2015
ʻEletā L. Tomu Peuli: Ko Ha Tokotaha Langa ʻo e Puleʻangá
Ko e Manatu Melie kia ʻEletā L. Tom Perry

Ko e Fakamanatu kia

ʻEletā L. Tom Perry: Ko ha Tokotaha Langa ʻo e Puleʻangá

“ʻOku ou ʻiloʻi ko e fiefia mo e nēkeneka tuʻuloa te tau maʻu ʻi he lolotonga ʻo e moʻui fakamatelié, ʻe toki maʻu pē ia ʻi he muimui ki he Fakamoʻuí, talangofua ki Heʻene fonó, mo e tauhi ʻEne ngaahi fekaú. ʻOkú Ne moʻui. Ko ʻeku fakamoʻoni ʻeni kiate kimoutolú.”1

ʻĪmisi
Elder L. Tom Perry sitting in a chair during a meeting. He is smiling at the camera.

Naʻe fakaʻauha ʻo ʻosiʻosingamālie ʻa e koló. Naʻe kau ʻa L. Tomu Peuli ʻi he kau fuofua sōtia tautahi ke tūʻuta ʻi Siapani ʻi he hili hono fakamoʻoniʻi ʻo e talite fakamelinó ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e Tau ʻa Māmani hono II. Naʻá ne pehē ko e taimi naʻa nau aʻu atu ai ki he maumau ʻi Nakasakí, “naʻe hoko ia ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi aʻusia fakamamahi taha ʻo ʻeku moʻuí.”

Pea ʻi he vakai ʻa Tomu ki he fakaʻauha fakaʻaufuli ʻi muʻa ʻiate iá, naʻá ne fie maʻu ke fai ʻa e meʻa kotoa te ne lavá ke tokoni. Naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe he kau sōtiá ha ʻuluʻi ʻōfisi pea nau kamata leva ke fakamaʻa, toe langa foʻou, mo tokoni ʻi hono tanu ʻo e kau pekiá. Ka neongo ia, naʻe loto ʻa Tomu mo ha kau sōtia kehe ʻe niʻihi ke nau fai ha meʻa lahi ange.

Naʻa nau kole ha ngofua mei he faifekau ʻenau kongakaú ke nau tokoni ʻi hono toe langa ʻo e ngaahi falelotu faka-Kalisitiane ʻi honau feituʻú. Ko e lahi taha ʻo e ngaahi falelotú naʻe meimei ke ʻosi tāpuni kotoa he lolotonga ʻo e taú ʻi he ngaahi fakataputapui ʻa e puleʻangá. Ko e ngaahi fale ʻe niʻihi naʻe kei tuʻú naʻe fuʻu fie maʻu ke monomono. Naʻe pehē ʻe Tomu mo e kau sōtia kehé te nau fai ʻa e monomonó ʻi honau taimi ʻataá.

ʻĪmisi
L. Tom Perry in a military uniform. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

Naʻe fakangofua, pea kamata ngāue leva ʻa Tomu mo e niʻihi kehé.

Naʻá ne manatu, “Naʻe ʻikai ke mau poto ʻi he lea fakafonuá. Ko e meʻa pē ne mau lavá ko hono monomono e ngaahi falé. Ne mau ʻilo ʻa e kau faifekaú kuo fuoloa ʻenau taʻe-ngāue ʻi he lolotonga ʻo e taú pea mau fakalotolahiʻi ke nau foki mai ʻo fua honau fatongiá. Naʻa mau maʻu ha aʻusia kāfakafa mo e kakaí ni ʻi heʻenau toe maʻu ʻenau tauʻatāina ke fakahoko ʻenau tui faka-Kalisitiané.”

ʻI he hokosia ʻa e taimi ke nau heka ai he lēlué ʻo mavahe mei Nakasakí, naʻe fakamataliliʻi ʻa Tomu mo kinautolu naʻa nau ngāue ki hono fakaleleiʻi ʻo e ngaahi falelotú ʻe ha tokolahi ʻo e kau sōtia kehé. Naʻe kataʻi ʻe he kau sōtia ko ʻení mo honau kaumeʻa fefiné ʻa e kulupu ʻa Tomú pea mo manukiʻi ʻi he fakamoleki noa honau taimí mo e simá, hāmalá, mo e faʻó.

Pea naʻe hoko ha meʻa ʻe manatuʻi ʻe Tomu ʻi he toenga ʻo ʻene moʻuí. Lolotonga ʻo e fakamatalili ko ʻení, kuo tuʻu ha kulupu ʻo ha kau Kalisitiane Siapani ʻe toko 200 nai ʻo ofi pē ki he tauʻanga lēlué. Naʻa nau fononga mai ki he tauʻanga lēlué mo hivaʻi ʻa e “ʻLaka Atu, ʻE Kāinga ki he Tau.” Naʻe foaki ʻe he kau Kalisitiane ko ʻení ha ngaahi meʻaʻofa kia Tomu pea mo e kau sōtia kehe ʻa ia naʻa nau ngāue mālohi ke tokoniʻi kinautolú.

Naʻe tuʻu laine ʻa e kau Kalisitiane Siapaní ʻi he halanga lēlué. Naʻá ne pehē, “Ko e taimi naʻe kamata ke ngaʻunu atu ai ʻa e lēlué ʻi hono halangá, naʻa mau kakapa atu ʻo ala ki honau ʻuluʻulunimá ʻi heʻemau mavahé. Naʻe ʻikai ke mau lava ʻo lea; ka naʻe mālohi moʻoni ʻemau ʻofá. Naʻa mau houngaʻia ʻi heʻemau lava ʻo tokoni ʻi ha fanga kiʻi founga ke toe fokotuʻu ʻa e tui faka-Kalisitiané ʻi ha fonua ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e taú.”2

Ko ʻEletā L. Tomu Peulí, ko ha tokotaha tufunga ʻi he kotoa ʻo ʻene moʻuí. Ne ʻuhinga ia he taimi ʻe niʻihi ki hano langa ha falelotu naʻe holo, pea ʻuhinga he taimi ʻe niʻihi ki hano langaki ha laumālie pe ha puleʻanga ʻoku faingataʻaʻia ʻaki ʻene fakatuʻamelie taʻe tūkuá, loto-vēkeveké, mo hono mālohi fakalaumālié.

