For years Brother Mark Kunuseni of Chuuk was in a dark place in his life.
This darkness had started one day as he had left his home and walked down to the seaside to go fishing. Unbeknownst to him, his nine-year-old granddaughter had followed him.
He launched his boat and went out to fish, but when he returned, his granddaughter was nowhere to be found. Despite the family’s frantic searching, she was never seen again. It is presumed that she entered the water somehow and drowned.
Blaming himself, for years thereafter Brother Kunuseni bore a great weight of grief and remorse.
Then one day in 1987 two young Latter-day Saint missionaries paid a visit to his humble home on a hillside overlooking the ocean. They were Elder David Scott from Idaho and Armondo Loyona from the Philippines.
Initially, Brother Kunuseni was extremely wary of these young men from the Church of Jesus Christ. He had heard from others that they might try to kill him.
The elders asked if he had heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I lied and told them no,” he said. “And when they asked who I was, I gave them a fake name.”
The missionaries left, but later felt impressed to return and ask again if they could share a message.
This time he consented to hear their message.
During the ensuing conversation, the elders asked him to pray.
“I can’t,” he reacted. “I am a sinner.” In his heart he did not feel he was worthy to pray to God.
The elders assured him that Heavenly Father did indeed love him and would listen to and answer his sincere prayer. With Brother Kunuseni’s consent, they taught him how to say a simple prayer.
This humble prayer changed Brother Kunuseni’s life forever.
The weight of years of grief and sorrow melted away as he offered his simple prayer to his Heavenly Father. The experience profoundly changed his heart.
He told the missionaries that he would like them to come back.
And come back they did . . .
He continued to study with the missionaries and to especially enjoy the light and comfort that came by praying sincerely to his Heavenly Father.
Soon he was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and not long thereafter was set apart as the 1st Counselor in the Wichap Branch of the Chuuk District. His faith and diligence in living the gospel is legendary.
“He is a strong man,” states his friend, President Rodolpho Gacayon of the Chuuk District.
Over the years he has walked the four kilometers every Sunday to attend services at the Wichap Branch, and then returns to his neighborhood to host a study group for those who are not able to make the trek to church.
Brother Kunuseni still testifies of the power of prayer as the foundation of his faith in Jesus Christ and His Restored Church.
As he has faced the many challenges of life, this testimony of prayer has sustained him. Thirteen years ago he lost his wife, who had joined the Church with him. “She made me strong,” he explained, “so I need to be strong for her.”
Having learned of the blessings of Latter-day temple ordinances and sealing, Brother Kunuseni has always had a desire to attend the temple, receive his own endowment, and by proxy have temple work done for his wife and granddaughter. Most especially he has looked forward to being sealed to his wife for time and all eternity.
Recently he was able to travel to the temple and receive these wonderful blessings. On July 31st, 2024 in the Yigo Guam Temple he received his own endowment, was sealed to his beloved wife, and the following day participated in the proxy baptism of his deceased granddaughter.
He has a firm testimony that “what we bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven,” and adds, “The work of the temple is a tremendous blessing.”
In a world where we often experience sorrows and challenges, Brother Mark Kunuseni of Chuuk is a tremendous example of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can heal us through humble prayer and perseverance in making and keeping our covenants.