News Release

Elder Oaks, Elder Rasband and Bishop Caussé Visit Pacific Area

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will visit Samoa, New Zealand and Australia later this month.

Elder Oaks will be accompanied by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, and Bishop Gérald Caussé, First Counselor in the Church’s Presiding Bishopric.

The Church leaders will meet with the Pacific Area Presidency of the Church, who are based in Auckland, New Zealand. The Pacific Area Presidency are: Elder James J. Hamula; Elder Kevin W. Pearson; and Elder F. Michael Watson.

While in the Pacific Area, Elder Oaks, Elder Rasband and Bishop Caussé will travel with members of the Pacific Area Presidency in order to visit with local Latter-day Saint leaders, members, missionaries and guests of the Church.

The primary responsibility for these and other General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to teach and testify of Jesus Christ, and to invite all to come unto Him.

Earlier this month, at the Church’s annual General Conference [6-7 April 2013], Elder Oaks spoke on the topic, ‘Followers of Christ.’

“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice,” Elder Oaks said, “but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places.”

General Authorities lead and teach 14.5 million Church members worldwide as they oversee the orderly progress and development of the Church.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks was called to serve as an apostle in May 1984.  He is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles which is the second-highest presiding body in the Church.   The Twelve Apostles serve under the direction of the First Presidency.

In addition to serving as special witnesses of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Twelve Apostles are also called to be prophets, seers, and revelators.  

Elder Ronald A. Rasband was called as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on 1 April 2000.  He has been serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy since 2005 and was called as the Senior President of the Presidency of the Seventy on 4 April 2009. 

A Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Members of the Quorum of the Seventy are charged with the mission of preaching the gospel to the entire world under the direction of the Twelve Apostles.

The office of Seventy was anciently conferred upon the seventy disciples mentioned in the Gospel of Luke 10: 1-2.

Bishop Gérald Caussé was sustained as First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, 31 March 2012.  The Presiding Bishopric is the presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood throughout the Church.

The Presiding Bishop and his two counselors serve under the direction of the First Presidency to administer the temporal affairs of the Church. This includes the overseeing of the construction of temples and other places of worship; welfare services; and humanitarian services. 

 

 

 

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