Tongan Latter-day Saints and Friends Gather to Discuss ‘Our Land, Our Ocean, Our Future’

Environment Week 2025 (1-7 June) in Liahona, Tonga, began with reverence and unity on Sunday, 1 June, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined government leaders to express gratitude to God for the land, the ocean, and the future entrusted to His children.

Among the key leaders in attendance were Dr. Sione Vailala Matoto, CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries; Mr. Sione Akauola, CEO of MEIDECC (Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications); and Laitia Fifita, Director of Tonga Meteorological Services. Church leaders included President Latu of the Matahau Stake and his counselors, along with representatives from other government departments and community organizations.

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The worship service, a joint effort between MEIDECC and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, underscored that caring for the environment is more than a civic duty; it is a sacred expression of love for God, neighbor, and future generations. The banner at the event captured the heart of the message:

“Commemorating World Environment Day – 5 June 2025 Healthy Environment – Our Land. Our Ocean. Our Future. We Are the Generation Restoration.”

During the service, President Latu extended an invitation to all in attendance to become “ambassadors for the environment,” urging members and leaders alike to be examples of stewardship in their homes, churches, communities, and workplaces.

This spiritual gathering opened the way for a nationwide invitation to serve. Members across the country were encouraged to step outside their homes and clean their local areas as part of a churchwide environmental service project.

Elder Tuione, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, powerfully expressed the heart behind the effort. “God created our earth out of love for us, and how we take care of these blessings reflects our gratitude to Him.”

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Echoing that spiritual message with practical insight, Dr. Sione Vailala Matoto, CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries said, “A good environment will produce a productive fishery, and a productive fishery will give a lot of opportunities to the people.”

His message served as a stirring reminder that caring for the earth is an investment in our future. That same spirit filled the air on Sunday as the choir lifted their voices in a resounding “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”

One attendee, Sister Seini Finau, declared, “I must attend the service project tomorrow morning.”

And so, on Monday, 2 June, that inspiration turned into action. From the capital city’s foreshore to the western beaches of Tongatapu and throughout the outer islands, members and friends came together. They worked side by side, young and old, families and individuals, collecting litter, clearing pathways, and restoring the natural beauty of their communities.

As the nation’s landscapes were renewed, so too were the hearts of its people recommitting to protect the sacred gift of God’s creation: our land, our ocean, our future. We are the generation restoration.

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