The food will be distributed to individuals and families who are going through difficult times.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made the presentation to Catholic leaders in French Polynesia on Friday 25 August.

Stevenson affirmed support of the Catholic Church in French Polynesia in its efforts of the to feed the poor and support them in other humanitarian ways.

He was accompanied during his visit by Elder O. Vincent Haleck, president of the Pacific Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Elder Benjamin Sinjoux, Area Seventy.

Stevenson, Haleck and Sinjoux were warmly welcomed by the archbishop of Papeete, Jean-Pierre Cottanceau, and some of his colleagues.

They discussed issues relating to homelessness in Tahiti and the need to provide food to those in desperate circumstances.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest presiding body in the government of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church.

Its members serve under the direction of the First Presidency, a governing unit of three men — the president and two counselors.

Stevenson, 56, was named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015.

Source

• Mormon Newsroom
• Mormon Newsroom
• Image: Mormon Newsroom

Only members of the LDS temple with valid passes are permitted to go in.

The Suva Fiji Temple — which serves more than 35,000 Latter Day Saints in Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands — was originally dedicated in June 2000.

It was closed in October 2014 for renovation.

Members of the public have been invited to have a look inside the temple before it is rededicated.

The public open house began Jan 25 and will continue through Feb 6.

Tours include a 10-minute presentation and a 30-minute walk-through.

The Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, toured the temple on Jan 20.

He was accompanied by other senior governmental leaders and hosted by members of the Pacific Area Presidency and other Church leaders.

A number of Cabinet ministers and other senior leaders attended the special temple open house tour along with the Prime Minister.

The colours and design motifs of the renovated temple were inspired by the flowers, beaches and jungles of Fiji.

The interior of the temple features original art glass and a hand-painted mural depicting the landscape and flora of the islands.

The temple will be rededicated on Feb. 21.

Source

• deseretnews.com
• ksl.com
• Image: desertnews.com

Mulipola Oliva Mulipola, presented the machine to the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Leao Tuitama last Tuesday.

Mulipola is Upolu Samoa West Stake President of the LDS Church.

He said that while the work for the hospital was still going, they received a request from the US Charge'd' Affaires, Chad Berbert.

Berbert is also a member of the LDS church.

"He requested to the Church to help with some equipment needed for the new Hospital."

When the request was accepted by the Church, we contacted the Ministry of Health to find a machine and let the church know when they find one." Mulipola said.

Health Minister, Tuitama thanked the LDS for the generous donation. The neonatal machine is an equipment used to care for babies in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Source

Missionary Gina Colvin, in a blog on a major Mormon website, also took shots at her own Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and the way Americans see the world.

She said New Zealand was a secular and morally liberal nation.

This didn't mean we were "going to hell in a hand-basket", she said.

"Few people will bat an eye-lid at gay marriage, many will swear like troopers, wine-drinking is an important cultural institution, and pre-marital cohabitation is the norm," she said.

Colvin, who is a Kiwi but is in Utah teaching missionaries, said they shouldn't freak out because she would rather be with a "group of cursing, wine-swilling, gay-loving, cohabiting New Zealanders than any other people in the world - because, in my decades of experience, New Zealand has a habit of producing the real deal".

She said American missionaries should get used to the fact that New Zealanders did not live in "McMansions".

"On the contrary, that modest bungalow that doesn't sport a 'rest-room' for every bedroom in the house and a basement the size of a football field probably cost more than your McMansion - even with the exchange rate," she said.

"New Zealand is an expensive place to live - period!"

Colvin said missionaries should eat the food they are served in homes and be grateful.

"Food doesn't come in bucket-sized portions for the price of small change."

"It's expensive - so eat that meal that has been prepared for you by that large humble Mormon family in their three-bedroom bungalow - because it represents more than food, it also represents sacrifice."

And after the meal help clean up.

Learn some Maori, she added. Continue reading

Sources

• Stuff
• Image: LDS Church Temples