Ne mavahe ʻa ʻEletā Peuli mei ha feituʻu pē naʻá ne ʻaʻahi ki ai kuo mālohi ange ia ʻi he taimi naʻá ne aʻu atu aí.

Fāʻeleʻi ʻi he Ongo Mātuʻa Lelei

Naʻe fāʻeleʻi ia ʻi he ʻaho 5 ʻo ʻAokosi 1922 ʻi Lōkani ʻi ʻIutā kia Lesilī Tōmasi mo Nola Soni Peuli. Ko e taha ia ʻo ha fānau ʻe toko ono ʻi he fāmilí. Naʻe ʻofa mo akoʻi ʻe he ongomātuʻa ʻa Tomú ʻa e ongoongoleleí ʻi honau ʻapí ʻi he faingamālie kotoa pē naʻe lava aí. Naʻe hoko ʻa e founga ohi māʻoniʻoni hake ko ʻení ko ha maʻuʻanga ivi ʻi he kotoa e moʻui ʻa ʻEletā Peulí.

Naʻe pehē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ʻi heʻene ʻuluaki malanga konifelenisi lahi ko e ʻAposetoló, fekauʻaki mo ʻene kei siʻí: “Naʻe teuteuʻi kimautolu ʻi he pongipongi kotoa pē ʻi ʻapi, ʻo ʻikai ʻaki pe homau tataá mo e kofu fakaʻuhá pea mo e putí ke maluʻi kimautolu mei he matangi mālohi ʻo e māmaní, ka naʻe toe tokanga lelei ange ʻemau mātuʻá ke teuteuʻi fakaʻaho kimautolu ʻaki ʻa e teunga tau ʻa e ʻOtuá. ʻI heʻemau tūʻulutui ʻi he lotu fakafāmilí mo fanongo ki heʻemau tamaí, ko ha taha maʻu lakanga fakataulaʻeiki, ʻi heʻene lilingi atu hono lotó ki he ʻEikí ke maluʻi hono fāmilí mei he ngaahi ngahau vela ʻo e angahalá, naʻe toe fakamālohia mai ʻa ʻemau pā ʻo e tuí. Neongo naʻe fakamālohia ʻemau ngaahi paá, ka naʻe ʻatā maʻu pē ʻa ʻena paá, he naʻá na ʻatā mau pē pea naʻa mau ʻiloʻi ia.”3

ʻĪmisi
Formal portrait of the Leslie Thomas and Elsie Nora Sonne Perry family. Elder L. Tom Perry is seen as a young man in the picture.

ʻOlungá: Talavou ko Tomu Peulí (toʻohema he ʻotu muí) mo ʻene mātuʻá, ngaahi tokouá, mo e tuofāfiné. Naʻe pehē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli naʻá ne manatuʻi maʻu pē ʻa e ngaahi fakahinohino fakalaumālie naʻe fai ange heʻene mātuʻá ʻi heʻene kei siʻí. ʻOlungá: Ko hano tā ʻi he tohi fakaako fakataʻú naʻe fai ʻi he Kolisi Ngoue ʻa e Siteiti ʻIutaá ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e taú.

Naʻe akoʻi ʻa Tomu ke ngāue mālohi talu mei heʻene kei siʻí. Naʻe kau ʻi he ngaahi ngāue ʻa e fāmilí, kau ai hono tō mo tauhi ʻo ha ngoue lahi. Naʻá ne pehē “ʻOku ou fakamālō lahi ko ha tamai naʻe faʻa kātaki ʻo akoʻi au ʻi he founga ʻo e ngoué. Naʻe ʻikai ngata pē hono akoʻi homau fāmilí ʻi he founga hono fokotuʻutuʻu mo fulifulihi ʻo e ngaahi kapa mo e ngaahi hina ʻi he laupapá, ka ʻi he founga hono tō mo fetongi ʻo e fuaʻiʻakaú mo e vesitapoló ʻa ia naʻe fie maʻu ke toe fakafonu ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi ngeʻesi kapá mo e ngeʻesi hiná.”4

Naʻe hoko ʻene faʻeé ko ha faiako maʻongoʻonga ʻi ʻapi, ʻi hono akoʻi ʻa e ongoongoleleí mo e ngaahi moʻoni fakaʻatamaí ki heʻene fānaú ʻi he faingamālie kotoa, ʻo kau ai mo e taimi naʻa nau fakahoko ai ʻenau ngāué. “Ko ha faiako fakanatula ia pea naʻe lahi e meʻa naʻá ne fie maʻu meiate kimautolú, ʻo lahi ange ia ʻi heʻemau kau faiako ʻi ʻapiakó mo e lotú.”5

Naʻe faʻa tuʻu fuoloa ʻi tuʻa he loki mohé ʻi he taimi poʻulí ke fakapapauʻi ʻoku fai ʻe heʻene fānaú ʻenau lotú.

Naʻe pehē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli fekauʻaki mo ʻene faʻeé, “Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi naʻe fakafalala ki he mātuʻá ʻa e ako ʻa ʻenau fānaú pea, kuo pau ke fakapapauʻi ʻe he mātuʻá ʻoku akoʻi ʻenau fānaú ʻi he meʻa ʻoku finangalo ʻenau Tamai Hēvaní ke nau akó.”6

Ko ha Taki ʻi he Puleʻangá

Naʻe ngāue ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi ha ngaahi fatongia fakatakimuʻa kehekehe ʻi heʻene moʻuí. Naʻe ngāue ʻi ha kau pīsopeliki ʻe ua, ʻi ha alēleaʻanga māʻolunga fakasiteiki, tokoni ua ʻi he kau palesitenisī ʻo e Siteiki Vaitafe ʻAmeliká (Amercan River) ʻi Kalefōniá, hoko ko e palesiteni ngāue fakafaifekau fakasiteikí, tokoni makehe ki he palesiteni ʻo e Misiona ʻo e Ngaahi Siteiki Faka-hahaké (ʻa ia naʻá ne fakamoleki ai ha ngaahi houa lahi ke tokoni ʻi he palepale ʻa e Siasí ʻi he Fakaʻaliʻali Fakaemāmani Lahí ʻi Niu ʻIoke ʻi he 1964–65), tokoni ua ʻi he kau palesitenisī ʻo e Siteiki Masasūseti Positoní, pea ko ha palesiteni ʻo e siteiki ko iá. Naʻe ui ia ʻi he 1972 ko e Tokoni ki he Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá, pea ʻi he 1974, naʻe ui ai ia ko e mēmipa ʻo e Kōlomu ʻo e Kau ʻAposetolo ʻe Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá.

Naʻe malanga mo moʻui ʻaki ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ha ivi mo ha loto vēkeveke fakalaumālie lahi. Naʻe lava ke kei ongona hono leʻó ʻi he loto ʻo e kau fanongó hili ha taimi fuoloa ʻo ʻene mavahe mei he tuʻunga malangá.

ʻĪmisi
Elder Perry talking with General Authorities/ Apostles

Ko ha kiʻi taimi fakafiefia kia ʻEletā Peuli (toʻomataʻú) mo ha toko tolu ʻo hono Kaungā Ngāue ʻi he Kōlomu ʻo e Kau ʻAposetolo ʻe Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá—ʻEletā D. Toti Kulisitofasoni, ʻEletā Kuenitini L. Kuki, mo ʻEletā Niila L. ʻEnitasoni—ʻi he konifelenisi lahí.

Naʻe vahevahe ʻeni ʻe ʻEletā Kuenitini L. Kuki ʻo e Kōlomu ʻo e Kau ʻAposetolo ʻe Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá: “Naʻe fai ʻe ʻEletā L. Tomu Peuli ha fakamoʻoni mālohi kia Sīsū Kalaisi. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ʻa e Fakamoʻuí, naʻá ne ʻofa he Fakamoʻuí, pea [naʻe] mālohi ʻi he fai ʻo ʻene fakamoʻoni ki hono fakalangi ʻo e Fakamoʻuí.”7

Ko ha Tangata ʻo e Fāmilí

Naʻe fetaulaki ʻa Tomu mo hono uaifi ko Veisinia Lií lolotonga haʻane lau ʻa e kau maʻu fakataha ʻi ha fakataha takimuʻa fakasiteiki. Naʻá ne pehē kimui, naʻe sai pē ʻene lau ʻa e kau talavoú, ka ʻi he taimi ke lau ai ʻa e kau finemuí, naʻe ʻikai toe tonu ʻene fiká ʻaʻana. “Fakafokifā pē kuó u fesiofaki mo ha finemui talavou mo hoihoifua. ʻIkai ai pē ke u toe lava au ʻo lau.”

Ne lolotonga ako ʻa Tomu ʻi he Kolisi Ako Ngoue ʻa e Siteiti ʻo ʻIutaá (ʻoku hoko he taimí ni ko e ʻUnivēsiti ʻo e Siteti ʻo ʻIutaá) pea ʻi he taimi ko iá naʻá ne fuʻu femoʻuekina ʻaupito. Ka neongo ia, naʻe mahuʻinga ange ʻene feohi mo Veisinia Lií.8

Hili pē ha māhina ʻe valu ʻo e fetaulaki ʻa L. Tomu Peuli mo Veisinia Lií, naʻá na mali ʻi he Temipale Lōkani ʻIutaá. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻena fānau ʻe toko tolu.

ʻĪmisi
Family portrait of Elder L. Tom Perry, his wife Virginia, and three children and son-in-law. Taken April 6, 1974, the day Elder Perry was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Naʻe mahuʻinga taha kia Tomu ʻa e taimi mo e fāmilí. Naʻá ne tuku maʻu pē ha taimi ki he ngaahi ʻaho fāʻeleʻí, mālōlō ʻeveʻeva fakafāmilí, ngaahi tukufakaholo fakafāmilí, mo ha ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga kehe.

Ne toka fuoloa ʻi hono lotó ha meʻa naʻe hoko ʻo kau ki he meʻá ni. ʻI he taimi naʻe hiki ai ʻa Tomu mo hono fāmilí ki he Tafaʻaki Fakahahake ʻo e ʻIunaiteti Siteití ke ngāué, naʻa nau kamata kumi ʻapi ofi pē ki heʻene ngāueʻangá. ʻI he hoko atu ʻenau kumi ʻapí, naʻe kamata ke mamaʻo ange ʻenau kumí. Fāifai pea nau maʻu ha ʻapi naʻe saiʻia kotoa ai ʻa e fāmilí. Ko ha fale naʻe fungavaka pea naʻe tuʻu ʻi ha loto vaotā ʻi Konetikati. Ko e sivi fakaʻosí ke vakaiʻi ʻa e tuʻunga ʻo e fefonongaʻakí. Naʻe foki loto-mamahi mai ʻa Tomu. He naʻe taki houa ʻe taha mo e konga ʻa e ʻalu atú mo e foki maí.

Naʻá ne fakahā ʻa e palopalemá ki hono fāmilí, ʻo ne pehē ke nau fili ʻi he ʻapí pe ko e tamaí. Naʻe fakaʻohovale kiate ia ʻenau talí. Naʻa nau talaange, “Te mau ʻai ʻa e ʻapí. He ʻoku ʻikai pē foki ke ke faʻa ʻi heni.”

