Elder Neil L. Andersen Ministers to Saints of Papua New Guinea

From the Papua New Guinea Newsroom

“The Spirit of God is upon your country,” declared Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a devotional at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and in stake centers across the country.

The Apostle was accompanied by his wife, Kathy; Elder Edward Dube of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Naume; and members of the Pacific Area Presidency at the devotional attended by thousands of Church members and friends.

Elder Andersen expressed the love of President Dallin H. Oaks, the First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and bore testimony of the prophetic mantle held by President Oaks. “He is a prophet,” testified Elder Andersen. “He is who we claim him to be.”

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An Opportunity Worth the Journey

Elder Andersen acknowledged and thanked members and friends of all ages for making the time and the sacrifice to join together. He recognized that some came by bus, others by foot. Many arrived by Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs), dinghy or plane. Some travel took minutes; some travel took hours.

Travel for nine individuals took days. Young single adults from the Oro Stake, led by Watson Maliota, left Popendetta on Sunday to traverse the arduous 90km hike through the rugged Kokoda Trail to Port Moresby.

“We wanted an opportunity to meet with an Apostle of the Lord,” said Brother Maliota, who felt strengthened by the vision and words Elder Andersen shared: “These are they who have overcome the world. These are they who have truly been born again.” 

“I will remember that as we make our way back home,” Brother Maliota said.

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Elder Andersen taught that worshipping in the House of the Lord will help us understand why we are here upon the Earth and who we are. “You are actually His son and His daughter,” he explained. “Central to all of human history is Jesus Christ. In the temple, we learn of His special role to help us return to our heavenly home.”

‘Are We Excited?’

Elder and Sister Dube encouraged those in attendance to prepare to serve in the soon-to-be dedicated Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple and to hold a current temple recommend. “Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s ‘joy is full’ because of the choice you make when you attend church, minister and prepare to enter the temple,” said Elder Dube.

Brother Egbert and Sister Nama Moi of Kilakila Ward in Port Moresby Stake shared, “The message for us is to prepare to go to the temple. We want to go to the temple to be endowed and we are currently preparing.” 

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The Pioneers of Papua New Guinea

Elder Andersen recognized the pioneering efforts of the members whose faith in Jesus Christ has blessed and will bless many others. “You are pioneers here in Papua New Guinea. There will be hundreds of thousands, millions of members. If the Lord gives us time, there will be many temples.”

Noting the impact education has on pioneers and the next generation, Elder Andersen said, “We need to learn how to read, how to write, how to do mathematics. We need to be educated. The education of our daughters is as important as the education of our sons. Those of us who know how to add, subtract, [and] read must teach our children. This is what pioneers do. Do not neglect education.” 

He concluded by testifying of Jesus Christ. “He is Our Savior, Our Redeemer, the Great Jehovah. He will come in clouds of glory,” he said. 

Noting that all Latter-day Saints are the same, he said, “I love you. Your heart is like my heart. We love the Savior. We love His gospel.”