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AUSTRALIA LOCAL PAGES AUSTRALIA LOCAL PAGES AREA LEADERSHIP MESSAGE We without Them Cannot Be Made Perfect By Elder Adolf J. Johansson Elder Adolf J. Area Seventy Johansson s my family accepted the invita- preparing for their sealing in the Suva other while waiting to be married Ation from our Area Presidency to Fiji Temple. for eternity. In the spirit world, only complete “My Family 15 in 15” and take I did not realise the reality of being those who are married by the laws a name to the temple, I personally wit- separated as husband and wife after and ordinances of the holy temple nessed and felt the love my ancestors death until I knelt with my wife in the can continue the marriage relation- have for one another in the spirit world. Suva Fiji Temple on behalf of those ship. “Therefore, when they are out Since moving to Fiji from New who have gone beyond the veil. of the world they neither marry nor Zealand, I have made connections As my wife and I participated in are given in marriage.” 1 to living relatives in Sweden, who the sacred sealing ordinance, I saw We sometimes don’t appreciate the gave me five generations of family in my mind the couple embracing urgency of temple and family history names on my father’s side. As we each other for the first time after their work until we catch a glimpse into prepared our ancestors for temple departure from this mortal life, as hus- the lives of those in the spirit world. ordinances, I could feel the joy of band and wife. I could feel that their There are husbands and wives, par- husbands and wives looking forward longing for one other was now over. ents and children waiting and longing to their eternal union. I could feel Tears filled my eyes as I realised how for the promised day of eternal union the anticipation of kindred spirits much this couple had missed each through temple ordinances. FIJI TEMPLE SUVA Our ancestors are praying for us to take their names to the temple and fulfil our promised obligations in the work of salvation on their behalf. February 2017 A1 The scriptures testify of our duty comfort I receive from the knowl- of the house of God. May we find and obligation to one another in the edge I have that she and I will be our ancestors, take their names to the great latter- day work of temples: “For together again.” 4 temple, and teach others to do like- we without them cannot be made I testify of the sealing powers that wise. This is the great latter- day work perfect; neither can they without us bind husband and wife, parents and of temples, and the Lord is hastening be made perfect.” 2 children for time and eternity. These His work on both sides of the veil, I There are also those of our ances- sealing powers and priesthood keys humbly testify in the name of Jesus tors who are repenting and exercising are held by the living prophets and Christ, amen. ◼ exceeding great faith in the Atonement apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ NOTES 1. Doctrine and Covenants 132:16. of Jesus Christ but cannot progress of Latter- day Saints. I witness that 2. Doctrine and Covenants 128:18. until the ordinances of the temple are marriage and family relationships will 3. Doctrine and Covenants 138:58. 4. Thomas S. Monson, “Blessings of the complete. The promise of redemption continue as we obey the ordinances Temple,” Ensign, May 2015, 93. is assured to all who will obey the ordinances of the temple. “The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the LOCAL PAGES house of God.” 3 Our ancestors are praying for us to take their names to the temple and Storms No Deterrent to fulfil our promised obligations in the Modbury Stake “Pioneers” work of salvation on their behalf. By Caroline McIlwaine Our ancestors are waiting, longing, hoping, and praying for you and me ast September’s “storm of the half held emergency meetings as a trek to relieve them from their suffering L century” in South Australia could committee and fasted and prayed for through the sanctifying ordinances have wiped out the Modbury stake’s guidance and a miracle.” of the holy temple. planned pioneer reenactment trek, What followed was exactly that— President Thomas S. Monson but just like the early pioneers of The a miracle! shared his gratitude for the blessings Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day “Suddenly we had land owners of the temple in the April 2015 general Saints, nothing deterred them. who’d previously not allowed us access conference: Just four days before the start of through their properties open their “The blessings of the temple are the trek, organisers learned that