Mormon Life - Australia tag

Viewpoint: Making the most of the Mormon Moment

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:05:00 -0600

source: universe.byu.edu

My last companion in Australia was Elder William Hopoate — one of the most famous rugby all-stars in Australia. When he turned down millions of dollars to serve a Mormon mission, it went viral. As we served together, I realized his influence did much more than simply touch the people he came in contact with. His good example and selfless sacrifice affected the general public’s opinion of the LDS faith. The people in Australia are more receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ because, for perhaps the first time, they were able to see the Church in an incredibly positive way through the media.

Aussie Mormon mother gets ahead on her motor bike

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:29:00 -0600

source: www.smh.com.au

Mormon Life says: They get a few things wrong, but overall the feature is nice. Most picture Mormon missionaries in suits, spurning tea and coffee. But as the ''stormin' Mormon'' Mitt Romney makes a bid for the White House, there is renewed interest in the faith, which has been linked with polygamy and proselytising.

Darrylin Galanos defies stereotypes. She lives in Ivanhoe with her husband and three children, studies social work at Melbourne University, votes for the Greens, and rides a Triumph motorbike. And like thousands of Australians she is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).

''Mormon is just a nickname,'' she said. Ms Galanos has been a member all her life.

Man on a mission: Australia newspaper features rugby star missionary

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:36:00 -0600

source: brisbanetimes.com.au

Mormon Life says: William Hopoate put his rugby career and a $1.7M contract on hold to serve an LDS mission. What a good kid. Perhaps if William Hopoate dressed in one of his old rugby league jerseys – and not a crisp, white, short-sleeved shirt, distinctive black name tag and tie – the man who responded with such unbridled hostility towards him after he offered a polite "hello" at the local shopping centre might have stopped to shake his hand and talk.

Instead, the thick-set bruiser glared at the clean-cut teenager and cursed under his breath as he marched past with his chest puffed out. Moments later another local nodded timidly as Elder Hopoate, Mormon missionary, asked how his day was going; an Asian woman panicked and indicated via frantic hand signals that she couldn't speak English when Hopoate and his missionary companion, Elder Paia'aua, approached her.

“It happens a bit,” Hopoate said.

KSL anchor Bruce Lindsay to head LDS mission in Australia

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:29:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Longtime KSL-TV anchor Bruce Lindsay has been called to serve as president of the Australia Perth Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Cook Expresses Love to Members in Australia, New Zealand—Part 2

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:14:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

Following a visit to Sydney, Australia, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles traveled to meet with members, missionaries, and local officials in Christchurch, New Zealand, and in Melbourne and Auckland in Australia.

Accompanying Elder Cook were his wife, Mary, and other Church leaders and their wives: Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy, Bishop Keith B. McMullin of the Presiding Bishopric, and members of the Pacific Area Presidency—Elder James J. Hamula, Elder Kevin W. Pearson, and Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy.

Elder Cook Expresses Love to Members in Australia, New Zealand

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:20:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

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.

Elder Cook is being accompanied on his Pacific visit by his wife, Mary, and other Church leaders and their wives: Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy; Bishop Keith B. McMullin of the Presiding Bishopric; and Elder James J. Hamula and Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy, members of the Pacific Area Presidency.

Mormon leader visits Christchurch

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:26:00 -0700

source: stuff.co.nz

A prominent Mormon leader is in Christchurch to share a blessing with the city and inspect earthquake-damaged churches.

Elder Quentin L Cook, an Apostle from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to about 500 members of the Christchurch congregation last night .

Australian Young Single Adults celebrate the new year at YSA conventions

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:16:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

When New Year’s celebrations are broadcast, the world often watches the events in Australia, which is among the first countries to reach January 1. This year, Latter-day Saint young single adults in at least two parts of the country rang in the New Year at YSA Conventions.

Five-day multistake conventions in both Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia, which took place from December 29, 2011, to January 2, 2012, provided an opportunity for young single adults to get to know each other, share their testimonies, and be uplifted.

Hi, I'm Deon Davis. I am of Australian Aboriginal descent and my tribes are the Kalkadoon & Waanyi people and I'm a Mormon.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:23:00 -0700

source: mormon.org

Will Hopoate has begun his two-year Mormon mission

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:19:00 -0700

source: heraldsun.com.au

Mormon Life says: This rugby star gave up millions to serve an LDS mission.

State of Origin star Will Hopoate began helping Brisbane's lost souls yesterday after abandoning the hype of the NRL to live without TV, the internet or family during a two-year Mormon mission.

But considering the 19-year-old played Origin for NSW, it's questionable how successful his door-knocking will be.

Rugby star Will Hopoate: 'I'm a Mormon'

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:20:00 -0700

source: mormon.org

Mormon Life says: LDS Living has been following him in the news - so proud he is choosing to serve a mission.

Mormons in sports: Much ado about Will Hopoate

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:16:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

The Australian media just can’t seem to get enough of Will Hopoate these days.

