The following commentary was written by Richard Hunter, Pacific Area Communication Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Lessons from Our Pacific Area Presidency
One of the blessings of my life is that I get to watch the members of the Pacific Area Presidency up close, almost on a daily basis.
DOWNLOADI’ve traveled with them, sat in meetings with them, talked with them, and shared meals with them. I’ve even played tennis with two of them.
I’m honoured to lead the Church’s communication department in the South Pacific under the Area Presidency‘s Christlike, intelligent and kind direction. They and their wives are wonderful examples of peaceable followers of Jesus Christ.
I’d like to share three lessons, of many, that I’m learning from them.
Elder Peter F. Meurs
DOWNLOADElder Meurs is the Pacific Area President of the Church. He’s from Perth, Australia, and he and his wife, Sister Maxine Meurs, are very busy ministering to members and friends of the Church across the South Pacific.
One lesson I’m learning from Elder Meurs is that strengthening faith in Jesus Christ, one by one, through gathering to the sacrament and temple ordinances, is something we all can do.
I’ve seen and heard him talking with several individuals, where he asks them, “Who is someone you know and love in your ward, who has stopped coming to church?” Immediately the person thinks of someone they know and love. Immediately.
Then, Elder Meurs invites the person to reminisce about their relationship, remembering good times spent together. Times in social settings, serving together, and spiritual experiences shared.
This conversation invariably leads to a powerful moment when the person remembers the spiritual roots of their friendship. She or he begins to feel inspired to reach out to that person in love, to share conversations and experiences with them, and to invite them to join them in worship and fellowship once again.
Local Church leaders who have this kind of discussion, called a "ministering interview" in the Church, can then invite the Church member to accept a ministering assignment to prayerfully, purposely and joyously rekindle this friendship. And then, through similar conversations based on inspired remembering, invite the person who has stopped attending church to come back to the sacrament, and back to the Saviour.
It’s a beautiful experience, and many people are having it around the Pacific Area. Including me.
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo
DOWNLOADElder Wakolo takes a copy of the Book of Mormon everywhere. I don’t think I’ve seen him without one.
He has a beautiful way of getting to know another person, learning about their life, their family, their work, their joys and their challenges. He becomes attuned to their heart, through kind and hopeful conversation, and with Heaven’s help.
Then, understanding their heart, what they are looking for and what they are needing, he reads a verse or two from the Book of Mormon—or he invites them to read.
I’ve seen this. It’s wonderful. The power of the Lord Jesus Christ is present. When Elder Wakolo invites his new friend to accept and read this copy of the Book of Mormon, they have already had a deeply personal experience with it, so the answer is always yes.
I’m grateful for Elder Wakolo, and his wife, Sister Anita Wakolo—who hail from Fiji—for their love of the Book of Mormon, for their love of God and Jesus Christ, and their love of others, one by one.
Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi
DOWNLOADElder Jaggi, and his wife, Sister Amy Jaggi, are from the United States. They love and live the gospel of Jesus Christ with joy.
They are always listening with their ears, eyes and hearts—and then sharing stories and scriptures with love, encouragement and invitations.
Elder Jaggi has a way of understanding what another person is yearning for, and then he shares a story of Jesus, or a passage from the scriptures, or some other teaching that clarifies and inspires.
Then, he gently invites action—with love, hope and joy. It’s a wonderful experience for those in the room, or in a more intimate conversation. I should know, I’ve been the person on the receiving end of his ministering more than once.
The Pacific Area Presidency
Together, or separately, in Tonga, Australia, Papua New Guinea, or anywhere in our beautiful part of the world—our Area Presidency is laser focused on strengthening faith in Jesus Christ, one by one, through ministering as the Saviour taught, and by gathering to worship and fellowship.
They are aligned with prophets, seers, and revelators. Their focus is to help each one of us to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, and to help others, one by one, to remember who they are and Whose they are, and to use their agency to once again be encircled in the arms of our Lord and Saviour, and to feel the love of God in their lives every day, as they press forward in faith.
It’s an exciting time to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in the Pacific Area. Good things are happening, miracles in fact, and the Lord is at the helm.
Richard Hunter