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Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake, 74 Walter Street, Mortdale (2026)

31/05/2026

We welcome Elder 'Aminiasi Fonua who has returned with honour after serving in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission for two years. He left for his mission from Tonga. While he was on his mission, his family moved to Sydney, Australia. They have been in our stake for over a year and have added to the strength of our stake.

When I had the release interview with Elder Fonua, he shared with me how his testimony of Jesus Christ was strengthened during his mission. I loved listening to his experiences. We thank Elder Fonua for his faithful and diligent service as a missionary and welcome him into the Mortdale Stake family.
- President Jassar

My mission has changed my life. Everything that I’ve been able to learn on my mission is something that will be able to help me throughout the rest of my life. My mission was hard, I will admit that. But it’s through those hard times that I’m able to learn from. My mission was not the best two years of my life but it was the best two years for my life.

I love my mission. There’s no amount of monetary value that I would trade for the experiences I gained on my mission. I was able to find people who were prepared for the gospel and my companion and I were able to be the vessels of the spirit to help them on that path.
- Elder Fonua

13/05/2026

Almost immediately after I set apart Sister Barton yesterday evening, I had the privilege and blessing of setting apart another missionary. Brother Joshua Scandurra was set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been assigned to labour in the Texas Dallas East Mission. While he waits for his visa to the United States, he will be serving on a temporary assignment in the Australia Perth Mission. He departs for Perth today and will eventually go to the Provo Missionary Training Center.

Elder Scandurra loves his family and friends. He has faith and trust in the Lord and is looking forward to serving with all his might, mind and strength. On behalf of the Mortdale Stake family, we extend our love and prayers to Elder Scandurra as he goes forward with faith to love, teach and minister to our Heavenly Father's children in Perth, Australia and in the United States.
— President Jassar

When I first received my mission call, it was cool to read out Texas Dallas East Mission but I was a little disappointed because I had wanted to go to a language speaking mission.

Over the past 6 months, I have learned that the Lord has called me and He knows where I must serve. Whether I end up speaking another language or not, I know that it will be the best 2 years I’ll ever experience.

I’m very excited but also very nervous about leaving my family, friends and my home where I know basically everything and stepping into a field I’m not too confident or familiar with. I love the Lord and my Saviour with all my heart and I know He has a plan for me.
— Elder Scandurra

13/05/2026

It is both a faith promoting and testimony building experience to see young and senior members of our stake choose to serve a mission.

Yesterday evening, I had the privilege and blessing of consecutively setting apart another two missionaries from the Mortdale Stake. Sister Abigail Barton was set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has been assigned to labour in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro South Mission and has started her training via online MTC. She will subsequently depart for the Brazil Missionary Training Center.

Her older sister has been serving in the California Ventura Mission for the past 9 months.
Our stake family is grateful for their wonderful example of love and devotion to our Saviour Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Sister Barton is excited to serve the people of Brazil and is looking forward to the wonderful experiences that she will have as she ministers to them. Her love for the Saviour and her neighbour is evident in her desire to serve a mission.

We extend our love and prayers to Sister Barton and wish her every success as she embarks on this very special journey as representative of Jesus Christ.
— President Jassar

I’m excited for this sacred opportunity to serve my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to minister to the beautiful people of Brazil. Jesus Christ is my message, my purpose and my reason for serving. I trust fully in the Lord and His plan for my service, and I’m eager to dedicate the next 18 months of my life to experience growth and strengthen my relationship with Him as I assist others in receiving the joy and peace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’m deeply grateful for my temple covenants, which bind me to Him and have enabled me to strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Through Jesus Christ I can find strength beyond my own and trust that He is guiding me safely forwards as I hold fast to my covenants.

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

“When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours.”

As I prepare to serve, I know there will be times where I feel like I’m sinking, but I am reassured that as I keep my focus on Jesus Christ, He will be within arms reach.

I know that through simple means, God is able to bring about great things. I know that I have many weaknesses and shortcomings, but as I turn to the Lord, I know that His power can work through me to bring others unto Christ.

Ultimately, I love my Saviour and my Heavenly Father. I know that They live. I’m eternally grateful for Jesus Christ who paid the price for my sins, and I know that because of Him, I will live again.

