CELEBRATING TWENTY FIVE YEARS

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS WERE DEDICATED for the preaching of the gospel and missionary work on Tuesday March 10, 1987 by Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  He was accompanied by his wife and Elder and Sister John Sonnenburg of the Pacific Area Presidency.  They went to Henderson Field at 5:15 in the morning and in the area of the four monuments, dedicated the Solomon Islands for the preaching of the Gospel.

We arrived at the Memorial Garden at Henderson Field at 6:15 am with four of our Elders.  Sister Mitchell and Elders Maesi, Tauira, Asuafi, and Ifuna'au standing next to one of the WWII monuments honoring those who gave their lives for the freedom of the Solomon Islands, prior to the service.  The Elders helped us set up the sound system and clean up the rubbish as we waited for the members to arrive by bus. The service started at 7 am sharp.  Wonder who made sure that happened?  No "Island Time" when President Mitchell conducts.

Brother John Kwanafia bearing his testimony during the service.

The priesthood brethren singing Ye Elders of Israel

Sisters singing As Sisters in Zion

Primary children singing I am a Child of God, or

Mi Pikinini blong God.

President Mitchell spoke of the future of the Church in the Solomon Islands.  He promised those in attendance that they would see great growth in the Church and look back to this time with gratitude that they were here on this historic day to celebrate the first 25 years of the gospel in the Solomon Islands.

The spirit was strong during the meeting.  All were grateful for the blessings the gospel has brought into their lives. The meeting concluded at 8 am and the buses arrived to take the members back home.

We wrote two separate articles on the Celebration, one for the Solomon Star and another for the Island Sun newspaper.  They both ran the articles on Tuesday.  The Solomon Star even ran the pictures in color.  The two articles follow.

MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CELEBRATE 25 YEARS

GRACE IFUNA’AU BEARING TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST

TWENTY FIVE YEAR CELEBRATION

Members of the Honiara Solomon Islands District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered early Saturday morning at Henderson Field.  They met together in the Memorial Gardens to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the dedication of the Solomon Islands for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Solomon Islands were dedicated on Tuesday, March 10, 1987, by Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was accompanied by his wife and Elder and Sister John Sonnenburg of the Pacific Area Presidency.   They went to Henderson Field at 5:15 in the morning and in the area of the four monuments, dedicated the Solomon Islands for the preaching of the Gospel.

As part of the celebration, some, who were the first to be baptized into the Church in the Solomon Islands, bore testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and his Gospel.  Those who spoke were; Grace Ifuna’au, John Kwanafia, Nesta Sade, and Matthew Sauseru.  Hymns were sung, prayers were offered and all were uplifted by the Spirit as they celebrated this important event in Church history.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown to include a District and 4 Branches in the Solomon Islands.  The four Congregations are;  White River with Aaron Teikanoa serving as Branch President, Burns Creek with Dickson Koke serving as Branch President, Honiara with Michael Mani  serving as Branch President, and Fauabu, Malaita, with Peter Rimou serving as Branch President there. 

Eddie Misi was the first to join the Church in Honiara and was baptized in 1995.  He also served as the first Branch President.  Today more than 500 Solomon Islanders claim membership in the Church.  Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live in nearly every nation of the world and number over 15 million.  

President Matthew Sauseru Speaking Saturday Morning


CELEBRATING

TWENTY FIVE YEARS

Early Saturday morning, members of the Honiara Solomon Islands District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in the Memorial Gardens at Henderson Field.  They came to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the dedication of the Solomon Islands for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated the Solomon Islands for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1987.  He was accompanied by his wife and Elder and Sister John Sonnenburg of the Pacific Area Presidency.  The dedication took place at Henderson Field in the area of the Four Monuments early on the morning of March 10th.

During the Saturday morning meeting, Grace Ifuna’au, John Kwanafia, and Nesta Sade, some of the first people to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Honiara, bore testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  Matthew Sauseru Counselor in the District Presidency, Aaron Teikanoa, Dickson Koke, and Michael Mani, all Branch Presidents, also spoke during the meeting.  As part of this important event, hymns were sung, and prayers were offered.  

The Church has continued to grow steadily in the Solomon Islands through the past 25 years.    The Honiara Solomon Islands District and the Fauabu Malaita Branch were both organized in 2011.  Peter Rimou currently serves as Branch President of the Fauabu Branch.  The District consists of Honiara, White River, Burns Creek and Fauabu Malaita Branches.  Today more than 500 Solomon Islanders claim membership in the Church.  Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live in nearly every nation of the world and number over 15 million.