Women and guests of the Fangaloto Ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, met together on March 17, 2017, to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Church’s Relief Society organization.
The Relief Society was organized to provide for the temporal needs of its members, their families, and others in need. Today this sisterhood consists of 5.5 million members and provides spiritual as well as temporal support to women across the globe. The Relief Society provides service, education and social opportunities for women. At the organization's heart are the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.
In attendance at the celebration in Tonga were Relief Society women and their families. Guests from other faiths also attended the celebration, including Lesila Toia, assistant director of Women and Children in Crisis (WCCC) in Tonga and Sione Veikoso, a Church of Tonga pastor who is also the acting CEO for Tonga Community Corporation (TCC), and his wife, Siulia Veikoso.
Pastor Veikoso told those in attendance it was a privilege for him and his wife to join in the celebration.
He added, “This is a great way of breaking down the walls between churches."
Members from the WCCC expressed gratitude to have been included as part of the program.