New Leadership Announced for Latter-day Saints’ Savaii Sagone Stake

Setefano Tauvao has been called to serve as the new president of the Savaii Sagone Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Sanerive Sufia and Seminare Taito as his two counselors.

Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Church’s Pacific Area Presidency announced these changes at the Sunday morning session of Stake Conference held on October 27. Elder Pearson presided over the two-day conference (October 26-27) where he spoke at three different sessions and conducted a training meeting for local priesthood leaders.

Like those who serve in other callings in the Church, members of stake presidencies are not paid for their service.

President Setefano Tauvao and his wife, Oliniviola, have five children, all boys, and live in the village of Faolua. He is a self-employed businessman.

Sanerive Sufia and his wife, Pasimani, have six children, and live in the village of Fagafau. He is a self-employed fisherman.

Seminare Taito and his wife, Flora, have one daughter, and live in the village of Samata’itai. He operates his own plantation.

In his conference talk Elder Pearson said, “The Lord has called President Fauvao and his two counselors.” He added, “The Saviour does not call perfect men. There are no perfect men on the earth. He calls those he knows he can trust and has prepared. The Lord will bless them as they humble themselves.”

A stake president is the lay leader of a stake, which is a geographic subdivision composed of several congregations called wards. He is responsible to help the members of his stake in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ. He also oversees the activities of the bishops or ward leaders, counseling and training them as needed. He and his two counselors are assisted by a group of 12 men called a high council.

Stake Presidents and their counselors typically serve for eight to ten years and are then released, allowing others the opportunity to serve.

The Sagone Stake includes seven wards (congregations) and one branch (a small congregation), extending along the southwest coast of Savaii, from the village of Taga to the village of Fagafau.

The previous stake president, Pule Tapuai Savaliga, and his two counselors, Samata S. Toomata and Setefano Tauvao, were extended honorable releases by Elder Pearson.  They had been serving in the stake presidency for eight years.

Elder Pearson told the congregation, “They served you because they love you and love the Lord. We will miss them.”

The approximately 1,200 people in attendance at that session expressed their appreciation to the outgoing presidency by raising their right hands as a show of gratitude.

Other Latter-day Saint leaders who attended and spoke at the conference were Elder Meliula M. Fata, Area Seventy; Alema Fitisemanu, President of the Apia Samoa Temple; and Johnny Leota, President of the Samoa Apia Mission.