Ko ha liliuʻanga ʻeni kia Tomu. Naʻá ne pehē, “Naʻe fie maʻu ke u fakatomala fakavavevave. Naʻe fie maʻu heʻeku fānaú ha tamai ʻoku lahi ange ʻene ʻi ʻapí.” Naʻá ne tukulotoʻi ʻa e meʻá ni. “Naʻá ku liliu ʻeku tōʻonga ngāué ke u lava ʻo maʻu ha taimi lahi ange mo hoku fāmilí.”9

Naʻe lavaʻi lelei ʻe Tomu ʻa e taumuʻa ʻo e fakataha ʻa e fāmilí, ʻo tatau mo e ngaahi taumuʻa kehe ʻi heʻene moʻuí. Naʻe pehē ʻe Lī Peuli, ko e foha ʻo ʻEletā Peulí, “Naʻe mālie moʻoni ʻeku tamaí ʻi heʻeku tupu haké. Naʻá ne ʻai ke mau faʻangāue mo loto ke kau fakataha mo kimautolu. Naʻa mau ʻiloʻi maʻu pē naʻe ʻofaʻi kimautolu heʻeku tamaí.”10

Naʻe ohi hake ʻe Tomu mo Veisinia ʻena fānaú ʻi he māʻoniʻoni mo e ʻofa. ʻI he ʻaho 14 ʻo Tīsema 1974, ko e ʻosi pē ia ʻa e mahina ʻe valu hono ui ia ko e ʻAposetoló, ne mole meia ʻEletā Peuli hono uaifí hili ia ha taʻu nai ʻe nima ʻene fekuki mo e kanisaá. Naʻá ne pehē ʻi heʻene fakapaʻapa ki hono uaifí, “Kuó ne toe kakato ʻeni, pea ʻoku ou tui pau ko ha potu fakafiefia ange ʻa palataisi he ʻokú ne ʻi ai.11

Naʻe mali ʻa ʻEletā Peuli mo Pāpulā Teila Teitoni ʻi he Temipale Sōlekí ʻi he ʻaho 28 ʻo ʻEpeleli 1976. Naʻe fonongaʻia fakataha ʻa ʻEletā mo Sisitā Peuli ʻi he māmaní, ʻo kaungā malanga mo kaungā faiako.

ʻĪmisi
Portrait of L. Tom Perry with his wife Barbara.

Naʻe faʻa lea ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi heʻene ngāué kotoa, fekauʻaki mo ʻene tupu haké, hono fāmilí, pea mo e fie maʻu ke mālohi ʻa e fāmilí mo vāofí. Naʻá ne ongoʻi mālohi fekauʻaki mo e meʻá ni pea naʻe faʻa lea hangatonu ai he taimi ʻe niʻihi ki he kau mēmipa hono fāmilí ko ha konga ia ʻo ʻene ngaahi malanga konifelenisi lahí.12

Ko Ha Tangata Pisinisi Lelei

Naʻe maʻu ʻe L. Tomu Peuli ʻi heʻene moʻui fuoloá, ha talēniti ke fakaʻaongaʻi ʻa e ngaahi taukei mo e ʻilo naʻá ne ako mei he tafaʻaki ʻe taha ʻo ʻene moʻuí ki ha ngaahi tafaʻaki kehe. ʻOsi ha ngaahi taʻu mei heʻene ʻuluaki malí, kuo mau ha ui ke ne hoko ko ha tokoni ua ʻi he kau pīsopelikí. Naʻe hoko ʻeni ʻi ha taimi ʻo ʻene moʻui fakapalofesinalé naʻe faingataʻa ai kia Tomu ke ne ʻiloʻi pe te ne fakakau fēfē ha faʻahinga tukupā pehē ki heʻene taimitēpilé. Naʻe faingataʻa ke ne maʻu ha taimi feʻunga ke mohe ai.13

Ka, naʻe ʻikai momou ke ne tali. Ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi ʻuluaki pōtoʻi ngāue naʻá ne ako ʻi he kau pīsopelikí foʻoú ko e founga ke vahe mo fokotuʻutuʻu ai ʻa e ngāué. Naʻá ne fakaʻaongaʻi ʻa e ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni ko ʻení ʻi he pisinisí pea ʻikai hano taimi kuó ne maʻu ha taimi lahi ange ʻi he ngāué pea mo ʻapi. Naʻe iku ʻo tokoni ʻa e ngaahi pōtoʻi ngāué ʻi hono teke ʻa Tomu ki ha ngaahi tuʻunga pule māʻolunga ʻi heʻene ngāue ʻi he pisinisi fakamoveteveté.

ʻĪmisi
L. Tom Perry holding a phone.

Ne ʻi ai ha taimi ʻe taha naʻe ʻaonga ai ʻa e ako ʻi he Siasí, hili ia haʻane tali ha ngāue ʻi ha kautaha lahi ʻi Niu ʻIoke. Ko ha konga hono ngaahi fatongia foʻoú naʻe kau ai haʻane fai ha fakamatala fakapatiseti ki ha poate ʻo ha kau talēkita naʻe faingataʻa ke fakafiemālieʻi honau lotó.

Naʻe ʻalu ʻa Tomu, ʻi heʻene mafasia ʻi he meʻá ni, ki he loki ʻe fai ai ʻene fakamatalá. Naʻá ne ʻilo ʻi he lokí ha konga lahi ʻo e holisí naʻe ʻaofi ʻaki ha tupenu sipi, mahalo naʻe ʻai ʻi aí ʻi ha taumuʻa ki he ongó. “ʻI heʻeku sio atu ki he fuʻu konga tupenu falaní naʻá ku fakakaukau ki heʻeku faiako Palaimelí, pea mo hono fakaʻaongaʻi ʻo e tupenu sipí [ki he ngaahi lēsoní].”

