My dear brothers and sisters, Kia Ora & Aloha,
I am so honored to have Laie Elementary’s fourth-grader Emily and her dad, Daniel, share that wonderful testimony through music. Emily and her brothers were students at Pacific Heritage Academy and our PHA ʻohana in Utah share their fondest aloha.
What a privilege it is to stand before you today and share a message that I hope will resonate deeply within your heart, inspiring you to strengthen your conviction to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In a world filled with uncertainty and challenge, our faith is a beacon of hope and a guide on our journey.
Growing up in a small town in Turangi, I learned at an early age that I was meant to do something significant in this life. While I was unsure of what that something was, I was surrounded by a vibrant community filled with fun activities, close relationships, and the everyday choices that shape our lives. My childhood was spent on a prison farm, a unique setting that taught me valuable lessons about consequences and the importance of making righteous decisions. I witnessed firsthand the impact of choices—both good and bad—on the lives of those around me.
My parents played pivotal roles in my upbringing. My mother, a steadfast member of the Church, had the faith of a lion. She faced numerous challenges with courage and grace, modeling resilience and unwavering faith. My father, raised in the Catholic tradition, brought a different perspective, creating a dynamic environment that was filled with stubborn Irish tempers and sarcasm that made our house a home. Despite the challenges this presented, my mother remained steadfast in her faith, knowing that as long as she held firm, Heavenly Father would provide a way for our family.
As I reflect on my early years, I see how my mother's faith influenced my path. She was a beacon of hope, guiding my brothers and me toward making righteous decisions. Her belief in the power of prayer and the importance of seeking divine guidance laid the foundation for our spiritual growth. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” [1] My mother embodied this scripture, demonstrating the importance of trusting in the Lord’s plan.
My brothers and I attended the Church College of New Zealand in Hamilton. This experience was transformative for us. My older brother Sean thrived in sports, particularly rugby, and he found joy and success on the field. He is currently a superintendent for a prison in New South Wales, Australia. As the second oldest, my journey led me to the performing arts and the Polynesian club, where singing became my go-to form of expression and later served me well as I shared this talent with millions of people from across the world at the Polynesian Cultural Center. My younger brother, Seamus, was sent to Church College of New Zealand to seek a more positive influence in his life—and we’ll just leave that there. He served at the PCC for many years and is now working at doTERRA in Utah. Regardless of our reasons for attending boarding school, we understood that our mother had faith that Heavenly Father knew where our paths would lead.
During these formative years, I often found myself reflecting on the concept of purpose. In our busy lives, it can be easy to forget that we each have a divine purpose. Then-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared in his October 2011 general conference talk, “Forget Me Not,” to “Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!” [2]. . . You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine.” [3] This realization began to take root in my heart as I pondered my life’s direction.
For many years, I leaned on the faith of my mother. If she said something was good, I listened; if she urged me to reconsider a decision, I paid attention. It wasn't until I applied and was accepted into BYU–Hawaii that I recognized the necessity of listening to the promptings of my Heavenly Father and placing all my trust in Him. I began to understand the profound faith my mother had as she navigated life’s challenges. I ask that you think about that very same question every now and then as you embark on your own journey and truly ask what your purpose is, and more importantly, do I have the courage to take that first step? You were sent here for a reason; do you know what that is, and if so, then your path is clear. If you’re still working it out, then make sure that you choose to stay close to our Heavenly Father and take time to get away from the noise of the day and listen with intent to the voice of the Holy Ghost.
While attending BYU–Hawaii, I had the immense blessing of finding my eternal companion at the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was there that we made a sacred promise to each other—to raise our children on the firm foundations of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He, being Samoan, and I Māori and Irish, needed to understand what would drive us. Were our ethnic cultures going to be the foundation of our family, or would it be the culture of the gospel? We chose the gospel principles (which definitely checked a box on my ‘husband to be’ list).
