Elder Christofferson Invites Pacific Area Saints to Prepare for Auckland Temple

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited Latter-day Saints in New Zealand to prepare for the Auckland Temple dedication by becoming more holy and Christlike.

He invited them to think about the words at every temple entrance: “Holiness to the Lord; The House of the Lord,” and ask themselves, “What could I do that would make me a holier person, a better offering and gift of myself to present to the Lord on that day of the dedication?”

The member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles’ visit to Penrose, Auckland, concluded a May assignment to the Pacific Area, where and his wife, Sister Katherine Christofferson, visited six cities in New Zealand and Australia: Auckland, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin, and Alice Springs.
 

Auckland, New Zealand

  
 
“If you pray and you ask God to reveal to you about anything that you should change, He will answer that kind of prayer,” Elder Christofferson said on Sunday, May 28, during a special stake conference in Penrose, Auckland. “On the other hand, you may think about things that are wonderful qualities, Christlike attributes, things that you ought to incorporate in your life and character more fully, by turning into the scriptures.”

Heavenly Father and the Savior are not disinterested observers, he said. “It’s wonderful that we don’t have to do that alone. … They are anxious to bless, to expand our abilities, to give us the help we need every day.”

In her remarks, Sister Christofferson said that disciples of Jesus Christ often need to make tough decisions to be true to their discipleship.

“I love to see how people around me … handle difficult challenges or problems and not stray from the gospel path,” she said. “How they keep their faith and … testify of the love of Jesus Christ and their Heavenly Father.”
 

Melbourne, Australia

“You are in the crucial phase of this last dispensation,” Elder Christofferson told approximately 1,800 Latter-day Saint youth and young adults on Friday, May 19, in Melbourne, Australia.

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“Covenants, temples, scriptures in our hands — it is a wonderful time to be alive,” he said.

Elder Christofferson urged those in attendance to continually study the Book of Mormon. “The converting power of the Spirit comes with the Book of Mormon,” he said. “It’s essential in preparing for a mission and in being a missionary.”

Regarding understanding one’s identity, he said that knowing that “we’re not an accident of evolution” is significant.

“We are creations of God, spirit and body. He obviously has an interest in us. He has so much love for us that He gave his only Begotten Son to redeem us. He wants us to have all He has.”

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The power of Jesus Christ lifts hearts and lives, Elder Christofferson said. “The grace of Christ is transforming. There is an infinite and comprehensive reach of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

Speaking of the ever-present philosophies and “anti-Christ, anti-standards” messages constantly in social media, Elder Christofferson reassured young people that “all you need is to call on the Lord to strengthen you, to have His Spirit always to be with you.” He encouraged them to reflect on what they need to do to be prepared to take the sacrament each Sunday. “Even small things are significant,” he said.

Elder Christofferson testified of Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s love. “They know the best way to help you and respond to you. They won’t force anything on you, but They are ready and willing,” he said.

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Elder Peter F. Meurs, General Authority Seventy and President of the Church’s Pacific Area, said that because mortality is “deliberately full of difficulties and challenges,” it’s important to learn how to overcome challenges.

“The Spirit entices me to do the next important thing in my life,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t want to. When I respond, trusting in Christ, He strengthens me.”

Hobart, Tasmania

“Our covenants are truly worth every effort,” Elder Christofferson said on Sunday, May 21, during a special conference for members and friends of the Church from across Tasmania, Australia, where the Church of Jesus Christ has had members and congregations since the 1850s.

He quoted President Russell M. Nelson, who said, “God will not abandon His relationship with those who have forged a bond with Him. In fact, all those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy” (“The Everlasting Covenant,” October 2022 general conference).

“[God] will give us all He has,” Elder Christofferson said. “We also have His help now, day by day, hour by hour.”
“He will never tire in helping us. We have a special place in His heart and He has high hopes for us.”

Elder Christofferson talked about the main roles of a modern-day apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ: “First, we feed the Savior’s sheep, His lambs. That is the apostles’ commission. We go through all the world to nourish the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Seventies and the missionaries help us. They do apostolic work.”

The most important aspect of being an apostle today is to bear witness of the Savior, he said. “We act in His name. All ordinances are done by virtue of His authority. When I bear witness of the name of Christ, I’m bearing witness that His authority is in this Church. We have the authority. The name of Christ is also associated with His Atoning power. No other name is given where salvation can come. Christ’s Atonement is complete.”

Testifying of Jesus Christ, Elder Christofferson said, “Truly He is the Son of God. That’s my witness to you today. The living Redeemer knows you individually. He couldn’t know you better if you were the only child He ever had. If we were to see Him now, we would be surprised how well we know Him. I invoke His blessing upon you, that His spirit will be poured out upon you. This entire island will be blessed by your influence.”

Elder Meurs talked about the importance of continuing to respond to the April General Conference teachings of President Nelson where he invited all to be peacemakers.