Naʻe hū mai leva ʻe Tomu ha pepa ʻaofi tupenu sipi, fokotuʻu ai mo ha ngaahi konga ʻo ʻene fakamatalá, peá ne maʻu ʻa e tokanga ʻa e poate ʻa e kau talēkitá ʻi he fakataha patiseti ko ʻení. Naʻá ne pehē, “Ngalingali naʻe lelei ʻaupito ʻa e fakamatalá, pea ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻosi aí, naʻe fakamālōʻia au, pea ʻoku ou fakamālō ai ki heʻeku faiako Palaimelí.”14

Neongo naʻe lelei ʻaupito ʻa Tomu ʻi he pisinisí, ka naʻe ʻikai ke ne teitei tuku ke uesia ʻe heʻene ngāué hono ngeiá mo hono ngaahi tuʻunga ʻulungaanga mahuʻingá. Naʻe fakaafeʻi ia ʻe hono pulé ʻi ha konga ʻe taha ʻo ʻene ngāué ke kau ʻi ha ngaahi maʻu meʻatokoni fakapisinisi kehekehe pea mo e ngaahi houa feohi kimuʻa aí. ʻI he ʻikai ke ne loto ke pehē ʻokú ne toʻo ha faʻahinga meʻa ʻe kiʻi hangē ha ʻolokaholó, naʻe kamata leva ʻa Tomu ke ne toʻotoʻo holo ha ipu huʻakau, ʻi he ngaahi houa feohi ko ʻení.

Naʻá ne pehē, “ʻI he fakalau atu ʻa e taimí, naʻá ku fakatumutumu ʻi he tokolahi ʻo hoku kaungā-ngāue naʻa nau kau fakataha mo au ʻo inu huʻakau he lolotonga ʻo e houa naʻa mau feohi aí. Naʻá ku fakatokangaʻi … ʻoku fakatupu ʻe heʻete kehe ʻi he māmaní ha faʻahinga tōʻonga mālie, ka ʻoku fekauʻaki maʻu pē ʻa e talangofua ki he fono ʻa e ʻEikí mo ʻEne ngaahi tāpuakí.”15

Ko ha Mateakiʻi Fonua

Naʻe lolotonga ngāue fakafaifekau taimi kakato ʻa L. Tomu Peuli ʻi he Misiona ʻo e Ngaahi Siteiti Fakatokelaú ʻi he taimi haʻahaʻa ʻo e Tau Lahi hono II ʻa Māmaní. Naʻe fakamoʻoni ke kau ʻi he kau tautahí ʻi loto ʻi he ʻuluaki māhina pē ʻo ʻene foki mei heʻene ngāue fakafaifekaú.

ʻĪmisi
L. Tom Perry in his military uniform, 1944. He served in the marine corps after his mission.

Naʻe ngāue maʻa hono fonuá ʻi he lāngilangi pea foki mai ko ha taha mateakiʻi fonua lahi ange ʻi ha toe taimi kimuʻa. Naʻe hoko ʻa ʻEletā mo Sisitā Peuli ʻi Nōvema 2013, ko e ongo fakaafe fakalāngilangi ʻi he Hulohula Fakamanatu hono 238 ʻa e Vaʻa Tautahí. Naʻá ne pehē ʻi he kātoangá ni, “ʻOku ou fie fakahā heni ʻoku ou laukau ʻaki maʻu pē ʻa e taimi naʻá ku ʻi he Tautahí aí.”16

Naʻe fakaafeʻi ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi he kamataʻanga pē hono ui ko e ʻAposetoló ki Uāsingatoni, D.C., ki ha fakataha ʻa e kau taki fakalotú ke aleaʻi ha founga ke fakakau ʻa e ngaahi kautaha lotú ʻi he teuteu ki he kātoangaʻi ʻo e senituli hono ua ʻo ʻAmeliká. Naʻe fiefia ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi he kamataʻangá. Naʻe loto ke tokoni ke fakatahatahaʻi ʻa e leʻo ʻo e ngaahi siasí ʻo fakahoungaʻi hono tataki mo maluʻi ʻe he toʻukupu ʻo e ʻOtuá hono fokotuʻu ʻo ʻAmeliká.

Ka naʻe ʻohovale, he naʻe ʻikai loto ʻa e kulupú ia ke fai ha faʻahinga fakamatala pehē. Naʻe fie maʻu ke taʻofi ha faʻahinga fakamatala pē fekauʻaki mo e ʻEiki ko hotau ʻOtuá, he naʻe ʻikai ke nau loto ke fakatupu ʻita ki he kau taʻe-tui ʻOtuá. Naʻe loto-mamahi lahi ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi he meʻa naʻe hokó. Neongo ia, naʻá ne fai ha fakamoʻoni molumalu ʻi he konifelenisi lahí fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi moʻoni naʻe ʻikai loto ʻa e kau taki fakalotu ʻi Uāsingatoní ke fakahāʻí. “Te u akoʻi ʻa ʻeku fakamoʻoni mālohi ko e fakavaʻe ʻo ha puleʻanga māʻoniʻoni ʻa e fono ʻa ia kuo maʻu mei he ʻEikí ke tataki mo fakahinohinoʻi ʻa e ngaahi ngāue ʻa e tangatá. ʻOku maʻu ʻe he puleʻanga māʻoniʻoní ʻa e fakahinohinó mei he ʻEikí.”17

Naʻe kei hoko pē ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ko ha taha mateakiʻi fonua ʻi heʻene moʻuí kotoa.

Ko Ha Kaungāmeʻa ki he Taha Kotoa

ʻĪmisi
Elder L. Tom Perry laughing with Rabbi Benny Zippel at the Little America Hotel. They were attending the Catholic Community Services Awards event on Thursday, November 6, 2014. Elder Perry and his wife, Barbara, were honored at the event.

