A Samoan miracle
An incredible ‘tender mercy’ which occurred in the life of the father of President Taiseni Lesa, a counselor in our Grandview Stake. He related this miracle in a talk that he delivered at our stake conference on October 17, 2026.
President Lesa’s father grew up on a remote island in the country of Samoa. He attended a small outdoor school during his early years, but his education came to a halt when he was just seven years old. At that time it was expected that he would do as most children did at this point, which was to learn to grow crops, harvest vegetables, raise animals, and to be a helper to his parents and family. This young man, however, had an intense desire to break that mold and to further his education. He asked his parents for permission to walk several miles to a distant community where he could stay involved in school learning. He received permission and every Monday he walked many miles, alone, to the school area, where he would stay for five days. He would then walk back home on the weekend. He repeated this process for several years. He did well in school and he was invited to attend the advanced school that was sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This school was located on another island. This young man was not a member of the Church and it was unusual for non-members to receive this invitation. His family agreed and he moved to the distant island to continue his education. He not only excelled in his schooling, but he also was exposed to every facet of the Church. He learned about the priesthood, the restoration, and all other aspects of the gospel. He was also introduced to missionaries and their incredible work. At one point he returned home for a short break from school. He found himself immersed in a very sad situation. A member of the family had recently given birth to a little boy, and this little boy had become gravely ill. The family had gathered, knowing that death was surely going to take this precious little life. President Lesa’s father remembered the priesthood and the blessings he had witnessed while at the LDS-sponsored school. Mustering his faith, he asked the parents of the little boy, as well as his own parents, if they would allow him to go to a neighboring village to invite the LDS missionaries to come and give the little baby a blessing. None of these family members were LDS, but in their present desperate situation, they allowed him to go. Soon he returned with the missionaries, and the missionaries gave the little boy a priesthood blessing, promising him restoration to health. His illness almost immediately began to improve, and within a short time his health was completely back to normal. He ultimately prospered and lived a full life. President Lesa’s father joined the church not long thereafter, and many other members of the family did likewise. President Lesa, in his talk, told us that because of his father’s desire for education and his spiritual sensitivity, hundreds of Samoans were either baptized into the church or were eventually born into the Church.
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