http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?

a=d&d=WDT18860504.2.7

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4m50/meha-stuart
Meha, Stuart
18781963
RangitaneandNgatiKahungunu;farmer,Mormonleader

ByPeterJ.Lineham

Meha, Stuart

MeetingofMormonChurchmembersatNuhaka
Stuart(TeTuati)MehawasbornatWanstead,HawkessBay,probablyon29December1878.Hisfather,
ArapataMeha,aprominentmemberofNgatiKahungunuandNgatiRuatotaraofRangitane,wasa
successfulsheepfarmerandlandownerfromTeTapairu,nearWaipawa.Hismother,MereTeHau,wasof
NgatiRakaipaaka.ThefamilyhadadistinguishedancestryandbeforeStuartwasbornitwasprophesied
thathewouldsavehisancestors:thiswaslaterseenasapredictionoftheMormonpracticeofbaptismfor
thedead.
MissionariesoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaintsarrivedinWairarapain1883andsoon
madeanimpactamongNgatiKahungunu.Stuartsparentswerebaptisedintothechurchon15July1885
withintwoweeksofhearingGeorgeS.TaylorandEdwardNewbypreachinsouthernHawkesBay.Stuart
wasbaptisedwhenhewaseight.Mormonmissionarydiariesrecordthatearlyconvertsgreatlyenjoyedthe
church'steachinganddespisedthetraditionalchurches,butretainedmanyMaoricustomsanddidnot
acceptalltheMormonpractices.ThiswastheworldinwhichStuartMehagrewup.
AfterattendingTeAuteCollegeheassistedonhisfatherssmallfarm,eventuallytakingitover.Highly
respectedwithinhisowntribe,heservedaschairmanoftheWaipawamaraecommitteeandonvarious
otherMaoribodiesincludingacommitteethatwassetuptodiscusstheratingofMaoriland.At19he
marriedMeriHineituramaTapihanaofTeArawaatDannevirke.Theyhadatleastthreesonsanda
daughter.MeridiedinJuly1912,andatWaipawaon28April1914MehamarriedRosinaJaneEdith
MorrisofTeAitangaaMahakiandTeAitangaaHauiti.Thecouplehadthreeboysandagirlwhen
RosinadiedinJuly1920.Thefollowingyear,atDannevirkeon5October,MehamarriedRosinassister,
IvoryTeporaMorris.Theyhadfourdaughtersandthreesons;IvorydiedinFebruary1937.
TheMormonshadastrongfollowingamongMaoriinsouthernHawkesBay.In1913theareabecamethe
homeofthechurchsMaoriAgriculturalCollege,whichwasdestroyedinthe1931earthquake.Mehawas
secretarytothecollegesboardofeducationfrom1913to1924,andassistantsecretaryin1931.Heserved
ontheboardfrom1925to1929.
MehawasoneofthefewMaoritovisitSaltLakeCitybefore1920:heattendedthetempleordinances
(baptismofthedead)therein1913alongwithfiveothers.Histemplesealingwasofgreatimportanceto
himandhelaterattainedtheofficeofhighpriest.FromDecember1916healsohadtheunusualdistinction,
notnormallypermittedtoMaori,ofservingonamission,whichvisitedvariousvillages.Withhismentor
andfriendWiremuDuncan,hewasinvolvedbetween1917and1919withtheAmericanmissionary
MatthewCowleyinrevisingtheMaoritranslationofThebookofMormonandtwootherMormonclassics:
DoctrineandcovenantsandThepearlofgreatprice.In1921whenoneoftheMormonapostlesvisited
NewZealandandattendedtheannualEasterhui,Mehatranslatedhismessages.
Inthe1920smanyMormonsdriftedoutofthechurchandfollowedT.W.Ratana.MehareadtheRatana
covenanttothe1929Mormonhui,butthemissionpresidentrejectedRatanassuggestionthatthetwo