ʻOlungá: ʻEletā Peuli ʻi hono ʻōfisí ʻi hono taʻu 89. Toʻomataʻú: Naʻe vave maʻu pē ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ke malimali mo fakamaheningofua ʻi ha feituʻu pē naʻe ʻalu ki ai. ʻOkú ne fakafeʻiloaki heni ki ha taha ne ʻi he Maʻu Meʻatokoni Fakalangilangi ʻo e Pale ki he Tokoni ʻOfa Fakaetangatá ʻo e 2014, ʻa ia naʻe fakalāngilangiʻi ai ia mo hono uaifi ko Pāpulaá ko ha ongo tokoni ʻofa fakaetangata ʻe he Ngaahi Tafaʻaki Tokoniʻofa Fakaetangata ʻa e Komiunitī Katolika ʻo ʻIutaá.

ʻOlungá: faitaaʻi ʻe Tom Smart, Deseret News; laló: fakaʻaongaʻi e taá ʻi he angalelei ʻa e Deseret News

Naʻe fakakaungāmeʻa ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi ha feituʻu pē naʻe ʻalu ki ai. ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻe ha talanoa mei heʻene moʻuí ʻa ʻene malava ke fakakaungāmeʻa ʻi ha faʻahinga tūkunga peé. Naʻá ne fakatokangaʻi ʻi he hili ʻo ʻene hiki mo hono fāmilí ki Niu ʻIoke Sití, ʻa e ʻikai ke feleaʻaki ʻa e kakaí ʻi he halá pea mo e lēlué.

Naʻá ne pehē kimui ai, “Naʻá ku fakakaukau, he toki kulupu anga taʻe-fakaumeʻa tama ʻeni. Naʻe fehangahangai ʻaupito ʻenau tōʻongá mo e kakai talitali lelei mo feohi ʻi he kolo ʻi Kalefōnia naʻe toki mavahe mei ai hono fāmilí. Naʻe loto mamahi lahi ʻi he ʻikai ke fiefia mo ʻofa ʻa e kakai naʻa nau feohí pea naʻá ne meimei toe fakafoki ai hono fāmilí ki Kalefōnia. Naʻe fehuʻi ange ʻe hono uaifí pe kuó ne ʻosi feinga ke fai ha liliu. Naʻe ʻikai. Peá ne toe ʻeke ange, “Ko e hā ʻoku ʻikai ke ke ʻahiʻahi aí mo ke sio pe ko e hā ʻe hokó?”

Naʻe fokotuʻu ai ʻe Tomu ha palani ʻi heʻene ʻalu ʻi he pongipongí ke maheni mo ha taha. Naʻá ne fakatokangaʻi ha tangata ʻi he tauʻanga lēlué naʻe fou mai ʻi he halanga tatau he pongipongi kotoa pē. Naʻe aʻu mai ʻa e tangatá ʻi he taimi tatau, fakatau ha nusipepa, pea tuʻu ʻi he feituʻu tatau ʻi he tauʻanga lēlué, mo tangutu ʻi he tangutuʻanga tatau he tauʻangá ʻi he ʻaho kotoa ʻo ʻikai ha toe feliliuaki.

Naʻe loto ʻa Tomu ke fai ha meʻa ke ʻiloʻi pe te ne lava ʻo fakakaungameʻa ki ai. Naʻe haʻu pongipongia ʻi ha ʻaho ʻe taha ʻo tuʻu ʻi he feituʻu naʻe saiʻia ʻa e tangatá ke tuʻu aí. Pea tangutu ʻi he nofoʻanga naʻe saiʻia ʻa e tangatá ke nofo aí. Hili ha ʻaho ʻe ua ʻo hono fai ʻení, kuo aʻu mai ʻa Tomu ʻo ʻiloʻi kuo vave mai ʻa e tangatá ia ʻo tuʻu ʻi hono tuʻunga ʻi he tauʻangá. Naʻe kiʻi malimali manuki atu ʻa e tangatá kia Tomu, pea toki laka atu ʻo ne fakamatalaʻi ange ʻa e meʻa naʻá ne faí.

Naʻe pehē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli, “Naʻe fakakaukau ia ko e meʻa lelei taha ʻeni kuo fanongo ai.” Naʻe toki heka leva mo e tangatá ʻi he lēlué ʻo na ō fakataha. Naʻe ʻikai hano taimi kuó na kaungāmeʻa lelei. Naʻe hoko ko haʻana lova ʻi he pongipongi kotoa pē ke sio pe ko hai ʻe ʻuluaki aʻu ki aí. Naʻe ʻikai fuoloa kuo fakatokolahi ʻa e lová ʻo toko 3, pea toko 4, pea aʻu ʻo toko 10 ʻa e niʻihi ne fakavavevave ke maʻu ʻa e foʻi tuʻuʻangá.

Naʻe pehē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli, “Naʻá ne fakalongomoʻuiʻi ʻa e tauʻangá.” Naʻe fakaʻau ke vāofi ange ʻa e kakaí ʻi he meʻá ni. ʻI ha Kilisimasi ʻe taha, naʻe tuʻu ai hanau meimei toko 10 ʻi he tauʻangá ʻo hivaʻi fakataha ha ngaahi hiva Kilisimasi. “Naʻá ku maʻu ha kaungāmeʻa maʻongoʻonga taha kuo faifaiangé peá u maʻu.”18

Hoko Maʻu ai pē ko ha Tokotaha Tufunga

ʻĪmisi
Elder L. Tom Perry and his wife, Barbara, applying mortar to the cornerstone of the Brigham City Utah Temple, September 23, 2012.

