The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commemorated 125 years in Japan on September 1, as Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with Church members and leaders in the Asia North Area, which includes East Asia and Micronesia.
In Japan, Elder Bednar and his wife, Susan, planted a commemorative tree and met with Latter-day Saints during a nationwide broadcast marking the anniversary.
The Bednars also met with members and friends of the Church in South Korea and the islands of Micronesia during their late August ministry. Their visit to Japan coincided with the 125th anniversary of Apostle Heber J. Grant's September 1, 1901, dedication of the country for the preaching of the gospel.
“This weekend, I was grateful to speak at a special nationwide broadcast from a meetinghouse in Yokohama, Japan, near the site where the dedication occurred,” said Elder Bednar in a social media post.
“The message I shared at the broadcast is the same message that has been preached to millions of people across the globe — that Jesus Christ loves you and what He did through His Atonement is for you, a beloved child of your Heavenly Father,” he said.
“My heart has been filled with gratitude for the Japanese pioneers who did so much to establish the foundation,” he told the congregation.
“Because of the influence of the gospel, many good families are growing. So, as they grow in Japan, the people will see the influence of the good families,” said Ryuichi Inoue, a pioneer Latter-day Saint in Japan.
“It is a time to reflect on the fact that this entire nation has been blessed by the light of the gospel,” Elder Bednar said.