Senior Church Leader Visits Tonga

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently spoke to an overflow crowd of several hundred people at the Church’s meetinghouse in Mu’a, Tonga.

“With all the responsibilities in our lives, the foundational one is to love the Lord,” he said. “It is important to know and love the Lord and let our actions reflect that love, starting within our own families.”

Elder Hallstrom, accompanied by his wife, Sister Diane Hallstrom, came to Tonga to visit Church members and to preside and speak at the Nuku’alofa Tonga Mu’a Stake conference held on Saturday and Sunday, November 16-17. So many members attended the event that extra chairs had to be set up outside the open windows of the meetinghouse.

He reminded the congregation that when the Saviour was asked to identify the greatest commandment, He responded that it was to “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart….” Elder Hallstrom then observed, “When we love Him, we serve Him. We need to learn about Jesus Christ and His Father and to repent and change our lives to conform them to what we know.”

He also emphasized the need for each person to act for himself.

“Everything that is needed [for salvation] is given to us,” he said. “But we must demonstrate our own agency to follow the Lord. No one can do it for us. The responsibility is ours.”

He concluded, “As your brother, and a disciple of the Saviour, I ask you to do a little better. As good and as devoted as you are, you can still do a little better to show you are clearly on the Lord’s side and to have Jesus reflected in your lives.”

In addition to a choir of local Latter-day Saints, a choir from the Hu’atolitoli Prison was invited to sing Sunday morning. Their superb music added a wonderful spirit to the conference. Composed of members of many faiths, they were grateful to be a part of the conference. Siuele Angilau said, “I know what is right. I can do better. This was a great conference, especially hearing the General Authority [Elder Hallstrom] talk.”

Area Seventy, ‘Aisake Tukuafu; Mu’a Stake President, Tevita Tafengatoto; Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission President, Leitoni Matakaiongo Tupou; Mu’a Stake Patriarch, ‘Ulu’amu Tu’ifua; Tonga Temple President, Samisoni Uasila’a and other members of the Church also spoke at the conference.

Local government and civic leaders also attended.

Elder Hallstrom grew up and raised his own family in Hawaii. “Coming to Tonga is a dream for Sister Hallstrom and me. We have many Tongan friends and meeting the cousins and families of our friends is wonderful!”

Sister Hallstrom encouraged the congregation to do those things that would help them focus on the Saviour. “When we kneel and pray, we keep our eyes on the Saviour. As we study the scriptures, we study His words, and they help us keep our eyes on Him,” she said.

“When we hold family home evening and we kneel together in prayer, sing a hymn of Zion, teach a lesson on Christ, we keep our family united and our eyes on the Saviour. When we keep our eyes on the Saviour it gives us peace and refuge in our lives.”

Two young women who attend the Church’s Liahona High School, Fakatovmafi Mu’amoholeva and Megny Tu’i’onetoa, were impressed with Elder Hallstrom’s comments.  “I learned that the most important thing is to love the Lord and show it in our actions,” said one.  “The Church is there to help us, but it is up to us to live the gospel,” added the second.

Tangiteina Kinikini came away from the conference feeling encouraged that she “can improve and move forward just a little more.  Do a little better.”

Sitting in the audience, Beta Pahia, a mother of five, responded to another of Elder Hallstrom’s themes. “I liked what he said about encouraging the inactive to be active again.  That is what happened to my husband [who was inactive]. They came and visited with him.  They encouraged him and helped him.  It’s important when you visit with less active and they see you care about them. Then they know they are important.”  Her husband was recently called to be the second counsellor in the bishopric of her congregation.

Sister Hallstrom was very impressed by the stake choir. In her talk she quoted the scripture: “…the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.” [D&C 25:12], and added, “The prayers of music have lifted me today. Your music reaches heaven.”