Mateo Lautiami was called to serve as the new president of the Nuku'alofa Tonga Mu'a Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, 29 November.
Tevita To'a and Lomekina Pese will assist President Lautaimi as counsellors in the stake presidency. A stake is a group of Latter-day Saint congregations in a geographical area.
The three leaders are lay ministers who also have full-time occupations.
Elder Kevin W. Pearson, president of the Church's Pacific Area, made the announcement during the stake's recent conference.
The change in leadership was necessitated by the recent passing of President Tevita Tafengatoto for whom members of the stake are still mourning.
The counsellors Sunia Tupou’ata and Tevita To’a were thanked by local Church members for their service.
The new president, Lautaimi and his wife, Fakatoumafi, have three children and live in the village of Talafo’ou. Prior to his calling as stake president he served as the bishop of Talafo’ou Ward (congregation).
In his remarks to the members of the congregation, President Lautaimi said, “Remember we are covenant people, and we must live our lives according to the will of the Lord.”
As the concluding speaker of the conference, Elder Pearson expressed his condolences to President Tafengatoto’s family and offered words of encouragement to the members.
“We need to have trust in the Lord during dark days, that peace will replace distress, that love will replace loneliness, and if we trust in the Lord, we will return to his presence with honour.
"The gospel of Jesus Christ brings great comfort and hope to our families to be happy,” Elder Pearson said.
That same evening, Elder Pearson and local Latter-day Saint leader, Elder Aisake Tukuafu, spoke to over 500 young people at a "For the Strength of Youth" (FSY) devotional meeting.
Youth from Hahake, Mu’a, Halaliku, Malapo, and Vaini attended the gathering.
Focusing on the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, Elder Pearson stressed the importance for youth to “know who you are, that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He wants us to return to live together with Him.”
Youth and leaders were excited to attend the devotional as it is also a preparation for the two week FSY camp for all youth in Tonga in January 2016.