churchesjointogether.Meharemainedloyaltohisownchurch.HewasfirstcounsellortoEriataNopera,
thefirstMaoripresidentofaMormondistrictinNewZealand;Noperawasappointedpresidentofthe
HawkesBaydistrictin1928.InduecourseMehasucceededtothisposition.
After1928theleadershipoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaintsinNewZealandgradually
passedintothehandsofMaoriatlocallevelandMehawasakeyassociateoftheAmericanleadersofthe
church.HeconstantlyworkedtomakeabridgebetweenitandtheMaoriworld.HelovedMaoritraditions
andreinterpretedtheminthelightofhisMormonvalues.Hevisitedmanyoldtohungatosearchout
informationabouttheancestorsandlegendsofhispeople.In1932hewasappointedheadofamission
genealogycommitteesetuptoencourageMaoritoexploretheirgenealogyforuseintempleordinances:
increasingnumbersofMaoriweregoingtotheMormontempleinLaie,Hawaii,thetemplenearesttoNew
Zealand.Throughhisefforts,thenamesofthousandsofhisancestorswereplacedinMormontemples.
Thisworkwashismajorcontributiontothechurch.
DuringtheSecondWorldWarMehabecameacloseassociateofMatthewCowley,themissionpresident
whocementedtheMaoriidentityoftheMormonchurch.InthepostwaryearsMehawasrespectedby
MormonMaoriasagreatpatriarch:whenthesitefortheNewZealandtemplewasbeingchosenbythe
churchpresidentin1955,hehadthehonouredroleofgivingvoicetoanoldprophecythatHamiltonwould
bethesite.YethesawthatAmericanchurchleaderswereundergoingadramaticturnaroundinpolicy:
theywereabandoningrespectforMaorivalues.Soonafterthearrivalofanewpresident,GordonYoung,
in1948,mostoftheelderlyMaoridistrictpresidentsincludingMehaweredismissed.Asanactof
appeasement,Mehawasrecognised,alongwiththreeotherrangatirawithinthechurch,asaspecial
NephitemissionarytotravelamongMaoriMormons,whowarmlyhonouredhim.
StuartMehadiedon7November1963inWaipukurau,survivedby10children.Ashort,solidlybuilt
farmerwithanairofgreatdignity,MehawasthesymbolofthetimewhentheMormonchurchinNew
ZealandwasaMaorichurch.

https://devotional.byuh.edu/media111025
In Whose Embrace Have I Placed My Faith
DevotionalorSpeechgivenat
BrighamYoungUniversityHawaii
October25,2011
JohnElkington

BrothersandSistersAloha,
Iamgratefulfortheopportunitytosharewithyoumyfeelingsandthoughtsindevotingthishourin
testifyingoftheSaviorandtheGospelofJesusChrist.ForthepastmonthIhavefosteredfeelingsofdoubt
andmuchanxiety,andhavewonderedwhethertoattributethistopreparingtoaddressyouatthis
devotionalorinsupportingtheAllBlacksintheirquesttowintherugbyworldcupthatwasbeingplayed
inNewZealand.Well,theAllBlackshavewontheworldcupandthebutterfliesarestillhere.OurLaie8th
Wardthemeforthisyearseemsmostappropriate,"Whereforeliftupthehandswhichhangdown,andthe
feebleknees"(Hebrews12:12).Iamthereforethankfulfortheopeningprayerandtheintroductionand
testimonyofmyeternalcompanion,Debbie.IaskforHeavenlyFathersguidancethatinsomewaymy
wordsmayconveyandsharewithyoumyfeelingsandallowthespirittobepresentthismorning.
AsIlookoutintothestudentbody,Iseeyoungstudentspreparingtomakethemostimportantdecisionof
yourlives.IamtakenabackthirtysixyearstowhenIhadgraduatedfromthisUniversity.Withadegreein
finance,Ihadbeenacceptedintothemanagementtrainingprogramwithalocalbank.Thedresscodewas
alohashirtattire,asyouwillallbeawarewhenstartingoutintherealworld,paywasminimal,andeven
thenthecostofalohashirtswasbeyondourbudget.Somywife,Debbiedecidedtousehersewingskills
andproceededtobuythefabricthatwasonsalefromourlocalstores.IntheSeventies,safarishirtpatterns
weretherageandpolyestermaterialwasplentifulandaffordable.Thechallengewasthattheinexpensive
fabrichadpastelcolors.Totellthetruthitmusthavebeenasight,goingtoworkwearingalohashirtsthat
werepinkandlimegreenandroyalblue.Imusthavebeennaive,butIdidn'tmind,becausetheywerenew
andfreshandclean.Maybeitwasbecausemyshirtswerethehandiworkofmycompanion.
Duringmyfirstyearinthemanagementtrainingprogramourbanks'branchdecidedtocelebrateChristmas
bygoingtoadinner,whichalsoincludedashow.Afterthedinnerwewereentertainedwithafloorshow.
Astheshowunraveled,itsoonbecameobviousthattheshowwasburlesqueinnature.Mywifeturnedto
meandtothisdayIrememberherwords,"Iwanttogohometoourchildren,Iwillwaitinthecar."To
youyoungstudents,therearemomentsoftruththatyouwillfaceandmanagementtrainingprogramsdo
notprepareyouforthesemoments.DoIstandupandleavewithmywifeunderthegazeofmyfellow
employeesordoIshrinkbackandwaitforamoreconvenientandlessconspicuoustime?Theprophets
LehiandNephiknewaboutthismomentandIamsothankfulthatDebbieandIknewaboutLehiand
Nephi.
".....behold,hesawothermultitudespressingforward;andtheycameandcaughtholdoftheendoftherod
ofIron;andtheydidpresstheirwayforward,continuallyholdingfasttotherodofiron,untiltheycame
forthandfelldownandpartookofthefruitofthetree.....Andgreatwasthemultitudethatdidenterinto
thatstrangebuilding.Andaftertheydidenterintothatbuildingtheydidpointthefingerofscornatmeand
thosethatwerepartakingofthefruitalso;butweheededthemnot"(1Nephi8:30,33).
Weleftthatfloorshowtogether,andIknewthatthepersoninwhoseembraceIhadplacedmyfaithforthe
upbringingofourchildren,thoughtenuousandfullofchallenges,wasinsafehands.
Iamgratefulforbeingtaughtatthefeetoflivingprophetsandapostlesandembracingtheirteachingsand
moderndayrevelations.In1993theHawaiiStateSupremeCourtfoundthestatesrefusaltograntsamesex
marriagelicenses,discriminatory.In1998aconstitutionalamendmentgrantingtheHawaiiState
Legislaturethepowertoreservemarriagetooppositesexcoupleswasvotedon,howeverpriortothevote
membersofourBYUHawaiistudentbodyalongwithmembersoftheL.D.S.churchthroughouttheState

ofHawaiiwereinvitedtorallyandshowtheirsupportfortheConstitutionalAmendment.Ontwo
occasionsIwasprivilegedtowitnessourBYUHawaiistudentsraisingbannerssupportingtraditional
marriageaswemarchedalongthemedialstripalongKahekiliHighwayinKaneoheandKuuleiRoadin
Kailua.Iheardthejeersandsneersandabusivewordsofnontraditionalists,howeverthereassuring
messagefromtheTeachingsofJosephF.Smithbuoysmeup,
"......thepeopleofGodknowthevoiceofthetrueshepherd,andthestranger'svoicetheywillnotheed,nor
thecounselsofhimwhoassumesauthoritythatdoesnotbelongtohim.Nonesuchwilltheyeverfollow.
TheLatterDaySaintsknowthespiritofthegospel;theyunderstandthespiritoftruth.Theyhavelearned
theirduty,andtheywillstandbytruth,nomatterwhatmaycome."
Iwitnessedayoungmarriedstudentmotherholdingaloftherbaby.Standingnexttothemwasthebaby's
grandmother,threegenerationsinsupportofanamendment,similartowhathasbecomeknownasthe
FamilyProclamationissuedbyourmoderndayProphetsandapostles,
"ThefamilyisordainedofGod.Marriagebetweenmanandwomenisessentialtohiseternalplan.Children
areentitledtobirthwithinthebondsofmatrimonyandtoberearedbyafatherandamotherwhohonor
maritalvowswithcompletefidelity."
AsIwitnessedtheseevents,formeitwasnotunlikeenvisioningMoroniintheBookofMormon,
"Anditcametopassthatherenthiscoat,andhetookapiecethereofandwroteuponitInmemoryofour
God,ourreligion,andfreedom,andourpeace,ourwivesandourchildren.....Behold,whosoeverwill
maintainthistitleupontheland,letthemcomeforthinthestrengthoftheLord,andenterintoacovenant
thattheywillmaintaintheirrightsandtheirreligionthattheLordGodmayblessthem"(Alma46:12,
20).
Asaresultofthissupport,theHawaiiStateLegislaturepassedalawthatbannedsamesexmarriages.
Today,SamesexmarriagesareprohibitedbyHawaiiStatestatutes.Thewordsofhymnal#254,Truetothe
Faith,remindusofthebattlesthatlieahead,
"Whileweknowthepower'sofdarknessseektothwarttheworkofGod.Shallthechildrenofthepromise,
ceasetograsptheironrod?No,Truetothefaiththatourparentshavecherished,truetothetruthforwhich
martyrshaveperished,toGod'scommand,soulheartandhand.Faithfulandtruewewilleverstand."
Iamgratefulforteachersatalllevelsoflearninginwhoseembraceweplaceourfaithastheysharetheir
knowledgeandtestimonyabouttruthanddivinity.InatributeandmemoryofDr.KarlG.Maeser,whichI
believeisatributetoallteachers,perhapsthenoblestofallprofessions,isthetextpennedbyAnniePine
GreenwoodwithmusicbyL.D.Edwards,
"Comelayhisbooksandpapersby,heshallnotneedthemmore.....perchance,whendeathitschange
hathwrought,andthisbriefraceisrunhisvoiceagainshallteach,whothoughttheteachersworkwas
done."
In1960asIwasnearingmy12thbirthdayandgettingreadytograduateasaTopPilotfromPrimary,Ihad
notcompletedmemorizingthelastandlongestarticleoffaith,the13th.Itdidn'tseemtomattertomethat
thepinrecognizingthisaccomplishmentwouldnotbeaddedtomygreenprimarybandelo.Iwasmore

concernedwithjoiningmybuddies,whohadmovedupfromthePrimaryprogram.TheSundaywasfast
approachingwhenourBranchPresidentwouldwelcomeusintotheYoungMenprogram.ThatSaturday
nightmymotherreceivedacallfrommyprimaryteacher,SisterBeckyModelick.Idonotrememberthe
levelofconversationexceptthatshetoldme,"Tomorrowmorningat7:00am,getyourselfreadyandgoon
overtoSisterModelickshome."Needlesstosayat7:00amthenextmorningunderthetutelageofmy
faithfulPrimaryteacherIcompletedandpassedoffthe13tharticleoffaith.Iwillalwaysbegratefuland
rememberSisterModelick.
Iknowmanyofyoulivinghereoncampuswillhavewonderfullearningexperiences.Iwouldliketoshare
twoexampleswithyou.InMarch1998ourhousingofficereceivedthisletter,
"Iwasastudentthereinl985,whenIarrived,Iwasgivenonetoomanyblankets.WhenIcheckedout,I
wasonlyrequiredtoturnintheone.ItooktheotherblanketwithmewhenIreturnedhome.Ican'texplain
myactions.Itwaswrong.Iamsorry.Irecentlycameacrosstheblanketatmyparent'shomeinsomeold
storageandfelttheonlywaytorightthewrongwastoreturnit.Iaskforyourforgivenessandhopeyou
willacceptmyapologyandfinduseagainfortheblanket."
OurhousingofficereceivedthisletterinSeptember2004.
"IwasastudentatBYUHawaii19791980,myfreshmanyear.AfterschoolwasoutbutbeforeIreturned
tothemainlandItookacaseoftoiletpaperoutofasupplyclosetandtogetherwithacoupleoffriends
proceededto"TP"theopenaircourtyardofourdorm,HaleII.Iamsorryformyactionsdoneatthetime.
AfterreturningfromasuccessfulmissiontoBrazil,IwenttoBYU.Nowsometwentyyearslaterhereis
thefirstpartofmyrepentanceprocess.Inanefforttocorrectthisjuvenileindiscretion,Iaskthe
University'sforgivenessandIhaveenclosedachecktopayforthatcaseoftoiletpaper,plusinterest."
Livingintheresidenthallsisnotjustaboutbrickandmortar,regardlessofthesizeorageofyourroomyou
canexperienceblessingsreservedforyou.InpreparingaroominherhomefortheprophetElisha,the
widowwomen'sdescriptionfitsyourroomsperfectly,
"Letusmakealittlechamber,Ipraytheeonthewall;andletussetforhimthere,abed,andatable,anda
stool,andacandlestick:anditshallbe,whenhecomethtous,thatheshallturninthither"(2Kings
4:10).
IamgratefulforthemissionarieswhocametoNewZealandinthelate1800'sandembracedourculture
andlearnedourlanguage,astheydidinallofPolynesia.
"Sendforththeeldersofmychurchuntothenationswhichareafaroff;untotheislandsofthesea;send
forthuntoforeignlands;calluponallnations,firstupontheGentiles,andthenupontheJews"(D&C
133:8).
"Knowyenotthattherearemorenationsthanone?KnowyenotthatI,theLordyourGod,havecreatedall
men,andthatIrememberthosewhoareupontheIslesofthesea...."(2Nephi29:7).
InMarch1881aconventionwasheldataMaorivillagenearMastertonintheWaiarapaDistrict,northof
Wellington.AmongthesubjectsthatwerediscussedbetweentheMaorichiefs,whobelongedtothe
Catholic,Methodist,PresbyterianandAnglicanchurchesisifallChristianitywasofChrist,whywerenot

