Royal funeral
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NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga — As the island Kingdom of Tonga mourned the death of their king, his Majesty, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Elder John H. Groberg attended the funeral services Sept. 19 as representative of the First Presidency, BYU- Hawaii, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Elder Groberg an emeritus member of the Seventy and President of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, conveyed from President Gordon B. Hinckley a message of love and hope to the late king's widow, Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, to the newly appointed monarch, King George Tupou V, and to the people of Tonga.
Elder Groberg, who served in Tonga as a young missionary and later as president of the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission, became a personal friend of Tonga's royal family and the people of Tonga. His message resonated on various occasions as he and his wife, Jean, met in private audiences with the queen, the new king and members of the royal family, as well as in public presentations at the royal palace, other royal residences and meeting houses.
On the palace grounds in the early morning hours of Sept. 19, Elder Groberg stood before a crowd of thousands clad in their black mourning attire. They had assembled to keep vigil and to pay their last respects to their departed king as he lay in state awaiting the royal burial later that day. Elder Groberg's expression of condolences and love moved many in attendance to tears.
To the royal family, Elder Groberg spoke of the comfort that comes from knowing there is a living and loving Father in Heaven who knows His children individually and collectively. He also emphasized the hope that God the Father has brought through the atoning sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Elder Groberg said, "This is the finest example of how we as a people can show our love for each other, through unselfish service to others without hope of personal gain."
On the previous day, Sept. 18, Elder and Sister Groberg, accompanied by local priesthood leaders and thousands of the local members, in honoring Tonga's cultural heritage and traditions, presented in behalf of the Church, a tribute of food crops to Tonga's new monarch, His Majesty, King George Tupou V.
Following a private audience the Grobergs had with the new king, the presentation was also received by Her Royal Highness, Princess Angelica Halaevalu Mata'aho Latufuipeka Tuku'aho.
From the "Villa," the Grobergs proceeded to "Liukava," home of His Royal Highness Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, former Prime Minister of Tonga, and Princess Nanasipau'u. Elder Groberg again extended a message of love and condolence.
A presentation of food crops and livestock was also made as a token of love and appreciation from the Church for the opportunity they have accorded the Church to establish its temple and school facilities on their royal estate in Liahona. A similar presentation was also made to Her Royal Highness Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu, the only daughter of the Late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.The Grobergs spent the morning of Sept. 20 in meeting with all of the Church employees in Tonga, numbering more than 300, and later they met with about 1,300 students of Liahona High School.
While in Tonga, Elder and Sister Groberg were featured in a 45-minute interview on Tonga's national television, in which they described the history of the Church in Tonga, and reviewed the progress they've observed over the years. Particularly noteworthy is the marked increase in education of the Tongan people under the leadership of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, with a current literacy rate reported at 98.2 percent.
