A change in leadership at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ New Zealand Missionary Training Centre was announced last week by Elder Kevin W. Pearson, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and President of the Church’s Pacific Area.
“Today is an historic day,” Elder Pearson said at a special devotional meeting at the Missionary Training Centre in Auckland last Wednesday.
“It is the day we bid farewell to President and Sister Tarawhiti, whom we dearly love. And to pay honour to them. They have served so faithfully and so lovingly.”
Elder Pearson told missionaries and others in attendance: “Wherever Sister Pearson and I go in the Pacific Area we meet missionaries who have been touched by their love and their influence and their gentle guidance during the early weeks of their mission.”
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“Brother and Sister Tarawhiti, we don’t have the words to tell you how much we love you,” said Elder Pearson. “We wish you much happiness and joy. We will love you forever!”
President Hori Taylor Tarawhiti and Sister Cairo Tarawhiti have spent the past two years overseeing new missionaries arriving at the MTC and guiding their instruction as they learn the doctrines of Jesus Christ. The New Zealand couple have nurtured the young missionaries through the first weeks of their missions as they make the transition into full-time missionary service in the South Pacific areas they are assigned.
Many missionaries were visibly touched by the words spoken by President and Sister Tarawhiti.
“You’ve brought your sweet spirit here to the New Zealand MTC,” said President Tarawhiti. “We’ve learned so much from you, Elders and Sisters. You’ve taught us, you’ve tutored us, you’ve taught us how to be humble, you’ve taught us to be loving.”
Sister Tarawhiti’s final counsel to the missionaries was to: “Go out there and astonish the people. Go out there and serve. Love the people you teach and they will in return love you. Trust in the Lord and He will help you. He will guide you. He’s there for you.”
Following President and Sister Tarawhiti’s remarks, Elder Pearson introduced the Missionary Training Centre’s new leaders, President John Gibson and Sister Kathryn Gibson.
“It’s wonderful to welcome President and Sister Gibson. It feels like Sister Pearson and I are standing in between two of our favourite couples in all the world.”
President John Raymond Gibson was born in Brisbane, Australia and is a former Area Seventy, president of the Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission, regional representative, temple president, stake president and bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sister Kathryn Esther McVinish Gibson was born in Brisbane, Australia and served with her husband in the Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission and is a former temple matron, stake Relief Society president, seminary teacher, ward Relief Society and Young Women president.
In remarks made to the missionaries, President Gibson said, “It really is a great privilege to be with you. You are true representatives of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
President Gibson invited the young missionaries to be “doers” and not merely “observers.” “You can’t sit back and be a spectator,” he said.
President Gibson shared stories about his family—in particular his grandmother—recalling stories about her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “I am so blessed to have had great examples of faith,” he said. “I come from a family of faith, especially great women of faith.”
Sister Gibson emphasized the need to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and to repent each day when we make mistakes. She reminded the missionaries of the importance of being obedient. “As you are obedient by doing the things you are asked to do, power will come down from Heaven and you will be looked after and guided in all that you need to do.”
“These couples are an example of what the gospel of Jesus Christ can do,” Elder Pearson said. “The gospel blesses families. It creates marriages like theirs.”
All newly called missionaries are given the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the doctrines of Jesus Christ by attending a Missionary Training Centre. There are currently 17 centres throughout the world. Recently called President and Sister Gibson will guide the instruction of the new missionaries as they learn how to help others understand and apply the teachings of Christ.