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Samoa Church Helps Relief Efforts

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (KCBS) -- A Fairfield Samoan church, which raised donations and sent relief goods to Samoa after last September's earthquake and tsunami hit the country, is now diverting it's attentions to Haiti. Ben Afisivalu of the Samoan Chrisitan Fellowship said it still has 2,000 cases of donated water and enough food and clothing to fill two 40 foot containers.

"We feel obligated to help. We know we have the resources and if we can ship eight 40-foot containers for a small island of Samoa, with the help of our community," Afisivalu said. "I think we can do a better job in helping Haiti. It's just compassion in action."

All this was supposed to go to help American and Western Samoa, which is still struggling after last fall's tsunami which killed over 150 people, but now they've decided to give it all to Haiti.

Afisivalu said they also plan on asking for help from Fairfield's mayor and city council, who stepped up to help during the relief efforts for American Samoa.

Source: Samoanews.com

Bay area Samoan church set to assist Haitian community Wednesday
January 20, 2010

(BASED ON PRESS RELEASE) - The Samoan Christian Fellowship church in Fairfield, Calif. is set to assist the Haitian community in the Bay Area wih their effort to collect cases of water, canned goods, clothes and medical supplies for the Haiti earthquake victims.

The church would like to let the public know that people can drop off their donations at the church and that their effort is ongoing. Two 53 foot containers will be leaving the center this week to be shipped to Haiti. "We would like to thank everyone for helping the people of Haiti," a church spokesperson told Samoa News via email.

"On behalf of our Senior Pastor, Rev. Alex Ledoux and the Samoan Christian Fellowship church in Fairfield, we would like to say thank you again for helping the people of Samoa last year when they were hit with a tsunami. Your help and support made it possible for us to ship eight 40-foot containers of relief goods for the Samoan islands. However, we feel that at this time the people of Haiti really needs our help. We call on our community to please stand together with us and help the people of Haiti."

To find out more about how you can help, visit the website at samoanchristianfellowship.org or bring your donations to the church at 1200 WESTERN ST. SUITE B, C, D and E. FAIRFIELD CA. 94533. For more information you can call: (707) 386-8335 or 428-422.

(Source: Ben Afisivalu)

Thomas S. Monson Named 16th Church President

SALT LAKE CITY 4 February 2008 Thomas S. Monson is the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was announced today at a news conference in the Church Office Building. President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January 2008.

The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.

At the press conference, President Monson spoke of President Hinckley�s dedication and love for the people, and signaled "no abrupt changes" for the course of the Church.

The new Church leader also paid tribute to the many hallmarks of President Hinckley's administration, including the building of temples and the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund, a program for providing loans to young Church members so they can pay for their education. President Monson called the Perpetual Education Fund "a miracle."

When asked by a reporter about his own desire to reach out to the poor and the needy, President Monson said he learned it from his mother. He grew up watching her help young men, with meals and encouragement, coming to the West of the United States looking for employment during the Depression.

One way that this attribute became part of his life was in the way he served the 84 widows in his congregation while he was a young bishop and for decades afterward. He said that they all asked him to speak at their funerals, assignments he was happy to accept notwithstanding heavy travel and other commitments.

Responding to a reporter's question about the Church�s openness in working with other churches and groups, President Monson said: "We should not be sequestered in a little cage. We should eliminate the weakness of the one standing alone and substitute it with the strength of working together to make this a better world."

"I believe in that spirit," he said.

Both counselors acknowledged their new leader's commitment to people.

"I've come to know of his goodness," said President Eyring.

President Uchtdorf said, "I know of his heart, his soul, his commitment, his wonderful love for the people."

It was also announced that President Boyd K. Packer, 83, is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

27 January 2008 The highest-ranking governing body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the First Presidency, consisting of the president and his two counselors, or advisers. This three-man body supervises the work of the entire Church in all matters of policy, organization and administration.

The second-highest presiding body in Church government is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They serve under the direction of the First Presidency and have heavy administrative responsibilities to oversee the orderly progress and development of the Church throughout the world. The First Presidency and Twelve Apostles are regarded by Latter-day Saints as prophets who receive divine revelation and inspiration to guide the Church.

The appointment of a new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints happens in an orderly way that � remarkably in today�s world � avoids any trace of internal lobbying for position or rank. Viewed by members as a divinely revealed process, it is devoid of electioneering whether behind the scenes or in public.

Moreover, it is not only the structure of Church organization that governs this process. There is also a deeply ingrained tradition in the Church that personal aspiration for leadership at any level is inappropriate. Instead, the emphasis is on personal worthiness and a humble willingness to serve when invited.

When the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passes away, the following events take place:

1. The First Presidency is automatically dissolved.

2. The two counselors in the First Presidency revert to their places of seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is determined by the date on which a person was ordained to the Twelve, not by age.

3. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, now numbering 14 and headed by the senior apostle, assumes Church leadership.

4. The senior apostle presides at a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve to consider two alternative propositions:
i. Should the First Presidency be reorganized at this time?
ii. Should the Church continue to function with the Quorum of the Twelve presiding?

5. After discussion, a formal motion is made and accepted by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

6. If a motion to reorganize the First Presidency is passed, the Quorum of the Twelve unanimously selects the new president of the Church. The new president chooses two counselors from among the Quorum of the Twelve and the three of them become the new First Presidency. Throughout the history of the Church, the longest-serving apostle has always become the president of the Church when the First Presidency has been reorganized.

7. Following the reorganization of the First Presidency, the apostle who has served the second longest is sustained as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve. The only exception is when the second-longest-serving apostle has also been called into the First Presidency as a counselor, in which case the third-longest-serving apostle becomes acting president of the Twelve.

8. The president of the Quorum of the Twelve, along with the rest of the apostles, sets apart the new president of the Church through a formal laying on of hands.

Since the Church was formally organized on 6 April 1830, there have been 15 presidents, including President Gordon B. Hinckley.

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