and humanitarian efforts, amongst many others. He has also worked in close association with the Pacific Area Presidency.

Mr Buckner will be succeeded in early August by Steven K. Peterson, who is currently the managing director of Welfare Services and Humanitarian Services for the Church, based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mr Buckner has worked for the Church for close to 40 years in the South Pacific, Europe, and in North America. In a volunteer capacity he and Mrs Buckner served as leaders of missionaries in Switzerland for three years.

Many who have worked with Mr Buckner say his most shared quote is: “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.”

In a recent visit to New Zealand, Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, characterized Brent and Debbie Buckner as “full of faith, a couple in the Lord.”

“They have been wonderful servants of the Lord,” said Elder O. Vincent Haleck, president of the Church in the Pacific Area.

“We have loved the opportunity to work for the last four years among ‘the isles of the sea,’” Mr Buckner said.

“This has been the highlight of our career,” he added. “To work with such diverse cultures and at the same time dedicated, committed, hardworking and quality members of the Church. We have loved serving with and learning from them. Their faith and love for the Lord has strengthened our testimonies in our Heavenly Father and His restored gospel. The Pacific Area will always hold a special place in our hearts. We will miss this bit of paradise.”

Mormons believe that service to others is an important characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ.