As we come to the close of 2023, this week the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published the following review of the past year.
The review is a compilation of efforts by leaders and members of the Church, and focuses on the three key areas of accomplishment since 1 January 2023—efforts that spiritually and temporally improve people, or Lifting Lives; efforts that help parents and children thrive in a dynamically changing world, or Fortifying Families; and efforts that identified specific needs and provided solutions in the cities, towns and villages of the Pacific Area, or Caring for Communities.
First, Lifting Lives.
Little-Samoan-Girl
© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- In January the Pacific Area Presidency announced a focus for 2023 on lifting lives through strengthening faith in Jesus Christ by gathering to worship in weekly sacrament meetings and in temples.
- Visiting Church leaders ministered to members and friends of the Church in Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji.
- In April and October, General Conference was broadcast on many TV and radio stations, and in several Pacific languages.
- Thousands of youth and young adults participated in “For the Strength of Youth” and young adult conferences across the Pacific throughout 2023. For example: American Samoa, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.
- In October, Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi invited senior members of the Church to consider serving from home or in a missionary assignment in another part of their country or in another part of the world.
- In November and December, members of the Area Presidency congratulated over 500 Church school graduates and encouraged them to receive their temple endowment, serve missions, keep learning and contributing, and to continue on the covenant path.
Next, Fortifying Families
Little Pacific Area Kids
© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- In a meeting with Kiribati’s President H.E. Taneti Maamau in January, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo invited the leader to the upcoming temple ground-breaking in Tarawa. Elder Wakolo explained how the family is a central part of God’s plan for His children and how temples are places where families are united for eternity.
- At temple ground-breaking services in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea in April, Church leaders explained how temples help individuals strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and how families can be united for eternity.
- A new Area Presidency began service in August 2023. They invited all to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ by gathering weekly to partake of the Sacrament ordinance, and to regularly worship in temples.
- In September, Church leaders ministered to children and youth in Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, and Samoa.
- In October, President Russell M. Nelson announced that a new temple will be built on the Samoan island of Savai’i.
- Youth across the Pacific gathered in October for a “Worldwide Day of Testimony.”
- Throughout 2023, the Church has worked with the Kiribati government to bring fresh water to families across the country.
- The Church continues to support individuals and families as they increase their self-reliance through career planning and BYU Pathway Worldwide courses.
Finally, Caring for Communities
Solar-Buddy
© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- In 2023, members of the Church throughout the Pacific Area donated to the Church’s worldwide humanitarian fund which supports efforts to immunize children, house and feed refugees, fight poverty, and lift lives in other ways.
- Pacific Latter-day Saints volunteered to support local efforts to alleviate suffering and strengthen communities
- The Church and its members supported communities recovering from the impact of natural disasters in New Zealand and Vanuatu.
- LDS Charities Australia continued to provide a way for Australian Latter-day Saints to support humanitarian efforts around the world.
- Members and friends of the Church were invited to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ during Easter services across the Pacific Area. For example: New Zealand, Australia, French Polynesia.
- Elder Peter F. Meurs, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo and Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi discussed principles of religious freedom during community events in Sydney, Suva, and Wellington.
- In 2023 Church representatives met with Heads of Government and Ambassadors from French Polynesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Argentina, Cuba, Ethiopia, and Mongolia.
- In November and December, volunteers in 11 locations assembled 11,000 “SolarBuddy” portable, rechargeable lights to be given to children and youth in families experiencing energy poverty so they can read and do homework at night.
- In November and December, the Church brought Light the World “Giving Machines” to Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland. Over $300,000AUD is expected to be raised for local charities.
For more information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pacific Area, click here.
