JAKARTA, Indonesia — Amidst travels meeting with members along the Pacific Rim, President Gordon B. Hinckley met Jan. 27 with Abdurrahman Wahid, the president of Indonesia.

President Hinckley went to Jakarta at the invitation of President Wahid; the two met last year when the Indonesian leader visited Salt Lake City.

During a dinner at the presidential palace in Jakarta, President Wahid told President Hinckley about Indonesia and his hopes and desires for the country. Also attending the dinner were President Hinckley's wife, Marjorie; President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, and his wife, Donna; Indonesia's First Lady, Noor; and members of President Wahid's cabinet.

President Hinckley's traveling party arrived in Indonesia via Hawaii, Kiribati and Australia. While in Hawaii on Jan. 23, President Hinckley dedicated the Church's 70th temple, the Kona Hawaii Temple on the Big Island of Hawaii. (Please see Jan. 29, 2000, Church News.) He returned to Salt Lake City Feb. 1.

Indonesia Jakarta Mission President Subandriyo said that members of the Church from throughout Indonesia gathered on a beautiful, sun-filled morning in Jakarta Jan. 28 in preparation for hearing the words of a prophet. "This would be the first time the prophet and president of the Church would meet with the saints in Indonesia," President Subandriyo said.

"When President Hinckley's visit was first announced the joyous news spread quickly. Members from as far away as Sumatra and Sulawesi made their plans to travel to Jakarta and spend even a little time with their beloved prophet. Because these outer islands are so far away and because air tickets are so expensive, these saints took five days to travel to Jakarta by boat."

Many members from Java came to Jakarta by buses. For many, the trip took more than 18 hours. Arrangements were made to house these members in a local Boy Scout camp. Priesthood leaders distributed assignments to help members with meals and to help coordinate transportation to the Manggala Wanabhakti conference center, where the member meeting with President Hinckley was held. The conference center is part of the Department of Forestry and is near the Parliament Building.

Although the meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m., members began taking their seats early in the morning. The conference center was nearly full by noon. When President Hinckley and other leaders arrived, they were greeted by four young girls dressed in native costumes from some of Indonesia's different tribes; the girls carried large bouquets of flowers.

"We are grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing this visit to happen," President Subandriyo said. "We are grateful for the strength and reassurance to our testimonies. It was a great blessing that we will never forget."

Reports on President Hinckley's addresses to members in Indonesia and other countries during his Pacific Rim travels will be given in a forthcoming Church News issue.