Senior students at Moroni High School celebrated their graduation with the theme, “I can do all things through Christ” in Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati recently.
The keynote speaker at the graduation was Elder Robert H. Simpson, Area Seventy (regional leader) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Simpson told graduating students, “As you move forward to the next phase of your life, we encourage you to remember to put the Lord first in all that you do, and you will find joy and happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”
Jonathan Warwick, Area Director of Church Schools, also spoke to the students. “Make Institute a priority, serve a mission and remember that you can do all things in Christ,” he said.
Institute is a religion class for members of the church 18 years and older.
Several of the graduating students in the Class of 2023 have received mission calls to begin service this month, and at the beginning of 2024. These students were recognised and congratulated during the school graduation ceremonies.
Those who have received mission calls are Kakibamaere Toewai, Australia Sydney Mission; Iaomea Bokai, Australia Brisbane Mission; Christina Rodney Edwards, Africa Zimbabwe Mission; Bwatikata Boeboe, Philippines IIoilo Mission and Teravea Avia, Africa Zimbabwe Mission.
More than 70,000 full-time missionaries are serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Single men serve missions for two years and single women serve missions for 18 months.
President Russell M. Nelson, worldwide leader of the Church, has said that “the decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come,”