Mormon Temples Discussed During Papua New Guinean Conferences

Visiting leaders, Elder Robert J. Dudfield and President Jackson Yee, met with members and guests of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Papua New Guinea earlier this month.

Elder Dudfield, an Area Seventy in the Church, was accompanied by his wife, Darice Dudfield. Jackson Yee, president of the Church's Suva Fiji Temple, was accompanied by his wife, Mele Yee.

The visiting leaders met with Latter-day Saints in Gerehu and Lae.

It was the first time a serving Latter-day Saint temple president has visited Papua New Guinea.

President of the Church's Gerehu Papua New Guinea District, Charles Tuigamala, said, “It seemed as if they brought the temple to us.”

President and Sister Yee met with teachers who support new missionaries, sharing with them the blessings and importance of preparing for the temple.

Sister Yee, Sister Dudfield, Sister Taeoalii and Sister Fehoko participated in a panel discussion answering the questions of approximately 100 women leaders. 

The leaders then traveled to Lae and met with another 300 adult leaders of the Church.

President Yee taught Papua New Guinean Latter-day Saints who attended the meetings about the blessings of the temple and invited all to prepare to attend in the future as their circumstances would allow.

"The visit raised the profile of the temple in the hearts and the minds of the people as they look to their eternal families," explained Sister Moyers, a senior missionary serving in Papua New Guinea.

Several local Church members spoke of their desire to connect with their previous generations. They recognised the need to do the work of their ancestors in the temple.

“We felt closer to the Lord, this gave us more of a desire to go to the temple," Loa Hila said. "I wish and hope we have more visits like this. It has encouraged us to work hard to prepare to go to the temple. I hope someday to work and serve in the temple."

There are tens of thousands of Latter-day Saint congregations in the world, members of which meet regularly for worship services and other gatherings in meetinghouses or chapels.

The highest sacraments of the faith, focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ and uniting families for eternity, are conducted in the Church's temples. There are currently 157 operating temples worldwide. Papua New Guinean Latter-day Saints are members of the Suva Fiji Temple District.

Read more about why Latter-day Saints build temples here.

Watch a short video about temples.