I’m so excited to serve my mission and help bring others to this knowledge that I so deeply cherish. I know that the Lord will be there for me every step of the way as I walk with Him throughout the next 18 months of my life.
— Sister Barton

22/04/2026

I really love this momentum - one after another, this mighty new generation (as President Uchtdorf calls them) is choosing to serve as representatives of Jesus Christ. We are so grateful to their parents, families, friends and bishops for the role they’ve played in teaching, guiding, and mentoring these young people.

My faith and testimony of the Saviour and His restored gospel grow stronger each time I set apart these wonderful missionaries. Yesterday evening, Sister Alora Clarke was set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has been assigned to labour in the Australia Adelaide Mission and departs for the MTC today.

As her stake family, we thank Sister Clarke for choosing to serve and for joining the other missionaries from our stake. Together, they are setting a great example for others preparing to serve a mission. Our love and prayers are with her, and with all missionaries serving in the mission field.
-President Jassar

I am so incredibly grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to serve as a missionary for our beautiful Church. I have been called to serve in the Australia Adelaide Mission, and at first, I’ll be honest, I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t be leaving the country. But as time has gone on since receiving my call, Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost have placed me in certain situations that have helped me realise that I have been called to the right place, and that I am exactly where I am supposed to be!

Growing up, I always thought that I had to serve a mission because of the influence of others, and I wasn’t too fond of the idea of giving up 18 months of my life. But as I’ve been surrounded by Christlike people and attended youth activities, I’ve come to realise that I’ve always wanted to serve, I just didn’t have the right perspective. I began to recognise my answer in the peace I felt at youth activities, the joy I experienced at FSY, and the happiness I felt while serving others during my mini mission. Looking back, those moments weren’t just good experiences, they were answers. They helped me see that Heavenly Father had been guiding me the whole time.

Another experience I am so grateful for as I prepare for my mission is the opportunity I’ve had to serve in the temple as a temple worker. It has been such a humbling experience for me because I’ve learned the importance of slowing down and being present. Usually, I’m surrounded by things that keep my mind running a million miles a minute, and it’s easy to miss the Spirit. But in the temple, I’ve been able to slow down, feel peace, and better recognise the quiet ways that Heavenly Father guides me not only for myself, but in how I can help others have a more meaningful experience.

I am so grateful for the people who have supported me and helped me get to this point. Their examples and encouragement have made such a difference in my journey, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He understands each of us individually. I know that He guides us, even in ways we don’t always recognise straight away. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve, and I am excited to see what the next 18 months will hold for me! I just hope I don't run out of snacks 😁

As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

And that is exactly what I am choosing to do as I begin this next chapter.
-Sister Clarke

20/04/2026

Yesterday evening, it was another wonderful experience for me and those present as Sister Huntley Neiufi was set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sister Neiufi is assigned to labour in the Fiji Suva Mission to preach the gospel in the Fijian language. She is departing for MTC tomorrow. Her parents, family and friends are very proud of her choice to accept this sacred and important call to serve as a representative of Jesus Christ and His restored Church.

She has been a great example of perseverance and courage. On behalf of the Mortdale Stake family, I extend our love, support and prayers for Sister Neiufi as she embarks on this wonderful journey to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the beautiful islands of Fiji. We know that her service will not only bless her, but also her family, ward and our stake.
- President Jassar

I have been incredibly humbled by this opportunity I have to be of service as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been called to the Fiji Suva Mission, and as I prepare to leave, I find myself reflecting a lot on how I was led here…

Growing up, I honestly never thought much about a mission. I knew there would be a time when all my cousins, and those I love, leave to serve the Lord. They were all sure from a young age, but I always thought, “I’ll worry about it when I get to that age”. Honestly, in the back of my mind, I never thought I would serve.

I have had many experiences in life that at times shifted my faith, and handed me excuses to not go forth with this work, with this faith or belief…

But In Ether 12:27 I find: “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness⁠. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble;...for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

The trials I have endured have definitely been hard, and at times felt very undeserving. But I have come to recognise God's hand in it all. My experiences, how ever challenging on my life they may be, can be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I am changed into the best version of myself, through Him.

I have suffered some, but our Saviour suffered it all. He has given us eternity, so why should I not give Him 18 months of my life?

