News Release

Elder Craig A. Cardon Meets with Members of the Halaliku Tonga Stake

           

Elder Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy and Second Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited Tonga for the first time this month.

He presided at the semi-annual conference of the Halaliku Tonga Stake (a group of congregations).

Elder Cardon was welcomed to Tonga by Sateki Manakofua, president of the Halaliku Stake.
 
During the two day event Elder Cardon visited members in their homes, including 73 year-old Vaitulala Liu’anga of Nakolo, a recent convert to the Church.

Tuivailala expressed his feelings on this special visit he received from Elder Cardon: “I am very grateful for his visit and it means a lot to me and my family, we feel blessed. I feel I joined the Church a little late in life and wished I had known more about the Book of Mormon and the gospel years ago.”

Vaitulala Liuanga and his wife Latai Liu’anga say they are now focused on sharing the blessings of the gospel with their family and others.

During the Saturday session with the adult members of the Halaliku Stake, Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission President Sione Fifita Tuione and his wife Sister Moala Fe’aomoe Lupe Sika Tuione were among the speakers. 

They shared their deep love and appreciation for Elder Cardon, as he helped them begin their missionary service in 2016. President and Sister Tuione thanked the members of the stake for taking care of the missionaries and invited all to do member-missionary work.  

President Manakofua led a panel discussion which consisted of a married couple with young children, an older married couple with grandchildren, two young returned missionaries, and two youth members of the stake. 

Experiences and insights were shared on topics including teaching children at home, sharing the gospel with others, and setting good examples for peers. Those in attendance were encouraged to hold similar discussions in their own homes.

           

Elder Cardon stressed the importance of paying a full tithe "with your whole heart," and that "great blessings will come because of your faith."

The Sunday session was filled to capacity, with members in the overflow section of the building.

Sister Anaseini V. Langi, Tonga Temple Matron, spoke of the personal and family benefits of attending the temple frequently.

President Taniela A. Langi expressed his love and appreciation to the stake members for their temple and family history service.
 
Elder Cardon gave a powerful message focused on Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

“Jesus Christ will stand at our side during our times of need," he said.

"He will be at our side as a Mediator to our Heavenly Father at Judgment Day.  He chose to lay down His life for us. No one could take His life; He had the power to lay it down and take it up again. He lives, He is Risen!”
 
The two-day conference ended with a youth and young single adult devotional.  The theme of this meeting was the importance of education. 

Elder Cardon presented photos and stories of his family. He told the congregation that his grandmother Pratt did not receive a formal education but wanted to make sure all her children would be educated. She taught them the importance of education.
 
Elder Cardon challenged the young people to seek a higher education, to never stop learning. He said this is the key to success in life and in the gospel.

        

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