allChristiansaffiliatedwithbutonechurch?ThesamequestiontheboyProphetJosephSmithasked,
"WhichistheChurch?WhichoneshouldtheMaorijoin?"Aftermuchdiscussionanddebatethequestion
wasdirectedtoonechief,PaoraPotangaroa.Hisanswerwas"Taihoa"whichmeans"wait"or"waita
while."Thechieflefttheassembly,andretiredtohisownresidence.Thereforthreedayshewas
occupiedinprayer,fastingandmeditation.AfterthethreedaysPotangaroareturnedtotheconvention.
Freelytranslatedthesewerehiswords,"Myfriends,thechurchfortheMaoripeoplehasnotyetcome
amongus.Youwillrecognizeitwhenitcomes.Itsmissionarieswilltravelinpairs.Theywillcomefrom
thelandoftherisingsun.Theywilllearnthelanguageandteachusthegospelinourowntongue.When
theypraytheywillraisetheirrighthands."
IowemymembershipinthechurchtothemissionariesEldersEdwardNewbyandGeorgeS.Taylorwho
baptizedmygreatgrandparents,grandmaHuitaus'parents,AlbertMehaandMaryTeHauin1885.With
regardstothemissionaryeffort,mygrandfatherJamesRongatoawroteinhisjournal,
"WhenIthinkofthegospel,thePlanofSalvation,oftheearlymissionarieswhointroducedittomy
grandfatherRomaRurukuandmotherWetekia,andlatermyfatherJohnArthur,baptizedJuly25,1889,I
feelasmyancestorsfelt,butinthemodernpostureonbendedknees,humbleandreverentlyoffermyheart
andallthatIhaveingratitudetomyFatherinHeavenformymembershipintheChurch"
FormissionarieslikeGeorgeQ.Cannon,whosefiguregracestheentrancetothisbuilding,alongwith
JonathanNapelaholdingalofttheBookofMormon,weoweasenseofgratitude.ThemuralintheDavid
O'Mckayfoyerdepictsthearrivaloftenmissionaries,withintwotothreemonthsfivebecamediscouraged
andleftthemission.ElderCannonwasnotamongthem.AfterlearningthelanguageElderCannonalong
withotherHawaiianmembers,notablyJonathanNapela,translatedtheBookofMormonintheHawaiian
Language.FollowinghismissionGeorgeQ.CannonalsosupervisedtheprintingoftheBookofMormon
whichwascompletedinJanuary1856.
Septemberoflastyear,IreturnedhometoNewZealandtoattendthefuneralofaremarkableman,his
nameisJuniorWineera.InMarch,1944JuniorwastheyoungestofthirteenchildrenborntoRahaand
LeahWineera.Hisparentsnoticedveryearlyinhisdevelopmentthathisreflexeswereslowandhedidnot
respondtomovement.BabyJuniorwastakentoaneyespecialistwhoconfirmedtheirfears,hehadbeen
bornblind.RahawasnotactiveinthechurchandLeahbelongedtotheAnglicanfaith.In1945President
MatthewCowleyoftheNewZealandMissionvisitedthePoriruaBranch.UponhearingthatPresident
Cowleywasattendingthechurchservices,Rahatookhis9monthbabytothemeetingthatSunday.He
said,"BrotherCowley,ourbabyhasn'tbeenblessedyet;we'dlikeyoutoblesshim."PresidentCowley
said,"WhyhaveyouwaitedsoLong?"Raharesponded,"Oh,wejustdidn'tgetaroundtoit."President
Cowleysaid,"Allright,what'shisname?"RahagavehimthenameandjustasPresidentCowleywasto
starttheblessingRahasaid,"Bytheway,givehimhisvisionwhenyougivehimaname,hewasborn
blind."AftertheinitialshockPresidentCowleysaidtohimself,"Whynot,Ihadfaithinthatfather's
faith."Afewyearslater,whenvisitingthearea,PresidentCowleyaskedtheBranchPresidentaboutthe
statusofJunior.Heremarked,"BrotherCowley,theworstthingyoueverdidwastoblessthatchildto
receivehisvision,he'sthemeanestkidintheneighborhood,alwaysgettingintomischief."
IhadtheprivilegeofgrowingupintheneighborhoodwithJunior,hemayatonetimebeenthemeanest
kid,buthewaswithoutguile.EverySundaymorninghismotherLeah,whoremainedtruetoherAnglican
faith,laidoutaclean,ironedwhiteshirtinpreparationforJuniortoattendhisSundaymorningPriesthood
meeting.Astheonlyactivememberoffivebrothers,hegrewuphonoringhisPriesthoodandfulfillinghis