I'm sure in the mission field the days may be long, and the rejection will be hard. But I know of the purpose I hold in this great work, and Heavenly Father has trusted me with His children.. to love them, teach them, serve them, and bring them back to Him, even just by planting a seed.

I trust with all my heart, that the Lord will always provide a way through the hard days, with even greater blessings to come, following our faithfulness in Him. Our Father in Heaven doesn’t expect us to run faster than we can keep up. He knows us personally, our strengths and our weaknesses, and He will magnify us to our fullest potential when we submit ourselves and rely on Him.

The adversary lingers especially near to pull us down in times of spiritual growth, but I think it’s important to remember that every doubt and temptation is just an invitation to trust more heavily in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

It is my greatest privilege that I have been allowed this opportunity to serve in His kingdom. The Lords timing is perfect in all things. He sees us, He loves us, He knows us personally, and He wants to bless us as we come unto Him.
-Sister Neiufi

17/04/2026

Have you ever considered joining a lesson with the missionaries? You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers, just a willing heart. A simple invitation, your presence, or even just sharing your experience can make a lasting difference in someone’s journey.

As part of our Mortdale Stake Harvest (11–24 May 2026), we invite every member to take part in this special effort. Imagine the impact if every lesson had a member present, offering friendship, warmth, and real-life discipleship.

💛 You can help someone feel they belong.
💬 You can help answer questions through your own experiences.
🌱 You can help faith grow starting with something small.

Reach out to your missionaries or your Relief Society/Elders Quorum leaders and book a time to participate.

Let’s come together and make this a true harvest of faith.

09/04/2026

Hello Mortdale Stake! The Missionaries in our stake have asked us to make a post inviting everyone to go follow the Sydney Love Like Christ page! We will link it down below. This page is a great asset in missionary work. As the world goes more online so does missionary work. A lot of the people the missionaries teach come from Social Media ads. As we get more people in Sydney to follow and interact with the posts on this page (liking, commenting, and sharing) those ads get more our reach. And the more out reach those ads get the more people the missionaries can teach! This is a great way to help gather Israel and accomplish the Lords work all from "small and simple means" such as liking or commenting on social media. Please go follow and interact with the page!

https://www.facebook.com/sydneylovelikechrist

30/03/2026

Last year in April, I had the privilege and blessing of setting apart my daughter as a missionary and yesterday, it was an absolute honour to set apart my father-in-law and mother-in-law as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

My biological parents live in India and these two have played that role of giving me counsel and have supported me and Melissa for the last 28 years. Melissa and I got married very young. She was 18 and I was 20. We needed a lot of counsel and guidance, especially, in our early years of marriage and most of it came from them. Amongst so many other things, they taught us and their other children about the principle of hard work. I am so grateful and feel so blessed to have parents in both countries, India and Australia.

Elder and Sister Hussain are assigned to labour as Senior Service Missionaries in the Welfare and Self-Reliance Services department of the church. They are grateful and excited for this opportunity to serve as missionaries and are looking forward to serving the Lord in this capacity. On behalf of the Mortdale Stake family, I thank them for choosing to serve a mission and being an example of faith and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
-President Jassar

Our Journey in the Gospel - Elder & Sister Hussain

I was raised in the Hindu faith, and before I married my husband—who had been baptised at eight and was raised in the gospel by his mother—my mother-in-law invited me to meet with the missionaries. I agreed, and as I listened to them, I felt a peace and certainty I had never felt before. I believed their message completely. After speaking with my parents, I chose to be baptised.

Since then, my testimony has grown stronger. Our family has faced many challenges, but doing the simple, steady things—attending church, reading the scriptures, praying together, going to the temple, and serving—has brought us countless blessings.

Our son Andrew served a mission in Auckland, New Zealand, and our granddaughter Jiselle is now serving in the Canada Vancouver Mission. Their faith has inspired us deeply.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know He lives and loves us. I know our Heavenly Father loves us. I love my family and am grateful to be sealed to them for time and eternity. Serving in the Church has brought great joy into our lives.

I share this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
-Sister Hussain

As I look back on my journey in the gospel, I feel moved to share the quiet ways the Lord has shaped my life and strengthened my faith.

Since joining the Church, two truths have stood at the center of my growth: the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His enduring love.

