Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is visiting New Zealand this week. He came to thank Brent Buckner for his service to the people of the Pacific as he has worked as area director for temporal affairs. Mr Buckner and his wife Debbie are returning home to the United States in early August.
Bishop Caussé also welcomed the new director for temporal affairs, Steven Peterson, and his wife, LuAnn, at a special devotional on Monday 11 June at the Church’s Pacific Area Administration Office in Auckland.
On this occasion he spoke of the tender time it is to say goodbye to the Buckners. He recognized them as “full of faith, a couple in the Lord.”
He noted that both the Buckners and the Petersons have sacrificed much to come to labour in the Pacific and also observed that “the more we sacrifice, the more we are blessed.”
Earlier this year, an article by Bishop Caussé was published on the Church’s global Mormon Newsroom website.
In part, he said, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a singular purpose: to invite all people to come unto Christ. The Church is not a financial or profit-making institution; it uses resources to carry out its divinely appointed mission. The Church is a steward of the tithes and generous donations provided by its members, and it practices the principles it teaches — avoiding debt, living within a budget and preparing for the future.”
Mr Buckner has been supporting the Church’s efforts in these and other temporal affairs work for many years in North America and Europe, the last three in the South Pacific.
Prior to his new role, which he begins in August, Mr Peterson was managing director of Welfare Services and Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also served as president of LDS Charities and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of LDS Family Services.
Watch a video of Bishop Caussé speaking to a worldwide audience at the Church’s April 2018 general conference.