For the past several months, newspapers, TV stations and other media in Australia have reported the latest on the national rugby league star and his decision to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The 19-year-old, who turned down millions, has received his mission call to Brisbane, a 13-hour drive north of Sydney.

God's work will put Hopoate's career on the path to greatness, says rugby legend

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:19:00 -0600

source: smh.com.au

Mormon Life says: Fellow Latter-day Saint and rugby legend Sid Going also served a mission during his rugby career.

ALL BLACKS legend Sid Going, who played 86 matches for New Zealand after his two-year Mormon mission in the 1960s, believes Will Hopoate is destined for greatness when he returns from his sabbatical in 2014.

Going is convinced Hopoate's 24-month hiatus won't derail the 19-year-old's promising career, but ensure he returns a better footballer than when he left.

''If I didn't go, I don't know if I would've have had the career I did,'' Going said.

Aussie rugby star receives mission call

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:59:00 -0600

source: smh.com.au

William Hopoate will spend his two-year NRL exile not on the other side of the world but in Queensland after his church chose Brisbane as the unlikely base for his Mormon mission.

The teenage Sea Eagles star is due to leave for three weeks of missionary training - which will coincidentally take place in Auckland - directly after Sunday's grand final against the Warriors.

Rugby star Hoppa has no regrets over Mormon mission

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:46:00 -0600

source: smh.com.au

Will Hopoate admits leaving his Manly team-mates to complete a two-year Mormon mission after the NRL grand final will be difficult, but he won't change his mind.

The 19-year-old winger has enjoyed a sensational first full season that included a try-scoring debut for NSW in addition to playing in the premiership decider against the Warriors on Sunday.

While having no regrets about his religious path next year, he would be interested in joining Australia's Four Nations squad should national coach Tim Sheens call.

Time Out for Women heads Down Under

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:03:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: I bet this was a cool experience for the women in Australia. Pioneer Day in Utah was celebrated with parades, fireworks, and a marathon among other festivities.

That same weekend, thousands of miles away, more than 2,000 women gathered in Sydney, Australia, for the first Time Out for Women event on that continent.

"It was amazing," said Laurel Christensen, the Time Out for Women general manager, of the events. "They were excited."

This year's "Choose to Become" tour stopped in both Sydney on July 23 and Auckland, New Zealand, on July 30 — the first two Time Out for Women events outside the U.S. and Canada.

Papua New Guinea Saints baptized in crocodile-infested waters

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:41:00 -0600

source: lds.org

Mormon Life says: Don't worry -- people were patrolling the waters to keep crocodiles out of the baptismal area. Still amazing, though. In May, 2011, President Meliula Fata, of the Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission, travelled seven hours by dinghy to Sogere, PNG. While there he participated in the teaching and baptizing of 114 investigators. The baptismal service was unique in its setting and in its blessings of safety.

President Fata had created the Sogere District in November, 2010, with 995 members. Within six months membership in the eight new branches had grown to 1600. In May, 2011, President Fata returned to Sogere for a District Conference. Three weeks earlier, he had sent four missionaries there to teach and baptise investigators who were being fellowshipped by the members. By the time President Fata arrived, the missionaries had baptised 72 people.

Some members travelled days to get to the conference. Some brought more investigators, many of whom had been attending Church meetings for several months. After two days of teaching, 114 additional men, women and children were committed to baptism.

Missionaries creating buzz in Australian rugby

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:11:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

A rugby star’s decision to serve a Mormon mission has caused something of a media frenzy in Australia.

Will Hopoate, 19, has announced that he will embark on a mission at the end National Rugby League season. The Manly fullback has submitted his missionary application and awaits news of his destination sometime in August.

Brad Walter of the Sydney Morning Herald interviewed Hopoate’s local church leader, Bishop Gabriel Miller. The bishop described the daily schedule of missionary work, the nature of the service-oriented work, and said Hopoate would be a better person for having served.

NRL snares rising rugby star after Mormon mission

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:26:00 -0600

source: smh.com.au

The Western Force Super Rugby franchise have snared former budding NRL star Jordan Rapana on his return from a two-year Mormon mission in Britain.

The 21-year-old Rapana has agreed to a code switch which will see him reunited with his older brother Joelin, a Force rookie who played a part in attracting him to Perth.

The move comes as NSW Origin and Manly NRL star Will Hopoate prepares to leave on his own Mormon mission for two years at the end of the NRL season.

Aussie rugby star's mission starts after NRL grand final

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:32:00 -0600

source: stuff.co.nz

Will Hopoate is set to begin his Mormon mission the day after the NRL grand final.

Hopoate, who made it clear this week that not even the lure of a NSW Origin jersey could tempt him to change his mind, has completed his application and is waiting to learn where he will be sent on his two-year mission to convert others to the faith.

Gabriel Miller, the bishop of Hopoate's local congregation at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Harbord, said the 19-year-old Blues centre could be sent anywhere and will lead a life far different from that of an NRL star.

''He is going to leave a boy and come back a man,'' Miller said. ''It is going to be good for him. I think it will make him mentally stronger. When you read about the lives of league players it is not very often you get a good story.