We then welcomed our daughters, Sheris in 1994 and Risha in 1995, both of whom are proud graduates of Kahuku High School. In 2015, we were blessed to be given our son, Rys, who was formally adopted and sealed to us in 2021. We also had the joy of raising our hānai daughter, Portia, who graduated from Kahuku in 2007. Each of our children has contributed to our family's story of faith. In 1999, I made a significant decision to leave my position at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a full-time musician to become a teacher. This choice felt monumental. While I loved my job as a musician, my passion for shaping young minds compelled me to pursue a career in education. I felt strongly that this was where I was meant to be.
In the scriptures, we learn that “children are an heritage of the Lord.” [4] This profound truth resonated with me as I embarked on my teaching career. I remembered the Savior’s admonition in Matthew 18:3, where He taught, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [5] This scripture reminded me of the purity, faith, and obedience that children embody, and it became a guiding principle in my teaching philosophy.
In Sister Jean A. Stevens’ April 2011 general conference talk, “Become as a Little Child,” she shared how Jesus Christ taught us to look to children as examples of faith and obedience. [6] I found this message to be a reminder that I needed to be humble and always to contemplate my purpose: Was I merely going through the motions, or was Heavenly Father guiding my every step? As I began teaching, I realized the profound influence I could have on my students’ lives, and I embraced this opportunity with enthusiasm.
One pivotal moment in my journey occurred when a principal recognized potential in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. She asked me to sign a piece of paper, which I later discovered was my enrollment in the administrator licensing courses for the Department of Education. It was a leap into the unknown, but I felt a divine nudge encouraging me to take that step. As I embarked on this new journey, I understood that every experience—every twist and turn—was leading me closer to understanding my purpose.
After five years of teaching, I became a principal, and I felt both exhilarated and intimidated by the responsibility. In 2012, I was asked to transfer from He‘eia Elementary to King Intermediate School, a challenge that tested my resolve. I often pondered whether I had the capability to help the youth of this community, but deep down, I felt that Heavenly Father had a plan for me, even if I couldn’t see it clearly at the time.
The trials and tribulations of being a principal were many, but so were the blessings. I leaned into my faith and the principles of the gospel, relying on the teachings of our Heavenly Father to guide me. After many nights of fasting and prayer, I reorganized my teaching philosophy and based it on the fundamentals of the Church’s Children and Youth program. The structure and organization of this very well-established program was something I needed to learn and morph into my organizational structure. With this structure in place, my admiration for the Church’s infrastructure was deepened. I learned that students need to feel loved, to have a sense of purpose, and to be valued. To achieve this, it was essential to value the teachers, for they are the backbone of the educational experience.
During this time, I recalled President Gordon B. Hinckley’s counsel in his opening remarks for the April 2005 general conference to “stand a little taller” in every aspect of our lives. He taught us to “lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” [7] I sought to create an environment where students and teachers alike felt valued and inspired, a place where we could all stand a little taller and believe that we have the capability to achieve greatness. I believed that by fostering a culture of love and support, we could create a nurturing atmosphere conducive to learning and growth.
These school years brought many challenges, but also great rewards. In 2013, our school received the STRIVE HI Award, recognizing our students for achieving the highest test results in Hawaii. That same year, I was honored as Hawaii’s Principal of the Year, and later, received the National Principal of the Year award. As I stood on that stage, accepting these honors, I couldn’t help but reflect on my journey and the divine hand that guided me. From a small town in Turangi, moving to Hawaii, and never thinking these opportunities would be offered to someone like me. Those that were honored were principals with unbelievable experiences—and then there was me! The question that always came to mind was, “Why me? What does my Heavenly Father want me to do with this opportunity? How do I share my testimony on this platform?” The spotlight was overwhelming, and I felt a surge of insecurity and inadequacy. I began to pray earnestly, seeking guidance from Heavenly Father. I realized that every blessing and recognition was not just for me, but for my students, my community, my culture, and my family, but most importantly for our God.
