Women General Officers Minister to Members in the Caribbean

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Primary General President Susan H. Porter and Sister Kristin M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, shared messages of love and unity with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a 10-day, four-country ministry assignment to the Caribbean Area from February 9-19.

“When we come to the Savior, there are angels who will come and help us,” said President Porter, speaking at a devotional for Latter-day Saint women in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

In the same devotional, Sister Yee said that when sisters in the Church come together, “something wonderful happens; we need each other and we are united in Jesus Christ, and every time we gather in His name, blessings come.”

Trinidad and Tobago

During a devotional for members of the Port of Spain Ward in the Trinidad Port of Spain Stake, President Porter explained that Heavenly Father inspires His children to positively impact the lives of others.

President Porter and Sister Yee were accompanied by Elder Moisés Villanueva, a General Authority Seventy and the Second Counselor in the Church’s Caribbean Area Presidency, and his wife, Leticia; and Elder Claude R. Gamiette, an Area Seventy, and his wife Delphine.

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Sister Porter encouraged tmembers to face their burdens with an outward focus. Despite challenges, Heavenly Father is always willing to answer prayers, she said, and even if circumstances don’t change, the Lord will provide impressions that lead to personal transformation.

Sister Yee said that when the Lord asks them to do difficult or unfamiliar things, “trust in Him,” and He will prepare the way.

Barbados

On February 12 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados, the leaders helped celebrate the acquisition of needed equipment the Church donated for the hospital’s use.

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Later, gathered with a small group of new members for a family home evening at the meetinghouse in the Christ Church parish, President Porter and Sister Yee discussed how family home evening can help families create a sense of belonging, joy and gospel knowledge.

The leaders met with a group of community and interfaith leaders to discuss matters of faith and service and how they could work together to improve the community on February 13.

They later met with members in the Barbados community about the needs of women and other family concerns. President Porter and Sister Yee discussed the importance of ministering and fostering love within families.

Surinam

In Surinam on February 14-15, the General Officers were accompanied by Elder Valerie V. Cordón, a General Authority Seventy and the First Counselor in the Church’s Caribbean Area Presidency; his wife, Glenda Zelmira Zea Díaz; and Elder and Sister Gamiette.

A devotional held February 14 centered on the importance of having faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and keeping the Lord’s commandments to feel His eternal peace and happiness.

On February 15, the group visited the Koewarasan Public School, one of the three primary schools being refurbished as part of a Church humanitarian project, and met with school and government officials.

Later in the afternoon, President Porter and Sister Yee, accompanied by Elder Cordón and Elder Gamiette, met with the country officials to discuss the needs of the Surinamese government and how the Church can help. President Porter and Sister Yee also shared the Church’s vision of the role of women in the Church and society.

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Dominican Republic

The last stop on the ministry assignment was in the Dominican Republic, where the General Officers provided instruction to presidencies of the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Elder Eduardo Gavarret, a General Authority Seventy and President of the Church’s Caribbean Area, presided at the meeting.

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The following day, the leaders participated in a devotional for children, parents and Primary leaders. Using music, images, audiovisuals and messages from President Russell M. Nelson, President Porter taught the children how to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and its impressions to have guidance in their lives. She asked everyone to stand and sing a verse of “I Am a Child of God,” then invited the children to share what they felt as they sang the song. Children answered that they felt peace, happiness and love, and President Porter explained those feelings come from the Holy Ghost.

Elder Villanueva, who presided at the meeting, encouraged priesthood leaders to look for opportunities to have children participate more in sacrament meetings.

On February 18, President Porter and Sister Yee visited meetinghouse chapels of the Mirador and Gazcue sectors of the Dominican Republic. While visiting the members of the Mirador Chapel, President Porter related the experience of her family, which 80 years earlier immigrated to the Dominican Republic from Germany because of the persecution against the Jews. She expressed her love for the country that had sheltered and saved her family. She also expressed her feelings about prayer, the Holy Ghost and sharing God’s love with those in need.

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Later that day, President Porter and Sister Yee joined Elder Gavarret and his wife, Norma, and Elder Paul H. JeanBaptiste, an Area Seventy, in a devotional for Relief Society sisters aired via Zoom throughout Haiti.

“You may feel alone, but you are part of a great sisterhood,” President Porter said.

“You are not forgotten,” Sister Yee added. “We are not present with you, but in our hearts, we are present with you, and we pray for you.”

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On the final day, February 19, President Porter and Sister Yee attended a devotional for all area employees and senior missionaries in the Church’s Caribbean Area administrative offices via Zoom before holding a face-to-face question-and-answer session with women serving in the area, encouraging them to find strength in Jesus Christ.