Two Conversion Stories

Even though our role in Kiribati is not specifically to do traditional missionary work of finding and teaching people the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we indirectly help the work by improving the instruction at Moroni HIgh School.  Sister Thorne does however, teach two institute classes on the Old Testament to Form 7 students.  Our role is to do all we can to help "bring all unto Christ".  In this post are two conversion stories which were recently shared with us.

The Conversion of Sister Taraetiu ATAIA

Sister Taraetiu ATAIA recently returned from serving a mission in Anaheim, California.  We have been helping her apply at BYU Hawaii.  She asked us read and give her feedback on her draft essays for her BYUH application.  We read of her remarkable conversion story.  She has given us permission to share this story.  

Sister ATAIA attended the Seventh Day Adventist High School in Tarawa through Form 5 (11th grade) where she had many friends and was doing very well academically.  During her last year of high school her parents, transferred her to Moroni High School, where she struggled to make new friends and as a result, her grades suffered. But that all changed when she gained a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon.  The following is her story in her own words:

"I grew up Seventh-Day-Adventist (SDA), I was struggling with gaining a testimony of knowing if the Book of Mormon was true. My family got baptized after investigating for about three years; I was baptized with them because I thought my father just needed everone to be baptized, so I did not have a testimony.  I would always lie to my parents that I had Saturday classes but I would go to the SDA church instead.

I was uncomfortable with people seeing me going to the LDS church on Sundays as I really did not understand why my family changed churches.

One day I was alone at home, it was peaceful and quiet, I was crying for no reason as well . . . it was one of those moments where you just feel like talking to Heavenly Father.

I knelt down and prayed . . . in my mind I was thinking it was time to prove the Book of Mormon was not true.  In my prayer I asked Heavenly Father to let me know the Book was not true . . . After my prayer I took the Bible instead of taking the Book of Mormon.  In Isaiah 29, I read a wonderful chapter that changed my discomfort - - to wanting to preach the gospel.  I love the gospel."  unquote

She goes on in a second essay to say:

"I like to crack a joke in good ways that can make everyone laugh.  I have no trouble being social with people, and I love being around everyone from different races.  I like learning simple words from different languages such as Spanish, ASL, Japanese, Korean, Taglog and other languages.  I am willing to make friends with everyone that I come in contact with.  I will help those who have a hard time making friends, and I will bring my pretty smile to everyone.  I will be a GREAT example as I can be at all times, in all things, and in all places.  Also I will share my testimony of this wonderful gospel and the blessings I am receiving to those who are in need.  

When I come back [to Kiribati], I will share the knowledge and skills I have learned with everyone in my community, and in the place I work at the future as well as to my family and friends.  I will be qualified to make Kiribati a better place." (unquote)

Sister  Taraetiu served an honorable mission, and has a very strong testimony.  She is active in her ward and in young single adults and will be a great mother and church leader in Kiribati.  She continues to be a member missionary and a great example for the youth and her friends. 

Conversion Story from Fiji

Another very interesting conversion story was told us while we were in Tonga at a Principals Conference

One of the principals in Fiji by the name of Vito Qaqa Mitchell was a famous rugby player from Fiji.  Sister Thorne asked if she could take his picture for our grandchildren.  After the photo, he asked how we knew he played rugby.  As we continued our conversation he shared his story with us.  Later at the airport we asked if he would repeat his story to Elder and Sister Ronnenkamp.  This is a brief summary of the story he told.

Because of some challenges as home, many people in his village helped raise him.  They often would take him into their homes and provide support and encouragement.  As he matured he developed to be a very skilled rugby player and eventually attended a boarding school where he played rugby.  The National Rugby Team for Fiji selected him as a member of their team.  As part of the team, extensive travel was required.  Partying was very common among the players and Vito was no exception. 


He was a very well known player and had many fans.  He had begun a family with the birth of a young daughter and were expecting another child when they first met two sister missionaries.  This began a long l as they began learning of the gospel.  Eventually both joined the Church, but he was initially hesitant to join and didn't want his team mates to know of the changes he was making.  But, they soon noticed that he had stopped drinking and short time later he was baptized.  To the dismay of his team mates he resigned from the National Team.

Soon after his baptism, the stake president offered him a teaching job at one of the Church primary schools in Fiji.  He accepted the position and was asked to teach seminary (even though  he knew very little about the church).  During this transition time, he gave up playing rugby.  His wife was in the hospital and have just given birth to a young boy.  While teaching at his school, one day he was told there was a special visitor and he should go with the faculty to hear him speak.  

Brother Vito was deeply touched by the Spirit as Elder Neil L. Maxwell spoke.  Vito had no idea who the speaker was, but immediately after the closing prayer, he rushed to the stand to meet him.   With his long hair, mustache, and colored shirt, Vito was unaware of protocol as he manuevered past the stake presidency and others on the stand, so he could be close enough to talk with Elder Maxwell.  The question he asked Elder Maxwell was "if he could name his new son Neal Maxwell".  Elder Maxwell assured him that  their would be no problem and that he would be honored.

When he told his wife, he was going to name his son Neal Maxwell, she asked, "who is that"?  He had no idea who he was, only that as he spoke the Spirit was very strong.  At the next stake conference when, the general officers of the Church were sustained,  was the first time that Vito and his wife realized that Brother Maxwell was a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  


Vito continued to grow in the gospel and eventually became the principal of his school.  His son Neal Maxwell was also a talented rugby player, he went to attend Liahona High School but later transferred to Highland High School where he played on their  National championship team. Next he was admitted to BYU Hawaii after high school graduation.  When BYU in Provo learned of Neal Maxwell rugby talent he was recruited.  He played four years and during his senior year, played on the NCAA championship team.  


Brother Neal Maxwell went on to serve a mission in California and and returned and graduated from BYU.  He fell in love and married a young lady from Utah in the temple. After graduation he began working in the Provo area.  He decided he need to return to Fiji to honor his committment to return to his home land to work for 3 years as part of his scholarship requirements.

On our return flight from Tonga to Nadi, Fiji we were on the same flight as Vito and as we were collected our bags, who should appear to embrace his father but his son, Neal Maxwell.

Elder Maxwell's family has stayed in tough with his namesake through out the years and there have been interesting experiences because of his name.  While growing up, he would tell his friends during stake and ward conferences, "They are going to sustain me".  His friends would say no way, but when the name Neal L. Maxwell was read for sustaining he would just grin.

Father and Son All Star Rugby Players

Brother Vito now has eight children and is a great Ambassador for the Church in Fiji.  He said he trembles to know what would have happened to his children if he and his wife had not joined the church.  That is also why they decided to have many children, to give them a sound gospel foundation.  If was fun to hear the story from this humble man who has a great sense of humor and purpose in life.