There have been many moments when I felt inadequate to receive the blessings that have come into my life, yet the Lord has continued to guide me with mercy and patience.

The gospel has blessed me abundantly—my son serving a mission, my children remaining active and faithful, and our home strengthened by living the teachings of Jesus Christ. As I now choose to serve a service mission, I feel a deep desire to give back to the Lord for all He has given me—His love, His grace, and His Atonement.

I know the Lord has walked with me every step of the way, even when I felt unworthy. Serving Him now feels like a small offering of gratitude for the countless blessings He has poured into my life. My heart is full, and I move forward with faith, trusting in His love and His plan for me.
-Elder Hussain

22/03/2026

Hello brothers and sisters, we warmly invite you to join us for the upcoming General Conference. Come and hear the words of the Lord through His servants, feel the Spirit, and be strengthened in your faith. Please see the poster for the full schedule, we would love for you to be with us.

16/03/2026

These last couple of weeks have been absolutely wonderful in every way. Starting off with our stake conference in the first week of March, and then Area Instruction Meeting with Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Elder Edward Dube a General Authority Seventy, and our Area Presidency two days ago on Saturday and then a wonderful sabbath yesterday which started off with me having another spiritual experience setting apart Brother Peter Tumata and Sister Ivy Tumata as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When I visited them in their home two weeks ago, they said to me, "President, sign us up right now. We are ready to serve". Sister Tumata has some health challenges and she said to me, "I know that I'm old and forgetful at times but I know that the Lord qualifies those He calls and I know that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost will help me". They both received confirmation through the spirit that now is the time for them to start their missionary service. I'm deeply humbled when I see faithful latter-day saints put their faith and trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and accept the call to serve.

Elder Tumata was my bishop when I was baptised. He made sure that I had friends in the church who loved me, a responsibility in the church and I was nurtured by the good word of God. He also made sure that I received all the ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation. I am so grateful for all that he and Sister Tumata have done for me and my family.

Elder and Sister Tumata have been assigned to labour as Senior Service Missionaries in the Welfare and Self-Reliance Services. We love them and on behalf of their Mortdale Stake family, we thank them for their example of faith and dedication to the Saviour and His restored gospel.
-President Jassar

To start, my introduction into religion came by way of my mother. She was a very loving, caring, and did everything she could for her 16 children.

My mother had a relation who came around every Sunday morning to read the bible with Mum and I. When I first met Peter, it was then that I heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I wanted to join his church and he said no, because he said I had to be taught by the missionaries. Not long after being taught, Bishop Shepherd who was our bishop at that time contacted us and said he wanted to see us at home. I said to Peter, if he thinks I'm going to be baptised, that will be the day. When he arrived, I went to water and said, Bishop I want to be baptised. Wow! and from there, it all started. Up to this day my testimony has grown through faith in my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer and the Holy Ghost. Now, after I have been set apart as Sister Tumata as a missionary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am now prepared to go out and testify of the Godhead. Thank you President for your faith, love, and patience.

My favourite scripture is found in Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 ."What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

Lots of Love,
Sister Tumata

My service mission was started by Dad & Mum in our little branch of Opuatia, back of Huntly in 1956. My mum was a primary teacher back then. She did it all.

Dad helped build New Zealand Temple 🛕 where I experienced being at the altar of the temple after it's completion at 10 years old with Dad, Mum & my siblings. They then sent me to church college in Hamilton and I graduated after 4 years.

Left home at 18 and worked in Wellington. Went to church on a bus in Lower Hutt, Bishop Fink, no dad, no mum or family and that was so different. Joined Petone playing Rugby league & rugby which I enjoyed so much, went to church maybe four times a year. I met my eternal companion while playing league. Got married and moved to Australia in 1981 with our 2 boys and 8 months later had another little Aussie boy 👦 I baptised my wife in 1987 and the miracles of the Saviour has been in our home ever since.

Because of my parents and through our Savior Jesus Christ, my service mission started as child of God. I've always had a testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost and now I'm testifying of them as a missionary.

I love ❤️ my beautiful wife, children, grandchildren, parents and families. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
-Elder Tumata

Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake

31/05/2026

13/05/2026

13/05/2026

22/04/2026

20/04/2026

17/04/2026

09/04/2026

30/03/2026

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16/03/2026

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