Elder D. Todd Christofferson—a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—urged members of the Church in Hamilton, New Zealand this weekend to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and serve their families, neighbours and communities as Christ would do.
Quoting from The Doctrine and Covenants—a book of Latter-day Saint scripture—Elder Christofferson said, "Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations" (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5).
Elder Christofferson also quoted words spoken by Jesus Christ in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ:“Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do” (3 Nephi 18:24.)
“The reason we have the Church,” Elder Christofferson said, “is to strengthen one another’s faith, and to lift and sustain one another.”
Elder Christofferson told those in attendance that none of us can fully overcome the challenges of life “without the blessings associated with our covenants, the Holy Spirit, and the grace of Jesus Christ.”
The Latter-day Saint Apostle, accompanied by his wife, Katherine Christofferson, have been visiting the South Pacific over the last week and a half. They have met with Church members, missionaries and community leaders in American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands and New Zealand. A visit to Vanuatu was cancelled due to airport challenges in Port Vila.
Other leaders who attended meetings over the weekend included Elder Kevin W. Pearson, president of the Church’s Pacific Area, and his wife, June Pearson; Elder Paul R. Coward and his wife, Julie Coward; president of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, Sid Going, and his wife, Colleen Going; and president of the New Zealand Hamilton Mission, Charles A. Rudd and his wife, Annette Rudd.
Watch a short video featuring Elder Christofferson: