Young I-Kiribati members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with New Zealand Member of Parliament Su'a William Sio in Tarawa last week.
Mr Sio was in Kiribati, and before that in Tuvalu, promoting interfaith dialogue and meeting with people to discuss the nation’s environmental challenges.
He participated in an interfaith devotional meeting where Church members were joined by other faiths including Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists and representatives from the Kiribati Unification Church.
Mr Sio is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Mangere in South Auckland.
Kiribati faces significant environmental challenges to include beach erosion and reliance on collection of rainwater instead of relying on drinking wells.
“Yet despite all these challenges, the people maintain their faith in their God, irrespective of which religion they belong to, and believe that all will be well with them, irrespective of what happens,” said Mr Sio.
One of Mr Sio’s goals while in Kiribati was to learn from the youth. He led an interactive session with a large group of young people from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the passion and commitment expressed by the young people for their homeland Kiribati.
“They want to see their language and culture protected and passed onto the next generation.”
Their love and commitment to the land upon which they live aligns with their Church’s teachings on environmental stewardship and conservation.
“The earth and all things on it should be used responsibly to sustain the human family. However, all are stewards — not owners — over this earth and its bounty and will be accountable before God for what they do with His creations.
“Approaches to the environment must be prudent, realistic, balanced and consistent with the needs of the earth and of current and future generations, rather than pursuing the immediate vindication of personal desires or avowed rights.
“The earth and all life upon it are much more than items to be consumed or conserved. God intends His creations to be aesthetically pleasing to enliven the mind and spirit, and some portions are to be preserved.” Source: Environmental Stewardship and Conservation