Representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met last week with several Samoan government and community officials. During their visits, they discussed timely opportunities to strengthen religious freedom, family and faith in Samoa.
Church representatives met with Samoa’s Attorney General, Herman Retzlaff; Samoa Law Reform Commission Executive Director, Leota Theresa Potoi; Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma; Angelina Wilkinson, Chargé d’Affaires for the United States Embassy in Apia; and Mata’afa Keni Lesa, Editor of the Samoa Observer.
Representing the Church were Sapele Fa’alogo, Director of Public Affairs for Samoa, and treasurer of the Samoa Council of Churches; and Elder Barry and Sister Susan Preator, Public Affairs Specialists for the Pacific area, based in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Samoa Ombudsman
- Samoa Executive Director Law Reform
- U.S. Charge d'affaires in Apia, Samoa
- Mata'afa Keni Lesa of Samoa Observer
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The Preators are from Utah in the United States. Elder Preator is a former Director of LDS Philanthropies, an organization which benefits educational and humanitarian causes; and Susan is a former CEO of a literacy and language software company, Imagine Learning.
The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss how cooperative outreach efforts of faith, government and other community leaders can combine for the good of all Samoan people. They also emphasized the vital part religious freedom plays in a stable society, and ways that families can be strengthened.