Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, continued their South Pacific tour with a stop in Suva, the capital city of Fiji this week.
The tour previously included visits to Auckland and Hamilton, New Zealand; and Melbourne, Australia.
Accompanying Elder and Sister Rasband were Elder Ian S. Ardern, Pacific Area President of the Church, and his wife, Sister Paula Ardern.
While in Fiji, Elder and Sister Rasband visited with missionaries from the Fiji Suva Mission serving on Viti Levu. The meeting was hosted by John R. Higgins, President of the Fiji Suva Mission, and his wife, Sister Naomi Higgins.
One of the missionaries, Elder Ammon MacPherson, is the grandson of Elder and Sister Rasband and has been serving for two months. Elder MacPherson’s brother, Elder Jameson MacPherson, is currently serving in the Australia Melbourne Mission.
Elder Rasband told the missionaries that their assignment to serve in Fiji was given by inspiration.
He advised the missionaries to use the scriptures to answer tough questions saying, “The more you can use the words of the Lord, and his Apostles, the better your ministry will be.”
“None of you know all the future consequences of your missionary service,” Elder Rasband said.
He gave an example of a missionary who felt he didn’t do anything in one of his areas except pass out copies of the Book of Mormon. Later, another missionary told Elder Rasband of a woman who wanted to learn about the Church because of a copy of the Book of Mormon she had with the discouraged first missionary’s name and phone number in it. She and her three children were taught by the new missionary and were baptised, because of a missionary who didn’t think he did much in an area.
“Maybe you plant, maybe you nourish, maybe you harvest the seed,” Elder Rasband said.
Following the devotional with missionaries, Elder and Sister Rasband visited a family in their Suva home, along with their grandson and his missionary companion, Elder Isaiah Racule.
The family has been learning about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with the missionaries over the past several weeks.
A journalist from the Fiji Sun newspaper interviewed Elder Rasband and his grandson following the family visit.
After spending the afternoon with Elder MacPherson and his companion, Elder and Sister Rasband spoke at a devotional for members and friends of the Church in the congregation where his grandson is assigned.
During the meeting Elder Rasband showed a short video about his ancestors and spoke about the hardships they endured in joining the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley.
Elder Rasband is a part of a multi-generational Church membership and encouraged the Fiji saints to be strong links in their generations.
“Strengthen the rising generations,” he said. “Build a multi-generational Church in Fiji…and build your families for the future.”
Read a Fiji Sun newspaper article about Elder and Sister Rasband's visit to Fiji.
On Friday 22 November Elder Rasband sent a message to members and friends of the Church throughout the South Pacific using Facebook Live. Watch the message here.
