Local Pages
A Family of Faith
Four men from one family serving as bishop at the same time.
For many years, old Brother Malo Fepuleai moved his family to wherever he was needed. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa, this faithful father of 12 raised his children in the gospel and forged for them a legacy of selfless service that his children continue to follow today.
President Henry B. Eyring, second counsellor in the First Presidency said:
“You will find some of your greatest joys in your efforts to make your home a place of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a place that is permeated with love, the pure love of Christ. The Restoration of the gospel started with a humble question pondered in a humble home, and it can continue in each of our homes as we continue to establish and practice gospel principles there. This has been my hope and my deepest desire since I was a little boy. You have all had glimpses of such homes. Many of you have, with the Lord’s help, created them.”1
Malo Fepuleai was neither rich nor educated, but he did not let that stop him from serving. Unable to afford a car, he walked everywhere he was needed.
Bishop Faagasa Fepuleai, one of his 12 children, said, “today, all of our brothers and sisters and their families are active in the Church and are faithfully serving in various ways. Our parents were such a great example of faith, sacrifice and obedience.”
In fact, three of brother Fepuleai’s sons and one of his grandsons are serving as bishops and branch presidents—and all happened to be called and set apart around the same time.
Bishop Fitimalo Fepuleai serves as the bishop of the Campbelltown 3rd Ward in the Macarthur Australia Stake.
Bishop Faagasa Fepuleai serves as the bishop of the Pesega 4th Ward of the Samoa Apia Stake.
Bishop Adele Fepuleai serves in the Ingleburn 2nd Ward of the Liverpool Australia Stake and their nephew, President Shute Konrad Fepuleai serves as a branch president in the Shepparton Branch, Victoria, Australia.
There is a wonderful feeling of support and help in the Fepuleai family. As each family member strives to faithfully serve as they saw their father and grandfather do for so many years, they reach out to each other for counsel and support to fulfil their responsibilities. The culture fostered by this great extended family is to love the Lord first and foremost and to serve Him with all your strength.
Shute Konrad Fepuleai’s father was also a great example of service. “My grandfather, my father and my uncles are very similar in the way they serve,” he said, “They always make sure that those around them are cared for in whatever way is needed; that’s how they were raised and that’s how they raised me. Above all else they taught me to love God and Jesus Christ and answer His call to ‘feed my sheep.’”
Speaking on behalf of the family members, Faagasa Fepuleai, said, “We believe we are all in this work together. It matters not where we serve but how we serve.”