Hundreds of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji gathered today at the Fiji Suva Temple located along Princes Road in Samabula to mark the start of their 70th Anniversary celebrations.
The Church has organised a four-day event to mark the celebration, starting today and ending with a service at the Vodafone Arena on Sunday.
For the past 70 years, members of the Church have strived to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
The Church says in May 1843, thirteen years after the Church was organized in the United States, four missionaries were sent to the Pacific Islands.
It says when the first missionaries, Elders Boyd L. Harris and Sheldon L. Abbott, arrived, they began working with a small group and organized the Suva Branch on the 5th of September 1954, with works proceeding slowly.
Nausori Stake President David Atalifo shares that this event is a reflection of the members faith in their journey with the Saviour Jesus Christ.
President Atalifo mentioned that the youth are involved in this event and are of main importance to the Church.
He says these are our leaders of tomorrow, and as a leader of the Church, his responsibility is to organize activities for the youth that will help them remember who they are — a son and a daughter of God. He also highlighted that it is vital for our children to know who Jesus Christ is.
Atalifo says in a world filled with false information and toxic influence, a constant relationship with Jesus Christ will enable a child to overcome these challenges.
He adds the Church has organized a program called the Strength of the Youth that helps youth to have faith in Jesus Christ and to learn and develop new skills.
The Nausori Stake President says these skills enable youths to be active and adapt to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
He continues that the church organization has Bishops and a Branch President who gives all their time and attention to the youths because not every youth comes in a complete family setting.
He adds leaders are there to help youths from broken families and those facing negligence.
Tomorrow is the culture night and dance from 6pm to 12 midnight at the FMF Gymnasium.
On Saturday, there will be a Sports Day from 9am to 2pm at the Church College Grounds in Tamavua and on Sunday, there will be a Fireside Devotion from 3pm to 5.30pm at the Vodafone Arena.
