A city's first visit by Church president
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CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — In the storied book of Church history in this "Land of the Long White Cloud," a page was turned in a city often overlooked.
Members turned out in record numbers to welcome President Gordon B. Hinckley, the first Church president to visit and speak in this "Garden City" of the South Island where membership is 6,500, or 7 percent of the nation's 92,000 members.
About 800 attended, and the service was carried on the Church's New Zealand satellite system to about 16,000 others throughout the country. The system was first utilized in February, and used for the second time for President Hinckley's visit.
Among those attending were Helen and Jack Thomson of the Cashmere Ward who have been in the Church for 39 years, and never expected the prophet to visit their city. "It is wonderful and exciting [to have President Hinckley visit],"said Sister Thomson. "It is the highlight of our Church life. It is unbelievable that he would come to Christchurch."
At a reception prior to the meeting, President Hinckley met with Peter Beck, dean of the Christchurch Cathedral; Monsignor O'Connor of the Catholic Church; Mayor Garry Moore, mayor of Christchurch. After a pleasant conversation, President Hinckley invited them to the meeting, which they attended.
President Hinckley was accompanied by his wife, Marjorie. With him and also speaking at the meeting were Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Barbara; and Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy, president of the Australia/New Zealand Area, and his wife, Pamela.
"What a magnificent land this is," said President Hinckley, saying he considered it among the most beautiful in the world. "Thank the Lord for peace, for the freedom of speech. There are millions and millions and millions of people who do not have this."
President Hinckley told of faithful members in Perth, Australia, who, when the Hamilton New Zealand Temple was dedicated, sold everything they had to pay for their journey to the temple. Many years later, "that family is well-to-do, and they have served in many important callings in the Church, further evidence of their dedication and blessings they received."
After instructing members to observe the Word of Wisdom, and stay away from coffee as well as tobacco and alcohol, he said: "We don't drink coffee. People think we are crazy. But we don't need it."
President Hinckley noted he would have his 93rd birthday next week, and said he had gotten along fine all his life without coffee, and didn't need it now.
He encouraged members to be good neighbors. He pointed to a number of times that the Church has distributed humanitarian relief funds through Catholic relief agencies. "We have doctrinal differences, yes," he said. "But we can be good neighbors and get along."
He encouraged the men to honor their priesthood and treat their wives with respect and kindness.
He also said that every member of the Church should have a personal testimony of the Savior of the world, and that such was available to them.
He encouraged parents to see that their children receive all the education they can.
"Education is the key that unlocks opportunity," he said. "And you parents give encouragement to your children.
"And you young men, be clean. Stay away from the filth of the world, and you young ladies, likewise. Rise above the common, grubby nature of the great and terrible influences that are sweeping across the world."
Referring to the uncertainty of mortal life, he observed, "I am as confident of the continuity of life, of the eternity of life, as I am that the sun will rise over Christchurch in the morning, my Brothers and Sisters. This life is but a step in the eternal program of our Father in Heaven. And we shall go on being useful and doing great and good things."
Elder Perry emphasized the importance of families teaching and living the gospel in the home.
"What an opportunity it is to sit in family home evening under the leadership of the father and mother and learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, parents will be the greatest teachers the children will ever have."
He spoke of the Church's emphasis on family home evening to help combat trends of the world. "Whether we are young or old, single or married, whether we have children in the home or whether we are empty nesters, Monday evening is set aside for every one to be with his or her family."
Elder Johnson told of the discovery of a huge diamond in South Africa, and said the "greatest treasure is the soul of man, there is nothing greater, nothing of greater potential, nothing more valuable than the soul of man. And that which enables that diamond [the soul] to become what it can become, is the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Somehow, a diamond is created by a system of pressures, a system whereby a diamond is shaped over many years into something of great value. "The human soul is similarly shaped into something more significant by the opportunities of our earthly lives."
E-mail: jhart@desnews.com
