AUCKLAND, New Zealand — New Zealanders Dionne and Josh, parents of three, share their love of family, faith and life in a new video on www.mormon.org.nz.

Introducing the video, Dionne describes herself in this way:

"I am a Kiwi. I am madly in love with my precious little family. I am a Polkadot and I'm a Mormon."

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Even though the daily scripture study class for Mormon youth, called seminary, is now 100 years old, taking part is still a day-to-day proposition. Take New Zealander Sabrina M. as an example. She rises early each school day, prepares for her day, and then attends an hour of scripture study before her regular school classes begin.

She and hundreds of thousands of other young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide are making seminary a priority, and seeing the benefits in their lives.

The following transcript of an interview with Sabrina sheds some light on why young Latter-day Saints participate in seminary, and how it is helping them develop into strong and capable adults.

Q: Why do you go to seminary?
A: "I really enjoy it, but sometimes I don't feel like going, so I just push myself and those are the times I have really needed ...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — "While traveling throughout New Zealand and Australia during January 2012, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with missionaries, members, and local officials to express his love and concern for the people," according to a new report on www.lds.org.

NADI, Fiji — Raging waters have overflowed river banks in several Fijian towns and villages flooding streets and homes and displacing residents. Nadi is one of many affected towns.

Elder Taniela Wakolo, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Fiji Service Centre Manager for the Church in Fiji, reports there are no injuries or deaths among Church members to date.

"The missionaries are also safe," he says, "and are assisting with evacuation when needed."

SUVA, Fiji — Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are continuing to seek out and assist individuals and families hit hard by widespread flooding.

At least six people have died due to the flooding, as reported by the New Zealand Herald today. The newspaper also reports that the weather is forecast to get worse.

There have been no reports of injury or deaths amongst Latter-day Saint congregations. All Church members and missionaries are accounted for.

Latter-day Saint meetinghouses in Nawaka and Nadi are being used as evacuation centres to accommodate those who have had to leave their homes.

According to one local Latter-day Saint leader, President Maiwiriwiri, 72 people are staying at the Nawaka chapel, including 39 persons of other faiths. Food is being provided by Latter-day Saints and, as needed, by local Church leaders drawing upon fast offering funds.

In the vil...

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands — Elder F. Michael Watson of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was warmly greeted by members of the Church as he visited the Cook Islands in January.  Elder Watson presided over the Cook Islands District Conference, which was held in Rarotonga at the Arorangi Branch chapel on 8 January 2012.

Elder Watson, who is also a member of Pacific Area Presidency, was accompanied by the Auckland New Zealand Mission President, Paul N. Lekias, and Papeete Tahiti Mission President, Benjamin Sinjoux. The leaders, in company with their wives were welcomed at the airport with beautiful leis and kisses on the cheek.  All visitors remarked on the friendliness of the Rarotongans and the beauty of the island.

Cook Islands District President, Danny Williams, was appreciative of the visit from Elder Watson, the mission presi...

SUVA, Fiji — "Students from the outer islands will begin the new school year with library books donated by the Latter-day Saints Church," according to a new report in the Fiji Times.

The article, titled "Books from big hearts," continues: "The church collected close to 50,000 books during a book drive in New Zealand and donated the book to the Ministry of Education yesterday as part of its initiative to assist the needy children in the outer islands."

Read the full article here.

CHRISTCHURCH - More than 500 people listened as Elder Quentin L. Cook, an apostle from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed his love and concern for the people of quake-ravaged Christchurch at a special meeting last night.

Among those in attendance were Hon Amy Adams Associate Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Hon Lianne Dalziel Labour Spokesperson for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, four other members of parliament, members of the Christchurch Interfaith Council, and other community leaders. They shared a common concern for the recovery of Christchurch and were undeterred by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that struck 20 minutes into the meeting.

Elder Cook's message that Christchurch will recover and be "magnificent" was well received and left a feeling of hope and reassurance. He encouraged people to not only focus on rebuilding the city, but also to s...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — "I'm a twin and one of eight siblings," says Butch Horsford, a Latter-day Saint from Maromaku, New Zealand. "I played rugby from the age of 4, and enjoy most sports."

"[I] attended boarding school for four years," he adds. "Served a mission for two years. Happily married for 30 years to my sweetheart. We have six children, two sons and four daughters. Have always worked outdoors. As a hobby I enjoy working with wood, and making furniture. To relax I like listening to music."

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Australian couple, Hazel and Richard Egan, feature in this month's edition of the Ensign, a worldwide publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The article begins, "She wanted a church founded on faith in Jesus Christ, one that required sacrifice and daily commitment. So far, no church stood up to her scriptural tests."

It continues: "Hazel Egan was not looking for just any church where she could be comfortable. 'I wanted to be baptized into the true church,' she says. 'I didn't want just a Sunday church.'"