Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a change in the leadership of the Church’s Tarawa Kiribati East Stake earlier this month.
The new stake president is Sam Maunga. He succeeds President Tamaroa Tekeiaki. President Maunga will be assisted by two counsellors as he leads the members in this significant unit of the Church.
Elder Nielsen was accompanied on his visit to Kiribati by Pacific Area Seventy, Elder Adolf Johansson.
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"It was truly an honour to spend the weekend with a group of Latter-day Saints who love Jesus Christ and know he is the Saviour of the world," Elder Nielsen said.
"The chapel was packed during each of our sessions of conference. There is definitely a special feeling being with these dedicated, generous and humble people. It is something Elder Johansson I will never forget!"
Elders Nielsen and Johansson also met with government officials to discuss the status and activities of the Church in Kiribati, including its community and humanitarian efforts.
Approximate 17,000 of the 100,000 — or one in six — people in Kiribati are Latter-day Saints.
The Church has 26 congregations throughout the nation.