Elder-Ulisses-greets-a-missionary-in-French-Polynesia-on-26-April-2024.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greets a missionary in French Polynesia on April 26, 2024.© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged almost 200 missionaries serving in the Tahiti Papeete Mission to continue the work of pioneering missionaries who first arrived in the South Pacific in 1844.
The Apostle from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is there to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries to French Polynesia. He also met with the leader of the country, President Moetai Brotherson, and shared a video message with its citizens.
Looking back to the first missionaries, Elder Soares said, “Representing the Savior and being an extension of those first missionaries 180 years ago is a great opportunity for each of you.”
During a devotional on Friday, April 26, he said, “Not a day passes when I fail to remember the joy I felt as a missionary. I feel so much joy in my heart as I remember my mission, and how I drew closer to the Savior.”
Elder Soares promised the missionaries, “As you incorporate joy in your missionary service, you and those you teach will be greatly blessed. Your joy as a missionary will help you forever.”
Elder-Ulisses-Soares-greets-missionaries-in-French-Polynesia-on-26-April-2024.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greets a missionary in French Polynesia on April 26, 2024.© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The Apostle shared five principles with the missionaries to help them serve the Lord and the people with joy:
- Feeling joy increases our desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
- Joy is a principle of power.
- Our joy is a choice.
- Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause.
- We can feel true joy by focusing our mission on Jesus Christ.
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Elder Soares said, “I feel the joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ, even in the difficult times.”
He concluded, “I have so much joy in my heart to celebrate with you the 180th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries.
“God’s plan is based on joy — the joy to return to Him and His Son.”
Other Church leaders attending the meeting included Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Kyle S. McKay, Church Historian and Recorder and Executive Director of the Church History Department; members of the Pacific Area Presidency Elder Peter F. Meurs and Elder Jeremy Jaggi, both General Authority Seventies; and Elder Frederic Riemer, an Area Seventy.
The leaders were accompanied by their wives: Sister Rosana Soares, Sister Marcia Nielson, Sister Jennifer McKay, Sister Maxine Meurs, Sister Amy Jaggi, and Sister Jenny Riemer.