Elder Gary E. Stevenson reflects on the Okinawa Japan Temple — a symbol of peace in a land once defined by war

Church News

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, News

4.9 • 782 Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

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Summary

On Sunday, Nov. 12, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Okinawa Japan Temple, the fourth temple in Japan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the first missionaries arrived in Tokyo in the early 1900s, the Church didn't have a presence in Okinawa until the 1940s, when World War II brought American servicemen to the area. During April 2019 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced a temple to be built in this historic area.

Elder Stevenson has a rich history in Japan, where he served as a young missionary and later returned as a businessman, mission president and area president. He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about his love for Japan’s people and culture and the rich blessings a new house of the Lord brings to these temple-loving people.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I've really been touched by all of the elements that have been part of the lives of people in Okinawa.
0:16.3	I've been touched by the ravages that war had on their families.
0:21.6	And this is a tender time to think that the Lord has chosen Okinawa and Japan to be a place for his house.
0:32.6	The house of the Lord with holiness to the Lord.
0:36.6	And when you think about holiness to the Lord and what that demands of each of us,
0:41.3	kindness and unity and love and respect, charity,
0:47.3	it's everything that we hope could happen to redeem people from the horrific things that were suffered.
1:02.2	This is Sarah Jane Weaver, executive editor of the Church News, welcoming you to the
1:07.4	Church News podcast.
1:08.9	We are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss
1:11.9	news and events of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1:19.9	On Sunday, November 12th, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
1:24.7	dedicated the Okinawa Japan Temple, the fourth temple in Japan for the Church
1:29.2	of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the first missionaries arrived in Tokyo in the early
1:34.7	1900s, the church didn't have a presence in Okinawa until the 1940s when World War II brought
1:41.2	American servicemen to the area. On August 14, 1955,
1:46.7	Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, then of the Corm of the Twelve Apostles, formerly dedicated
1:51.8	Okinawa for the preaching of the gospel. President Russell M. Nelson announced a temple for
1:56.9	Okinawa during April 2019 General Conference. Elder Stevenson has a rich history in the nation,
2:04.0	where he served as a young missionary. Okinawa was actually part of his mission. He later returned to
2:10.2	Japan for business, to serve as a mission president, and to serve in the area presidency and then as
2:15.8	area president. He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to talk about his love for Japan and its people
	...

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