In May 2018, our lives took another significant path when my husband's health took a turn for the worse. The prompting I received was immediate. We needed to move to Utah. With heavy hearts but with firm faith, we left our familiar surroundings and moved to a new state, trusting that Heavenly Father had a purpose in our relocation.
Within a month of our arrival in Utah, our first mokopuna (grandchild) was born, but tragically, he was taken back to live with our Heavenly Father. This loss was profound and challenging, yet I felt the love of God surrounding us, reminding us of His presence during our sorrow. With her permission, I share this story of my daughter and her husband, holding their baby as she shared her testimony reminding us that the Church is true and that she has assurance that their family is eternal. What a lesson in faith to witness. My eyes widened as I stared at this 23-year-old asking myself “who is this child?” She’s holding her little one that she just lost and her first thought was to bear her testimony? Our Savior was standing right there clearing the path for us to stand witness that He is almighty, that He is reaching out for us to grab on to. A lesson of faith that has had an everlasting impact on me was through the words of my child.
Just a few months later, on Halloween day, my husband suffered a massive heart attack. The doctors told us he would not survive surgery and that we should prepare ourselves. However, my husband's response to the surgeon was, “You didn’t hear my bishop’s blessing.” I will always be grateful for the strength and faith of Bishop Spencer Reid for his assurance that God has a plan and only He knew what the details were. Our faith combined confirmed that we were in the right place at the right time. Our bishop promised Norris would recover as he has work on this earth to do. Our prompting for our family to move to Utah was a testament to us that God was weaving details into the very fabric of our lives. We were truly tested through these experiences, but then our Father in Heaven tested us some more. I had never heard of anyone being plagued from so many ailments as my husband did. I recall my son coming home from church retelling the story of Job. He told us that Job had sores all over his skin and that his faith in God helped him stay strong in the belief that he would be healed. I wept as my then 7-year-old explained that dad is really sick, but he reminds us always to thank our Heavenly Father for the blessings we have received. My husband has survived three different types of cancer and is now preparing for a kidney transplant. Something that he was told would never happen. What blessings our Heavenly Father has poured down on our little family as we have not waivered in our faith.
As my career became more stable in the realm of education, I was able to take care of my family while my husband faced many of these physical, mental, and emotional challenges. I look back to December 19, 1992, when we were sealed in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, and fall on my knees with gratitude that He loved us enough to ensure that we would be an eternal family. That all we needed was to have faith and listen with our hearts and not so much with our heads. That a path with all the rational sense in the world may not be the path that you should be taking. That our loving Father in Heaven shows you where to go and you must have faith to follow.
Brothers and sisters, I invite you to lead your lives in faith. That He will guide you as only He knows what those details are. As you embark on this journey, do so with Him. I am eternally grateful for the experiences, the twists and turns my life has taken. For the peaks and valleys that have built and strengthened my testimony. I invite you to prepare yourselves to carry on the Lord’s work, to enter each day to learn and have faith to go forth to serve.
I cherish the lessons I have learnt as I attended BYU–Hawaii and the experience I gained at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I am grateful for my blessed school, the Pacific Heritage Academy, which has at least 75% BYU–Hawaii alumni teaching there. I love the Lord; I love His gospel, and I bear testimony that the work we are doing today is necessary for the world tomorrow. I am grateful for my family, my eternal companion, Norris, my wonderful children, Portia, Sheris, Risha, and Rys, and will be forever grateful for the faith and strength of a mother who believes that faith is all you need because God has us in His details.
I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] Proverbs 3:5-6
[2] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Forget Me Not,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2011, 123
[3] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Forget Me Not,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2011, 123
[4] Psalm 127:3
[5] Matthew 18:3
[6] Jean A. Stevens, "Become as a Little Child," Ensign or Liahona, April 2011
[7] Gordon B. Hinckley, "Opening Remarks," Ensign or Liahona, April 2005, 4