Faith, Hope, and Miracles

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A new children’s Church history book has been recently published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to share with youngsters authentic stories that highlight the powerful faith of the early members of the Church in American Samoa.

Faatuatua, Faamoemoe ma Vavega (Faith, Hope, and Miracles) is plainly written for children so that historical events experienced in the lives of Samoan ancestors will instill faith in young people now and for generations to come.  

The book was launched at a 10th June 2023 event on Aunu’u Island in connection with the dedication of an historical marker that commemorates the first missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to arrive in the Samoan islands to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1863. The books, written in English and Samoan side by side, are being made available to local families at no cost.

The story of the faith of the first two missionaries landing on Aunu’u island 160 years ago is shared in the children’s book. That humble beginning on the tiny island has led to more than 100,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ in the Samoan islands today.

Elder K. Brett Nattress, Pacific Area President of the Church, dedicated the historical marker and distributed the new books to those at the event.

He said, “We published this book because we want our children to know their ancestors. We want our children to never forget that God is a God of miracles.”

Speaking to the assembled group, Elder Nattress retold a story shared in the book known as “The Miracle of the Sand” that particularly touched his heart. The miracle occurred within view of the new marker that was unveiled.

In 1986, the members of the Church on Aunu’u Island in American Samoa had a deep desire to have a building to worship in. A large amount of sand was necessary to make cement to build the meetinghouse, but Aunu’u Island has only a rocky shoreline and the people had no possible means of acquiring it. The sincere prayers of the Saints and the missionaries serving in Aunu’u were answered when they woke up one morning to a mountain of sand on their beach. It was enough for the meetinghouse and a volleyball court!

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Esther F. Segifili recalls her late father sharing the story of that event as she was growing up. He was a missionary serving on Aunu’u at the time of the miracle.

She said, “Having this story written down in a book for our children will link the generations. It happened and it was real. I had a hard time keeping back my tears today. I kept thinking back to the people who are gone and no longer with us and I could feel their spirits here today.”

“Many of our children haven’t heard these stories,” she noted, “and having them written in a way they can understand will help them to remember how blessed they are to have the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Young people expressed their delight at having a book that recounted the story of the miracle, saying:

“It made me feel happy that they were so faithful to pray to God to get sand and it made me happy how the people woke up so surprised to find the sand. I know God did it and I know He does miracles” (Farahnoa Siufanua, age 10).

“It shows me how people can have faith in Jesus Christ” (Kadyn-Miracle Tepora Mamea, age 12).

“My parents knew this story, but never told me. I like reading about so much faith. It makes me feel like miracles happen!” (Alefa Ah Sam, age 15).

Other stories found in the book also stirred hearts. Faleula Aoelua Sappa remembered her mother, Lusila, talking about not being able to read. When her father-in-law gifted her a Bible as a newlywed, Lusila earnestly desired to read its pages. She prayed and was miraculously blessed with the ability to read when she opened her new Bible.

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“My mother,” said Faleula, “testified of the miracle given to her to be able to suddenly read the scriptures and she never quit reading. She was always sharing her love of the scriptures and serving in The Church of Jesus Christ. Her faith and the miracle she experienced have strengthened my faith and I am trying to follow in her footsteps.  I think it’s wonderful that her story is being told to the children.”

Samantha Celestial Roberts, age 16, expressed her gratitude for Lusila’s story after reading Faatuatua, Faamoemoe ma Vavega.

“I’m so thankful for the stories in the book because they give me hope,” Samantha said.  “I know that if I keep on having faith and continue praying l will feel the spirit with me and I will be able to do anything and everything with God beside me. Lusila’s miracle helps me to know that God will do miracles for me.”

An American Samoan mother of three children, Penny Siufanua, was pleased to have a way to share the legacy of faith of their ancestors.

She said, “This book will get passed along to generations. It will help us to have more discussions with our kids and to share our own stories.”

Blank pages are found at the end of the book to encourage families to write their own stories of faith for future generations.

Pamela Reid, who was one of the project team members, hopes that more conversations will happen in families about the miracles and sacrifices of those who have gone before us.

She spoke passionately about children needing a sense of identity from hearing their family stories in a relevant way.

Reid said, “Family stories help children know who they are. It is a huge issue now. Families are different, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is constant. The more we show how people with the gospel have found strength and security, the more likely our children are to find it themselves.”

Melanie Riwai-Couch, Church History Manager for the Pacific Area, noted that the books are written in English and Samoan side by side with the intention of connecting generations.

“It is important that people read their legacies of faith in their own language. We want the hearts of the children to turn to their fathers when they learn these stories.”