the lands up to us at a day’s notice, and priceless. One for which I am grateful storms had washed away tracks, caus- when we inspected the trails we found every day of my life is that which my ing closures and damage to the trail that they were unaffected by the wild beloved wife, Frances, and I received chosen and mapped out in the Mount weather, even though they were not as we knelt at a sacred altar and made Remarkable National Park. far from the original site,” Chris said. covenants binding us together for all “We had to find an alternate route to With that faith rewarded, and eternity. There is no blessing more ensure trek went ahead for the youth,” in high spirits, the youth and their precious to me than the peace and explained trail boss Chris Castle. “We leaders headed north to the Flinders A2 Ensign Modbury stake youth participate in the annual trek. AUSTRALIA LOCAL PAGES Ranges on the 4th October. Leaving Hoyts) was a highlight and blessing. kept a watch to see if anyone needed home comforts and technology “That’s my favourite memory from a break. We helped each other out.” behind, they resolved in their hearts trek—the way my family supported Rest for sore feet and blistered palms to experience—even in small measure each other through our weaknesses came at nighttime, as tarpaulins were —what the Church’s 19th- century and trials,” said Sebastian. “We sang thrown over the handcarts to make converts underwent as they trekked the most, prayed the most, and kept rudimentary tents. Sebastian said it from America’s midwest to the Salt Lake our spirits up.” was hard to sleep on the first damp Valley, fleeing persecution and suffering But it was still hard. night, but then—another blessing—the privation and loss, in their faith- filled “Most of us were on the verge of weather fined up and the sun shone. quest for religious freedom. collapse after each hill, but there were Julia Quince, 17, of Golden Grove Small miracles are not unusual on easier parts, and people who weren’t Ward considers the women’s handcart the trek. It is designed to build faith pushing or pulling handcarts always pull the hardest aspect of the trek— and testimony through the sacrifice, and the most rewarding. IMAGES COURTESY OF JANIIA MONTAGUE AND GILLIAN TRUDGEN USED WITH PERMISSION IMAGES COURTESY OF JANIIA MONTAGUE courage, and sheer hard work that “It was so mind blowing: (tackling) have brought people throughout time the steepest hills on the trail, and we closer to God. Dressed in 19th- century did it three times,” enthused Julia about clothing and enduring the meagre fare the reenactment of the pioneer stories that was the norm for the pioneer trail, of women who had to push and pull the 56 youth pushed and pulled their their carts west, alone. handcarts—often uphill—along the “It got harder each time, but it 21- kilometre route. was a really good feeling—pushing The youth were divided into six through and encouraging each other. families, with a ‘ma’ and ‘pa’, and were I absolutely related to the pioneer given the name of an actual pioneer women, but I know when the men family whose journey was recorded. went off to war, they had this hard- Sebastian Trudgen was one of 56 Sixteen- year- old Sebastian Trudgen ship each day, and we only had it for youth who undertook Modbury of Playford Ward said that sharing the stake’s trek. a short time. How challenging it must challenge with his trek family (the have been for them.” February 2017 A3 During the annual stake trek, Modbury stake youth and leaders experience the conditions early Church pioneers endured. in the testimony meeting at the close of the trek. “I really felt the Spirit,” Sebastian said. “Everyone did—it was inspiring.” Echoing the words of President Brigham Young in the summer of 1847, when he and the first Mormon pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley —they were in the right place! Reflecting on the overall experi- ence, Chris Castle is thankful for the youth, their parents, the accompanying leaders, and everyone who worked This was more than an eye- opener or confidence in myself too—because towards its success. for Julia, though. “I know my faith defi- I now know I can keep going, I can “We were blessed because many of nitely increased when I put my trust in overcome challenges.” the parents and committee exercised the Lord as I was pushing up each hill. Both youth agreed that being away faith that a way for trek to go ahead So many times I didn’t think I had the from the distractions of everyday life would be provided if we trusted in the strength, but I kept going and the Lord for the three days of the trek helped Lord.