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Elder David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Bednar Express Their Love for the Saints Gathered in Solomon Islands, May 2025© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Four leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the South Pacific this year, and shared uplifting messages of faith and joy with members and friends of the Church.
Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Ulisses Soares, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President, Sister Camille N. Johnson; and First Counsellor in the Young Women General Presidency, Sister Tamara A. Runia, all ministered in the South Pacific.
Elder Soares began his Pacific ministry in March, visiting Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji. During his visit, he shared messages focused on reinforcing one’s spiritual foundation in Jesus Christ and turning to Him for peace.
“He has His warm arms outstretched at the beginning of your day, always ready to embrace you, to support you, to help you in any circumstances,” Elder Soares said to the Australian Latter-day Saints who had been impacted by heavy flooding after Cyclone Alfred.
Elder Soares also spoke about The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, urging people to utilise it to fill any spiritual gaps in their lives. He said:
“We should immerse ourselves in the Book of Mormon as a way to reinforce our testimony of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
Elder David A. Bednar visited in May, and met with Saints in Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. His messages urged people to trust in Jesus Christ and help accelerate His work.
In Fiji, he said, “The time is now to lengthen our strides. The time is now to accelerate the work, to do more. We have a responsibility to share with every soul the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
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Elder Bednar addresses students, members, and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a special devotional at Church College Fiji in Suva. 23 May 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.While in Port Vila, Elder Bednar met with the Hon Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, they discussed humanitarian needs such as clean water, education and emergency shelter.
In September, the Sister leaders began their ministry in Australia and ended in New Zealand. They separated in the middle of the trip; President Johnson travelled to Vanuatu and Samoa while Sister Runia went to Tonga.
“The Lord is aware of His children on the isles of the sea,” President Johnson said.
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Relief Society General President Camille M. Johnson and First Counselor in the Young Women’s Presidency, Tamara A. Runia, visited and conducted a ministry in the Pacific in September 2025. © 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Sister Runia and her husband served as mission leaders in Sydney, Australia four years ago. She said:
“It feels so good to be back in Australia – a place that became our home for three years. As mission leaders, we didn’t just serve here – we lived here, we prayed here, we laughed and cried here, and we grew to love the people with our whole hearts.”
Tahliya Latu-Silk, a young woman from northern Sydney, was touched that Sister Runia came back to visit Australia.
“I’m very blessed that she cares about us so much to do that. It’s an amazing blessing,” she said.
The leaders shared messages of faith and hope during meetings and devotionals, aimed at strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all in attendance.
They also visited some of the Church’s humanitarian projects in those countries. In Vanuatu, President Johnson met with some recipients of the Church’s global initiative to improve nutrition for women and children, and the Vanuatu Society for People with Disability. In Samoa, she met with the Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development, Loau Donina Tili Vaa, and visited schools.
Sister Runia visited Vaiola Hospital in Tonga, where the Church of Jesus Christ and the World Health Organization are working to improve operating theatres, making upgrades that will provide safer care, and bless countless lives.
Sister Runia visited Vaiola Hospital in Tonga, where the Church of Jesus Christ and the World Health Organization are working to improve operating theatres, and making upgrades that will provide safer care and bless many lives.
President Johnson and her husband, Douglas, also have a connection to the Pacific. One of their sons served his mission in Samoa from 2009 to 2011.
“My heart has been in Samoa since 2009, and it was a touching opportunity for us to return and express gratitude to the dear Saints, whom I love so very much,” President Johnson said. “These are people who I have prayed for by name. Their warmth and love have blessed my family.”
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Sister Runia meets with New Zealand youth after her devotional. © 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.President Johnson and Sister Runia concluded their ministries in New Zealand. President Johnson went to Christchurch to share the love of Christ in her messages, and Sister Runia spoke at youth devotionals in Hamilton and Auckland where she focused on divine identity and the joy found in loving God and following His Son, Jesus Christ.
“Sister Runia reminded me that Heavenly Father really knows us and will help us, even when we are in our lowest lows, or highest highs,” said a young woman who attended a devotional.
Reflecting on her visit, Sister Johnson said: “I felt the love of my Saviour through the joyful Saints here in the Pacific. My cup was filled. I hope they felt the love of Jesus Christ, too.”