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Fiji Latter-day Saints Celebrate 70 Years of Faith in Jesus Christ
Over the weekend of 15–18 May, members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Suva celebrated the 70th anniversary of the coming of the restored gospel and Church of Jesus Christ to the Fiji Islands.
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, encouraged Fiji Church members to celebrate the milestone by expressing their devotion to Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ:
“There’s no better way of emulating the life of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, than to go and willingly partake of the sacrament every Sunday, as well as go to the house of the Lord.
“I promise you, as you do so, it will be a memorable 70th anniversary, as well as a memorable way of preparing ourselves for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Church in Fiji.”
Also speaking about the celebration, Elder Paul B. Whippy, an Area Seventy, said: “This is truly a miracle that started with 14 members of the Church in 1954. Seventy years later, we have 24,000 members, and it continues to grow.”
The celebration started on Thursday, 15 May, at the Suva Fiji Temple on the main island of Viti Levu. Beginning the celebration at the temple was a definite focal point for the Saints in Fiji as many Church members, young and old, joyfully participated in ordinances, which unite families for eternity.
Speaking about the day at the temple, Fiji Temple president, Meli Ulayawa Lesuma, said, “The 15th of May is going to go down in history for the Suva Fiji Temple. The first time we were able to open from morning until evening, and we had [Church members from] all the four stakes here in Fiji participating.”
On Friday the celebration moved to the National Gymnasium, where a programme highlighted the many cultures of the South Pacific. Hundreds of performers represented many South Pacific nations that are part of the rich heritage of the Church in Fiji. Each group practiced their music, song, and dance in the weeks leading up to the event and performed with great enthusiasm for the large crowd that gathered to watch.
Church College Fiji hosted a sports and activity day on Saturday. A military marching band performed, and attendees joined in physical activities and fun, reminding everyone that the Church is a community of joy.
And on Sunday, a devotional took place at the Vodafone Arena. Hundreds of Church members and friends gathered for a final devotional at the Vodafone Arena in downtown Suva.
Choirs shared beautiful music, and attendees watched a historical video about the Church in Fiji, as well as a video message from Boyd Harris, one of two missionaries sent to Fiji from the Tonga Mission in 1954.
Elder John R. Higgins, Area Seventy, encouraged all in attendance to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.
Elder Wakolo reminded all in attendance, “Honour every pioneer who has participated and who made the gospel of Jesus Christ a reality here in Fiji. We pay tribute to Saints in Tonga and Samoa and even in the US for helping us to be a nation, a nation where the Church of Jesus Christ is very well established.”
In recognizing the great strides the Church has made in Fiji, Elder Wakolo used the words of President Russell M. Nelson: “I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work” (“The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Liahona, Nov. 2024).