“When I first arrived in Auckland I missed home and I was lonely,” Kasia Cook, an American doctoral student at the University of Auckland said recently at a special gathering in the heart of downtown Auckland.
“I would come to the Institute building to find peace and feel the Spirit (of the Lord).”
The Auckland Institute—a place where university-age youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and their friends, come to take religion classes, study and socialize—celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The Institute originally opened in 1976 and was dedicated by Elder David B. Haight on 26 February 1977 and has continuously operated ever since.
Elder Meliula M. Fata an Area Seventy of the Church who presided at a celebratory devotional on 17 March commemorating the anniversary, said, “This building is dear to all of us. I have some beautiful memories of this place. My heart goes back to all who have sacrificed their time to help make this Institute a success.”
Several former directors of the Institute shared memories of the past 40 years. Each spoke with fondness of the youth with whom they associated and the spiritual growth they witnessed. As an interlude a choir of students sang “Teach Me to Walk in the Light”.
Aaron Wi Repa, Area Director of Seminaries and Institutes noted that “This Institute has become ‘a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God (Doctrine & Covenants 109: 8).”’
Phillip Skeen is the current director of the Institute.
The Auckland Institute is located at 9 Governor Fitzroy Place near AUT. Visitors are always welcome.
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