Arthur Edgson, Pacific Area Legal Counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will return home to North America this month. He and his wife DeEtte have lived in New Zealand since 2012.
During this time, Edgson has assisted Church leaders to ensure the Church operates across the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia according to national and territorial laws.
He has also had the opportunity to meet with many government leaders and officials to discuss religious freedom and other issues of concern to Latter-day Saints and others.
In a recent interview for the J. Reuben Clark Law Society website, Edgson said his work has been “broad and stimulating.”
According to the article, “With 19 different countries and a huge geographic area to oversee, Brother Edgson manages a wide range of legal issues. They include ensuring compliance of all Church legal entities, retaining and managing local counsel to advise on legal issues within the various countries, Church humanitarian initiatives, audits, government relations, issues arising from the acquisition of real estate and construction of Church buildings, and matters relating to missionaries, visas, and tax and finance.”
Read the entire article here.
Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Pacific Area Presidency said Edgson will be sorely missed.
“Art is a highly intelligent, deeply faithful and loyal colleague and friend,” Elder Nielsen said. “His contributions to the work of the Church in the Pacific Area have been wise and far-reaching.”
“We love Art and DeEtte, and thank them for all they have done for us, for the Church, and all the many, many people they have befriended and helped over the last four years.”
Edgson’s successor in the role of Pacific Area Legal Counsel is Douglas Matsumori, from the United States. He and his wife Michi arrived in New Zealand earlier this month.