On the evening of May 22, 2025, members of The Church of Jesus Christ in Kolonia, Pohnpei gathered to attend a devotional conducted by Stake President Williamson Rodriguez. The event featured messages from Sister Kaye Esplin, Elder J. Kimo Esplin, Sister Ruth Renlund, and Elder Dale G. Renlund, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, each sharing personal stories and testimony drawn from their life experience.
Sister Esplin recounted her childhood excitement upon seeing the ocean for the first time, drawing a parallel to the unseen yet real presence of Jesus Christ. She encouraged everyone to seek a personal relationship with Christ through prayer and reading the scriptures.
Elder Esplin shared his journey of gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He emphasized the importance of seeking spiritual confirmation, recounting his own experience of fasting and praying for a testimony. "Don’t give up, young people," he urged, highlighting the gradual process of feeling the Spirit through church attendance and keeping the commandments.
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Sister Renlund talked about the years she and her husband spent serving the saints in Africa. Sister Renlund compared the rules on a safari to the commandments. “These commandments are for our safety and our happiness.” She reminded the congregation that, “We can trust God. He sees things we don’t see. He sees the hidden dangers.” She bore testimony of her love for Jesus Christ.
Elder Renlund expressed gratitude to the audience for their dedication. He shared his family's island heritage, "[M]y father was born off the coast of Finland, my mother was born off the coast of Sweden."
"My wife's lineage is partly from Tonga. So, my family and you have a lot in common. They are both islanders, and The Book of Mormon says '[G]reat are the promises to them who are on the isles of the sea'.”
Elder Renlund shared a touching story of his young daughter's courage in bearing testimony when she was only 4 years old and encouraged the young people in the audience to have the courage to bear testimony of Jesus Christ.
"In Isaiah, anytime he's referencing a mountain top, he's referencing the temple", said Elder Renlund. "In His temple Heavenly Father wants to bless us with His power", he said, "when you receive your blessings in the temple there's really nothing to fear".
"Heavenly Father wants us to grow up and be inheritors of everything He has. That is the eventual outcome if we are faithful".
Elder Renlund suggested that we “should celebrate Easter every day, because of His goodness and grace". He spoke of the role that a testimony of Jesus Christ’s resurrection gives us in facing tremendous adversity. “We believe that Jesus Christ’s resurrection is literal.” He shared his testimony as an apostle and special witness of Jesus Christ: “I am a witness of His resurrection.”