Latter-day faithful pay homage to leader

They came from throughout Micronesia to see a living prophet-President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At an assembly last night, more than 700 members of the church of Guam, Saipan, Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Majuro, Ebeye, Kosrae and Pohnpei filled the Hilton Guam's Micronesia Ballroom.

Boyd K. Packer, a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other members from Australia and Salt Lake City, Utah, accompanied Hinckley, on his first visit to Guam.

Last night's gathering is part of a scheduled trip through Asia and the Pacific Rim region. Ken Anderson, church district clerk, said that Hinckley's visit to Guam is a significant occasion for the congregation.

"This would be like Moses showing up in a place where the people have never seen him," Anderson said of the leader's first-time visit. "He is our prophet."

There are 1,500 members of the Latter-day Saints throughout Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Anderson said. On Guam, there are churches in Barrigada, Santa Rita and Yigo, he said.

"I think it's a great opportunity to see a prophet," said Presy Field, who attended the conference with her husband, Peter Field, and their daughter Patricia.

Gordan Hinckley is scheduled to be on Guam tomorrow to meet with Micronesia and Guam mission members.

(picture caption)

Honored guests: President Gordon B. Hinckley, the world leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sits with his wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, while visiting church members at the Hilton Guam yesterday.

At A Glance:

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Mormon Church, was established on April 6, 1830. The Christian Church is led by a president, who is revered as a living prophet. A paramount doctrine of the church is a belief in God the Father; his son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. Today, there are more than 10 million members worldwide.

Source: Church's home page at http://www.lds.org

Tanya M.C. Mendiola, Pacific Daily News, Tues. 2/1/00, pg 5.