Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered recently with local government and faith leaders to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Church's Kaikohe meetinghouse, in Northland, New Zealand.
Guests included representatives of the Kaikohe Christian Forum and Mrs Sally Macauley, Deputy Mayor the Far North District Council.
President Shane Wikaira, Second Counsellor in the Kaikohe Stake Presidency represented the Church at the event. A Mormon stake is an organisation of local congregations led by a stake presidency consisting of three individuals.
- 60 Year Commemoration of the Kaikohe Chapel
- 60 Year Commemoration of the Kaikohe Chapel
- 60 Year Commemoration of Kaikohe Chapel
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Construction of the meetinghouse in 1954 was completed through the diligence of Church labour missionaries together with local member volunteers.
The Church labour missionary program existed from 1951 through to 1958. During that time, young Mormon missionaries were called for a period of approximately two years to serve exclusively in a labour capacity. The result was rapid expansion of Church buildings in New Zealand including a temple, a school and chapels.
Mrs Macauley told guests at the 60th anniversary event that she attributed her interest in politics to a positive association and friendship with one of the many Church labour missionaries who built the Kaikohe chapel 60 years ago.
“Your beloved chapel built so many years ago, still stands solid and most elegant in Northland, a building of which we in Kaikohe are so proud,” Mrs Macauley said.
Labour missionary Charlie Tipene, now 80 years of age, shared his early experiences as a building apprentice. He began pushing a wheelbarrow and finished as a foreman.
Referring to labourers and local members, he said, “Because of your faithfulness, the Kaikohe chapel became a reality and blessing to the Church and the community alike.”
Highlights of the day included choral music, a slide presentation and a pictorial display depicting Church history in New Zealand.
President Wikaira, reflecting on the day’s events, declared, “It was a day of spiritual reflection and appreciation for the faith, sweat and tears spent by Latter-day Saints 60 years ago.”