On Sunday 15 September, the Papeari Tahiti Austral Islands Stake leadership was reorganised under the direction of Elder O. Vincent Haleck, president of the Pacific Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Haleck was accompanied by Elder Glenn Burgess, Area Seventy.
Emile Tunutu was called to be the new stake president, with Jean Mariteragi as first counsellor and Teave Teinauri as second counsellor.
A stake president is the lay leader of a stake, which is a group of Latter-day Saint congregations.
He is responsible to help the members of his stake in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ. He also oversees the activities of the bishops or ward leaders, counseling them as needed.
.jpg)
A stake president is assisted by two counsellors and other men and women who provide leadership throughout the stake.
Located in the Austral Island Chain, the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, lies Tubuai encircled by a blue lagoon formed by a surrounding reef.
The island of Tubuai has the distinction of being the first place in the world where Latter-day Saint missionaries taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a language other than English.
July 29, 1844 marks an important date in Pacific Island history. On that date, the first branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Tubuai.
Not only was it the first branch of the Church in Tubuai but also the first branch in all the Pacific islands.
2019 will mark the 175th anniversary of the creation of that first branch of the Church in the South Pacific.