Soon after the borders opened in Vanuatu on 1 July 2022, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Vila were blessed with a long awaited visit from two leaders, Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita second counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, accompanied by Sister Tazuko Yamashita; and Elder Paul Whippy, Area Seventy (regional leader) responsible for Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Fiji.
- Bishop-Graham-Mahit,-Sister-Olivia-Mahit,-Sister-Tazuko-Yamashita,-Elder-Kazuhiko-Yamashita-and-Elder-Paul-Whippy-in-Port-Vila,-Vanuatu.-July-2022
- Elder-Kazuhiko-Yamashita-speaks-to-members-and-friends-of-the-Port-Vila-Stake-in-Vanuatu.-July-2022
- The-Blacksands-Sunday-morning-service-was-so-full-people-sat-outside-to-listen-to-Church-leader-Elder-Kazuhiko-Yamashita-during-his-visit-to-Vanuatu.-July-2022
- A-children's-choir-sings-I-Love-to-See-the-Temple-at-the-Sunday-service-in-Vanuatu.-July-2022
- The-chapel-in-Port-Vila,-Vanuatu-was-so-full-people-sat-in-the-hallways-listening-to-a-special-Sunday-meeting-With-Elder-and-Sister-Yamashita-and-Elder-Paul-Whippy.-July-2022
- Members-of-the-Vanuatu-Blacksands-Ward-at-the-Sunday-meeting-with-Elder-and-Sister-Yamashita-and-Elder-Whippy.-July-2022
- A-devotional-in-Port-Vila,-Vanuatu-where-Elder-Yamashita-and-Elder-Whippy-spoke-about-the-importance-of-the-temple.--July-2022
- Stake-President-Yvon-Basil,-Bishop-Graham-Mahit,-Sister-Kazuko-Yamashita-and-Elder-Kazuhiko-Yamashita-of-the-Pacific-Area-Presidency;-and-Elder-Paul-Whippy-in-Port-Vila,-Vanuatu.-July-2022
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Elder and Sister Yamashita and Elder Whippy spoke at the Blacksands Ward Sunday service and later that evening at a devotional. More than 2,000 people attended the evening meeting where the focus was on the importance of the temple.
Elder Whippy spoke about spiritual preparation for individuals and families who are looking forward to the new temple to be built in Port Vila. “Start making your home to be like the temple, by using ‘temple voices’ to speak in kind and gentle ways. This will help you be well prepared when entering the house of the Lord,” he said. “Prepare yourselves in order to receive the blessings and ordinances of the temple.”
To end the night, Elder Yamashita shared the joy he felt about the announcement of the temple to be built in Vanuatu.
He reminded the saints of the importance of following Jesus Christ in one’s life, to prepare to enter and worship in a temple. Elder Yamashita expressed his gratitude for “the ordinances performed in the temple for individuals, families, and for loved ones who have passed to the other side of the veil.”
An announcement that a temple would be built in Vanuatu was made in October 2020 by Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Port Vila Vanuatu Temple will be located at Blacksands Crossroads on the site of the Blacksands meetinghouse. A ground-breaking date has yet to be announced.
