His Excellency Sir Baldwin Lonsdale, Head of State of Vanuatu, attended worship services yesterday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Vila.
The visit was part of his goal to worship with members of every denomination in Vanuatu.
He was accompanied by his Office delegation, along with his family.
His expressed desire is to join with the people and say “thank you for their contribution to the development of the nation.”
“As Head of State I like to go out and join with the people in their churches and not to spend too much time in the office,” he said yesterday.
He expressed gratitude for a warm welcome and acknowledged the Latter-day Saint leaders for “strengthening the Church in Vanuatu, preaching the gospel of peace and sharing the love of God.”
“When we believe in the Master Jesus Christ, it goes with action,” he said.
“Continue to pray for this nation. Continue to uphold the leaders. Pray for our leaders—in the churches, traditional leaders and government leaders.”
His Excellency was hosted by Latter-day Saint leaders: President Yvon Basil; President Paul W. Granger of the Port Vila Mission; and Elder Adolf J. Johansson who oversees Latter-day Saint congregations in Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu.
“We are grateful that the President of Vanuatu took time to come to church. It’s not every Sunday we have the Head of the Nation with us,” said Elder Johansson. “We look forward to working with him.”
President Basil and Elder Johansson, after the main worship service, escorted Sir Lonsdale to various classrooms in the building where he met Church members, including the women who lead the Relief Society, the Church’s service organization, and the Primary, the organization responsible for teaching children about Jesus Christ and his teachings.
He was also shown the Family History Centre and learned of the Church’s significant commitment to genealogical research.
“Thank you for the work that you do to help build up the Church and help develop the nation,” he said upon completion of his walk through of the building on Sunday.
Church leaders presented His Excellency a complete set of the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The Holy Bible (King James Version); The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ; The Doctrine and Covenants; and The Pearl of Great Price.
Elder Johansson invited His Excellency, along with his delegation and family, to read the Book of Mormon. He was also invited by President Granger to visit church websites to learn more about the Church.
While with some Church members His Excellency testified of his belief in “Jesus Christ, the Master.”
He then shared a favourite Bible scripture in Romans 12: 2 and elaborated, “Do not conform to the standard of this world. Do not let the world change you, But let God change you. Do not let the world use you, but let God use you. Allow God to use us.”
There are nearly 8,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.
Newsroom Contributor: Lekulima Basil