“If we will respond to a prophet of God and eliminate contention in our lives, participate in the sacrament ordinance and remember our covenants, we will have God’s spirit to be with us,” he said. “Then, like the Nephite people after the visit of the resurrected Savior, we will be able to say there is no contention among us because of the love of God that dwells in our hearts.”

At the conclusion of the conference, Elder Christofferson took time to greet all the children and youth in attendance, one by one.

“When Elder Christofferson spoke today, we felt very excited and blessed here in Tasmania,” said Katrina Gibbs. “With being a mother and seeing the excitement on my children’s faces, I hope they remember this day forever.”

Adelaide, Australia

Elder Christofferson told Latter-day Saints in Adelaide, Australia, on Tuesday, May 23, that after we make covenants or promises to God, “God is free to let His power and influence into our lives. Covenants bring us closer to God through a bond that God will never break.”

Quoting President Nelson, he said, “Once we make a covenant with God, we leave neutral ground forever” (“The Everlasting Covenant,” October 2022 general conference).

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Speaking of the process of becoming perfected in Jesus Christ, he said that “we come unto Christ and then we are perfected in Him. We don’t become perfect and then come to Christ.”

Elder Christofferson emphasized the need for all of God’s children to constantly repent. “The Atonement of Jesus Christ takes away the stain of sin,” he said.

“It is not always easy to fully repent, but with the Savior’s help, we can,” he said. Years ago, Elder Christofferson prayed to know if there was anything in his past that he needed to repent of. The Holy Ghost brought some minor incidents to his mind, so he went about to make things right. He expressed how glad he was that he did, as he felt that a burden had been lifted from him.

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“Time doesn’t take away the sin, repentance does,” Elder Christofferson said. “I realized that as we repent, the burden of sin is taken away by the Lord’s Atonement. We don’t have to worry about judging another, because if we did, we might make a mistake. But the Lord’s infinite understanding and mercy will not.”

Elder Taniela Wakolo, General Authority Seventy and First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, bore testimony that “God the Eternal Father lives, He knows you and I by name.”

He thanked youth for attending the devotional and for “being in the moment.”

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“When we are in the right place at the right time, everything works out,” Elder Wakola said. “Because you chose to be here tonight, everything will be different for you.”

Elder Wakolo encouraged youth to attend Seminary and to “walk in truth by attending Church meetings and the temple and to always have a current temple recommend.”

Earlier in the day, Elder and Sister Christofferson and Elder and Sister Wakolo met with missionaries from the Church’s Australia Adelaide Mission.
 

Darwin, Australia

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Darwin is a “famous outpost of the Church,” Elder Christofferson said about the part of Australia’s “Top End” he visited on Wednesday, May 24.

He was accompanied in Australia’s Northern Territory by Sister Christofferson, Elder Meurs, and Sister Maxine Meurs.

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Elder Christofferson explained that “the ordinances of the gospel are personal and must be performed one by one, person by person, individual by individual, by name.”

He said that “the Holy Ghost can guide us as individuals, while gifts of the Spirit are to enable us to bless the lives of others.”

He testified that “the Book of Mormon is the most powerful written testimony of Jesus Christ that we have at this time. It is convincing evidence of Jesus Christ and who He is.”

Elder Christofferson blessed the Saints in Darwin “that your faith will increase as you desire to serve and have faith in [Jesus Christ],” and “to have the faith to do what He wants done in your life and the lives of others that you may influence in some way.”

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Alice Springs, Australia

“I sense a light among you,” Elder Christofferson told friends and Latter-day Saints in Alice Springs, in the central outback of Australia, on Friday, May 26. “As we follow the Savior’s example, we can become a light unto all those around us.”

He recounted an experience he had as a youth when he prayed for about an hour in the grove of trees at Upstate New York, embracing the First Vision experience. He said nothing happened. However, two months later, he had a wonderful experience while reading the Book of Mormon where he knew it was true.

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Elder Christofferson said he learned from this experience that “you don’t have to be any place special for the Lord to find you or answer your prayers.”

“The Lord knows precisely where you are, and he knows your heart,” he said. “I want to promise you who are seeking the truth, if that is your desire, you will receive a confirmation — just as I did — in His time and in His way, that the Book of Mormon is true. He will find you. He knows precisely where you are, and He knows your heart.”

Elder Christofferson blessed Saints in Alice Springs that “your faith in Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father will increase and that the Holy Ghost will be in your homes” and “that you can cast out the adversary and make your homes a sanctuary of happiness and peace.”

Cheydon Tuifua, who lives in Alice Springs, said, “Having an Apostle of the Lord come to Alice Springs was very powerful because it shows that the Lord does love us, and He does recognize us here, and I’m very grateful for that.”

The Christoffersons were accompanied in Alice Springs by Elder and Sister Wakolo.

“Build your foundation on Jesus Christ and whatever the challenges life throws your way you will never be swayed but will be steadfast and immovable,” said Elder Wakolo. “When we have Jesus Christ as the foundation of our lives, whom we associate with matters, the conversations we have everyday matter.”

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