News Release

Latter-day Saint Apostle Explains the Place of the Church in Samoa

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with news media professionals in Apia, Samoa yesterday.

Elder Christofferson—who fielded questions alongside local Latter-day Saint leader, Elder Meliula Fata—spoke about why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in Samoa.

“The primary effort is to strengthen the character of individuals as they become faithful followers of Jesus Christ, to have faith in Him,” he said.

“Their lives are full of integrity and industriousness and they become wonderfully strong citizens and contributors to society—not only within the Church but [within] the entire community.”

He continued: “We have a constant emphasis on strong families, on fathers being loyal in their homes, being diligent in teaching their children; mothers nurturing their children and teaching them as well. We feel that family is the most important unit of society, that any nation depends upon the strength of the family and we even see family as the order of heaven as we pass to the other side.”

Elder Christofferson said the Church has “many humanitarian projects that are conducted here and across the world.”

“We also want to unite with other churches, people of other faiths, to benefit the community together—things we can collaborate and do with one another. We want to not only do what we can within our church to help, but to unite with others and do the same.”

Read more in the Samoa Observer.

Also in attendance at the press conference were Elder Christofferson’s wife, Katherine Christofferson; Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, of the Church’s Pacific Area Presidency; and Elder Nielsen’s wife, Wendy Nielsen.

Latter-day Saints consider apostles to be “prophets, seers and revelators,” and “special witnesses of Jesus Christ.”

Watch a video of Elder Christofferson speaking at the Church's October 2014 General Conference.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.