duties.WhenhewasaPriesthewouldoftenrepeattheSacramentprayerseveraltimes,heslowly
articulatedthewordsuntilheeventuallygotthemright.Hewasnotconsciousofhowlongittookand
neitherwerewe.Juniorneverreceivedhisdriver'slicenseandwouldoftenbeseenwalkingtoTitahiBay
orPoriruacity,fourmilehikes.Hejustenjoyedwalkingandmeetingandtalkingwithpeople,often
addressingthemwiththissalutation,"Howmightyoubetoday,Sir."HewouldhaveenjoyedtheKahuku
Bikepath.Iamnotsurehowthelocalswouldhaverespondedtohissalutation.HelovedhisPriesthood
andexcursionstotheTemple.Hehadembracedthesimplicityofhisfather'sfaithwithgoodworks.Junior
knewhehadreceivedaspecialblessingbuttohimbeingaworthymemberofthechurchwasspecial.
ElderCowleyoftensaid,"TheGospelofJesusChristisbeautifullysimpleandsimplybeautiful."
ThreedaysagoIattendedthebaptismofan8yearoldmemberofourward;shewasbaptizedand
confirmedbyherfather.Ihaveponderedthesignificanceofthecovenantsthatsheismakingwithour
HeavenlyFatheratsuchayoungage.Thefaiththatshehasplacedinherparentsandfamily,inher
teachers,inheroldersiblings,inherleaders,intheteachingsoftheprophetsandapostlesandinher
HeavenlyFatherandhisSonJesusChrist.ThisisthefaiththatisspokenofbyAlmaandPaul,
"....faithisnottohaveaperfectknowledgeofthings;thereforeifyehavefaithyehopeforthingswhich
arenotseen,whicharetrue"(Alma32:21).
"Faithisthesubstanceofthingshopedfortheevidenceofthingsnotseen"(Hebrews11:l).
Inherlifetimethisyoungwomenwillunderstandthesignificanceoftheprophet,PresidentSpencerW.
Kimball'sstatement,
"Ittakesagreatfaithtopaytitheswhenfundsarescarceanddemandsaregreat.Ittakesfaithtofastand
havefamilyprayersandtoobservetheWordofWisdom.Ittakesfaithtodohometeaching,missionary
work,andotherservice,whensacrificeisrequired.Ittakesfaithtofillfulltimemissions.Butknowthis
alltheseareoftheplanting,whilefaithfuldevoutfamilies,spiritualsecurity,peace,andeternallifearethe
harvest...."
IamgratefulfortheopportunitiesoflearningandservicethatBYUHawaiiandtheLaiecommunityhas
providedformyfamilyandI.Pleasetakeadvantageofyourtimewhileyouarehere.Asyouincreasein
knowledgeandwisdomcontinuetobuildyourtestimonyoftheGospel.Itisablessingthatmanyofyou
takethetimetoserveandattendthetemple.WhenweplaceourfaithandtrustinourHeavenlyFatherand
hisSon,JesusChrist,hehaspromisedusthatourburdensandchallengeswillbemadelighterand
bearable.
PresidentUchtdorf'smessagetousissotrue,
"ThegospelofJesusChristhastheanswerstoallofourproblems.Thegospelisnotasecret.Itisnot
complicatedorhidden....Itisnotsomeone'stheoryorproposition.Itdoesnotcomefrommanatall.It
springsfromthepureandeverlastingwatersoftheCreatoroftheuniverse,whoknowstruthswecannot
evenbegintocomprehend.Andwiththatknowledge,Hehasgivenusthegospeladivinegift,the
ultimateformulaforhappinessandsuccess."

IbearyoumytestimonythatJesusChrististhegodshepherd,heisourGoodSamaritan,heisthechief
stewardofthevineyardandweplanttodayandinwhoseembracewehaveplacedourfaith.
InthenameofJesusChrist,amen.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?
a=d&d=WDT18860814.2.16.4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paora_Te_Potangaroa
Paora Te Potangaroa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PaoraTePotangaroa(died1881)wasaMoriprophetandrangatiraoftheNgtiKahungunuinthe
WairaraparegionoftheNorthIslandofNewZealand.Littleisknownabouthislife,butheisknownfor
havingutteredan1881prophecyofthecomingofachurchthatwouldbefortheMoripeople.