ʻOlungá: Ko hono ʻai ʻe ʻEletā Peuli mo hono uaifí ʻa e sima ki he makatuliki ʻo e Temipale Pilikihami Siti ʻIutaá. Toʻomataʻu ʻi ʻolungá: Ko ʻEletā L. Tomu Peuli (tuʻu ʻi he toʻomataʻú) ʻi heʻene kei faifekaú mo hono hoá, ʻEletā Ueini Pākini (Wayne Parkin), ʻi he Misiona ʻo e Ngaahi Siteiti Fakatokelaú, USA. Toʻomataʻú: Talavou ko Tomu Peulí ʻi heʻene hoko ko e sōtia tautahi foʻoú.

Toʻomataʻú ʻi loto: faitaaʻi ʻe Scott Winterton, Deseret News

Naʻe vahevahe ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ʻi he konifelenisi lahi ʻo ʻOkatopa 1986 ha talanoa mei heʻene kei siʻí naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ha tafaʻaki mahuʻinga ʻo ʻene moʻuí. Naʻe fakaleleiʻi ʻe heʻene tamaí honau falé pea ko e fatongia ʻo e tokotaha taʻu fitu ko Tomú ko hono taʻaki ʻo e faʻó mei he papa motuʻá, ʻaki ha meʻa taʻaki faʻo, pea fakatonutonu kinautolu. Neongo ko ha ngāue faingataʻa, ka naʻá ne ongoʻi fiefia ʻi hono fakaʻosi ʻo e ngāue fakaʻaho ko ʻení.

Naʻe fai ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ha ngaahi ngāue fakatufunga lahi pehē ʻi he fakalau atu ʻa e ngaahi taʻú, mei hono fakaleleiʻi ʻo e ngaahi falelotú ʻo aʻu ki hono langa ʻo ha ngaahi fale foʻou ʻo e Siasí. Naʻe hangē naʻe hā mahino ʻa e ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne ako ʻi heʻene kei siʻí ʻi hono fakatonutonu ʻo e ngaahi foʻi faʻó ʻi he anga ʻo ʻene moʻui kimui aí—ʻo tatau pē ʻi heʻene ʻi he feituʻu ngāue langá mo ʻene mavahe mei aí.

Naʻá ne pehē, “ʻOku ʻi ai ha ongoʻi fiemālie moʻoni ʻoku maʻu ʻi hono fakaʻosi ʻo ha ngāue, tautautefito ki he taimi kapau ko e ngāue lelei taha ia ʻoku tau ʻiloʻi hono fakahokó.”19

Naʻe ʻikai teitei fai ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ha meʻa naʻe toe siʻi ange. Naʻá ne langa, akoʻi, ngāue, mo fakamoʻoniʻi—ʻa e meʻa kotoa ʻaki hono lelei tahá. Ko ha tokotaha tufunga moʻoni ia ʻi hono langa ʻo e puleʻangá.

Naʻá ne pehē “ʻOku moʻoni ʻa e ongoongolelei ʻo Sīsū Kalaisí. Naʻe toe fakafoki mai ia ke ne tāpuakiʻi ʻetau moʻuí ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho kimui ní. ʻOku ʻi ai e ngaahi moʻoni, tefitoʻi moʻoni, mo e ngaahi ouau kotoa ʻoku ʻi he palani maʻongoʻonga ʻo e fiefia ʻa ʻetau Tamai Hēvaní, ʻa ia ko ha palani maʻatautolu ke tau foki ai ʻo nofo mo Ia ʻi he maama taʻengata ka hoko maí. Ko ʻeku fakamoʻoni kiate kimoutolú, ko e ongoongolelei ʻo Sīsū Kalaisí ko ʻEne founga fakalangi ia ke tau fehangahangai ai mo hotau kahaʻu nāunauʻiá.”20

Maʻuʻanga Fakamatalá

  1. L. Tom Perry, ʻi he “Special Witnesses of Christ,” Liahona, Apr. 2001, 11..

  2. L. Tom Perry, ʻi he “Special Witnesses of Christ,” Liahona, Apr. 2001, 11.

  3. L. Tom Perry, “Build Your Shield of Faith,” Ensign, May 1974, 98.

  4. L. Tom Perry, “The Need to Teach Personal and Family Preparedness,” Ensign, May 1981, 88.

  5. L. Tom Perry, “Ko Hono Akoʻi ʻe he Ngaahi Faʻeé ʻa e Fānaú ʻi ʻApí,” Liahona, Mē 2010, 30.

  6. L. Tom Perry, “Ko Hono Akoʻi ʻe he Ngaahi Faʻeé ʻa e Fānaú ʻi ʻApí,” 29–30.

  7. ʻInitaviu mo ʻEletā Quentin L. Cook, ʻaho 5 ʻo Mē 2015.

  8. Vakai, Lee Tom Perry, L. Tom Perry, An Ucommon Life: Years of Preparation, 1922–1976 (2013), 146.

  9. L. Tom Perry, “Called of God,” Liahona, Nov. 2002, 9.

  10. ʻIntaviu mo Lee Tom Perry, May 5, 2015.

  11. L. Tom Perry, “A Tribute,” Ensign, May 1975, 33.

  12. Vakai, ki ha sīpinga, ko ʻene ongo malanga konifelenisi lahi he taʻu 1982 mo e 1985.

  13. Vakai, Lee Tom Perry, L. Tom Perry, An Uncommon Life, 194.

  14. L. Tom Perry, “Teach Them the Word of God with All Diligence,” Liahona, July 1999, 8–9.

  15. L. Tom Perry, “In the World,” Ensign, May 1988, 14.

  16. ʻI he Gerry Avant, “Elder Perry Honored for Service in U.S. Marine Corps,” LDS.org.

