Elder O. Vincent Haleck Explains Why Latter-day Saints Do What They Do

​The press conference was one stop during a three-day visit by the president of the Pacific Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the island nation last week.

During his visit, Elder Haleck met with the prime minister of Vanuatu, Hon Charlot Salwai, and also inspected a number of communities where Latter-day Saint volunteers are working with local Ni-Vanuatu to repair and rebuild homes which were damaged or completely destroyed during last year’s Cyclone Pam.

When hosted by Prime Minister Salwai at his Port Villa office, Elder Haleck presented the leader with a letter of congratulations from the First Presidency of the Church on his election earlier this year. The First Presidency is the most senior governing council in the Church.

Elder Haleck was accompanied at the meeting with the prime minister by Yvon Basil, president of the Church’s Port Vila Vanuatu Stake. A stake is a group of Latter-day Saint congregations.

Prime Minister Salwai, Elder Haleck and President Basil discussed the united effort between the Government of Vanuatu and the Church in rebuilding and repairing houses.

Prime Minister Salwai acknowledged the Church’s considerable assistance, not only since Cyclone Pam, but previously. He spoke specifically of the Church’s donation of wheelchairs to the Vila Central Hospital.

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