Contents

1 Prophecy

2 Claimed fulfillments of the prophecy

o

2.1 Mormonism

2.2 Others

3 See also

4 Notes

Prophecy
InMarch1881,severalthousandmembersoftheNgtiHamuagatherednearMastertonforahuiinthe
NgaTaueWarumeetinghouseatTeOreOreMarae.Duringthemeeting,PaoraTePotangaroaspokeof
thespiritualimpotencyoftheChristianmissionariesthathadvisitedtheMori.Whensomeofthe
attendeespressedPotangaroaonwhichwasthechurchfortheMori,heretiredtohisnearbyresidencefor
threedaysoffasting,meditation,andprayer.
PotangaroareconvenedthemeetingonMarch16andannouncedthathehadreceivedknowledgeofa
comingchurchfortheMori:"Thereisareligiousdenominationcomingforus;perhapsitwillcomefrom
there,perhapsitwillemergehere....[T]herewillbeatimewhenareligionwillemergeforyouandIand
theMoripeople."[1]Anotherreportedaccountelaborated:
"Youwillrecognizeitwhenitcomes.Itsmissionarieswilltravelinpairs.Theywillcomefromtherising
sun.Theywillvisitwithusinourhomes.Theywilllearnourlanguageandteachusthegospelinourown
tongue.Whentheypraytheywillraisetheirrighthands.[2]
Potangaroaalsosetdowninwriting"HeKawenata""thecovenant"whichincludedothersignsthat
wouldlethisfollowersknowthathisprophecyhadbeenfulfilledwithinfortyyears.[2][3][4]Thecovenant
predictedthat1881wouldbethe"dayofthefulness",1882wouldbea"yearofthesealing",1883would
bea"yearofgreatfaith",andthatthroughtheseeventstheMori"willlearnoftheScepterofJudah...of
theKingdomofHeaven[and]ofthesacredchurchwithalargewallsurrounding."[1]Thecovenantwas
sealedinamonumentattheTeOreOreMarae.[3][4]

Claimed fulfillments of the prophecy

Mormonism
Shortlyafterutteringhisprophecy,Potangaroadied.Laterthatsameyear,missionariesfromTheChurchof
JesusChristofLatterdaySaintsmadeinitialcontactswithindividualsfromNgtiKahungunu.Someofthe
MaoriwhoconvertedtoMormonismbelievedthatthecomingoftheMormonmissionarieswasa
fulfillmentofPotangaroa'sprophecy.[3]Potangaroa's"dayofthefulness"wasidentifiedasthemissionaries
bearingthe"fulnessoftheGospel";the"yearofthesealing"wasidentifiedasthetimetheMorilearnedof
theLatterdaySaintsealingordinances;andthe"sacredchurchwithalargewallsurrounding"was
identifiedastheSaltLakeTemple,whichislocatedonTempleSquare,surroundedbyahighwall.[2]Itwas
alsopointedoutbybelieversthattheMormonmissionarieshadcomeinpairsfrom"therisingsun"(the
UnitedStates,totheeast),thatthemissionariestaughttheNgtiKahungunuintheMorilanguageintheir
ownhomes,andthattheyraisedtheirarmswhentheyprayed.[5]

By1883Potangaroa's"yearofgreatfaith"hundredsofNgtiKahungunuhadjoinedtheLDSChurch
intheWairarapa.[4]AnapostleoftheLDSChurchwouldlaterclaimthatby1921,thefortiethanniversary
ofPotangaroa'sprophecy,onlyMorifromNgtiKahungunuhadjoinedtheLDSChurchandreceived
templeordinances,andthatMorifromothertribesbeganreceivingthesesealingordinancesonlyafterthe
fortyyear"covenant"ofPotangaroahadbeenfulfilled.[2]

Others
OtherreligiousgroupsthathavebeenseenasfulfillmentsoftheprophecyincludetheRatanachurch,
foundedbyTahupotikiWiremuRatana;theRingatuchurch,foundedbyTeKooti;andtheChurchofthe
SevenRulesofJehovah,foundedbySimonPatete.[3]

http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/desnews9/id/3415

Page 14. A Mission to the Antipodes