  17. L. Tom Perry, “For the Time Will Come When They Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 86.

  18. L. Tom Perry, ʻi he “Elder and Sister Perry,” Conversations (konga 4), mormonchannel.org.

  19. Vakai, L. Tom Perry, “The Joy of Honest Labor,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 62, 64.

  20. L. Tom Perry, “Ko e Founga Kimuʻa ʻo e Fehangahangai mo e Kahaʻú,” Liahona, Nōvema 2009, 76.

“Naʻe ngāue ʻa Tomu Peuli maʻa hono fonuá, siasí, fāmilí, kāingá, mo hono ʻOtuá.” —Palesiteni Tōmasi S. Monisoni, ʻi heʻene fakalāngilangiʻi ʻa ʻEletā L. Tom Perry ʻi hono meʻa-fakaʻeikí (vakai ki he peesi 14–15)

ʻOlungá: ʻEletā Peuli ʻi hono ʻōfisí ʻi hono taʻu 89. Toʻomataʻú: Naʻe vave maʻu pē ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ke malimali mo fakamaheningofua ʻi ha feituʻu pē naʻe ʻalu ki ai. ʻOkú ne fakafeʻiloaki heni ki ha taha ne ʻi he Maʻu Meʻatokoni Fakalangilangi ʻo e Pale ki he Tokoni ʻOfa Fakaetangatá ʻo e 2014, ʻa ia naʻe fakalāngilangiʻi ai ia mo hono uaifi ko Pāpulaá ko ha ongo tokoni ʻofa fakaetangata ʻe he Ngaahi Tafaʻaki Tokoniʻofa Fakaetangata ʻa e Komiunitī Katolika ʻo ʻIutaá.

ʻOlungá: faitaaʻi ʻe Tom Smart, Deseret News; laló: fakaʻaongaʻi e taá ʻi he angalelei ʻa e Deseret News

Toʻohemá: Naʻe ngāue ʻa Tomu Peuli ʻi he Tau Tahi ʻa e ʻIunaiteti Siteití lolotonga ʻo e Tau Lahi hono II ʻa Māmaní. Naʻe kau ʻi he kau fuofua konga kau maluʻi naʻe hū ki Siapani. ʻOlungá: ʻI he ʻUnivēsiti Pilikihami ʻIongí mo e senatoa ʻAmelika ko Siosefa Lipameni (Joseph Lieberman).

Toʻohema ʻi lotó: faitaaʻi ʻe Mark A. Philbrick/BYU Photo

ʻOlungá: Talavou ko Tomu Peulí (toʻohema he ʻotu muí) mo ʻene mātuʻá, ngaahi tokouá, mo e tuofāfiné. Naʻe pehē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli naʻá ne manatuʻi maʻu pē ʻa e ngaahi fakahinohino fakalaumālie naʻe fai ange heʻene mātuʻá ʻi heʻene kei siʻí. ʻOlungá: Ko hano tā ʻi he tohi fakaako fakataʻú naʻe fai ʻi he Kolisi Ngoue ʻa e Siteiti ʻIutaá ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e taú.

ʻOlungá: Ko e tuʻu laine ʻa e kakaí ke feʻiloaki mo ʻEletā Peuli ʻi ha senitā takimamatá. Toʻohemá: Fakataha mo ʻene fānaú ʻi he ʻAho Taʻu Foʻoú, 1960.

Toʻohemá ʻi loto: faitaaʻi ʻe Michael Parker, Deseret News

ʻOlungá mo toʻohema: ngaahi tā ʻi he ʻaho 6 ʻo ʻEpeleli 1974, ko e ʻaho naʻe fokotuʻu ai ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ko e mēmipa ʻo e Kōlomu ʻo e Kau ʻAposetolo ʻe Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá.

Hilli ha taʻu ʻe taha mo e konga mei he mālōlō hono uaifi ko Veisiniá, naʻe mali ʻa ʻEletā Peuli mo Pāpulā Teila Teitoni ʻi he Temipale Sōlekí.

ʻOlungá: Ko hono ʻai ʻe ʻEletā Peuli mo hono uaifí ʻa e sima ki he makatuliki ʻo e Temipale Pilikihami Siti ʻIutaá. Toʻomataʻu ʻi ʻolungá: Ko ʻEletā L. Tomu Peuli (tuʻu ʻi he toʻomataʻú) ʻi heʻene kei faifekaú mo hono hoá, ʻEletā Ueini Pākini (Wayne Parkin), ʻi he Misiona ʻo e Ngaahi Siteiti Fakatokelaú, USA. Toʻomataʻú: Talavou ko Tomu Peulí ʻi heʻene hoko ko e sōtia tautahi foʻoú.

Toʻomataʻú ʻi loto: faitaaʻi ʻe Scott Winterton, Deseret News

Tā ʻo e Kōlomu ʻo e Kau ʻAposetolo ʻe Toko Hongofulu Mā Uá ʻi he 1979. ʻOku tuʻu ʻa ʻEletā Peuli ʻi he ʻotu muí ʻo hoko atu kia ʻEletā Tōmasi S. Monisoni.

ʻOlungá: Ko hono talitali ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ʻa e kāingalolotú ʻi he konifelenisi lahi ʻo ʻOkatopa 2013. Toʻohemá: Naʻe fakataha ʻa ʻEletā Peuli mo e kau taki ʻo e Siasi ʻAhofitú ʻi ʻEpeleli 2014 ke aleaʻi ʻa e tauʻatāina fakalotú. Laló: Naʻe tuku maʻu pē ʻe ʻEletā Peuli ha taimi ke talanoa ai mo e kakaí, hangē ko e kakai ko ʻeni ʻi he laka fakatē ʻo e ʻAho ʻo e 47 ʻi Sōleki Siti, ʻIutaá.

Toʻomataʻu ʻi ʻolungá: faitaaʻi ʻe Tom Smart, Deseret News; toʻomataʻu ʻi lotó: fakaʻaongaʻi e taá ʻi he angalelei ʻa Ansel Oliver; toʻomataʻu ʻi laló: faitaaʻi ʻe Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

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