PAPEETE, French Polynesia — For hundreds of French Polynesian teenagers, learning about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and prophets of God is a way to build a solid foundation for the rest of their lives.

These French Polynesian youth — all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — attend a regular scripture study class, called 'Seminary.'

Yesta Huea is a teacher of one of these seminary classes. She says that her students "foresee a bright future before them because they know where they are going and how they will get there. They are preparing to become leaders by the choices they are making now and the goals they are setting."

One Tahitian seminary student, Kane Tuhoe-Touatini, explains his approach to life. "I try to pay close attention to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit," he says. "This strengthens my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in God the Father....

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - This week FamilySearch added 12 million new, free records online (6.5 million indexed names and 5.6 million browsable images) for Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Korea, Netherlands, Spain, and the U.S.

Searchable records on FamilySearch.org are made possible by thousands of volunteers from around the world who transcribe (index) the information from handwritten records to make them easily searchable by computer. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the amount of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about how to personally help provide free access to the world's historic genealogical records as an indexer at FamilySearch.org.

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - 'The Parable of the Good Samaritan'  is the latest short film added to the 'Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos' collection on www.lds.org.

Additional new videos about the final days and weeks of the Saviour's life will also be available before Easter.

Learn more about and watch the 'Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos' here. 

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - "At 18, Sid Going was a shoo-in for New Zealand's national rugby team, but he chose to serve a mission first," lds.org reports.
Lds.org continues: "Elder Neil L. Andersen tells why Sid made this decision and shares his testimony that the blessings of a mission outweigh any sacrifice."
Watch the new video about the former All Black rugby player here.

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Biographies of the senior leaders of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are now available on the website 'Prophets and Apostles Speak Today'.

TEMPLE VIEW, New Zealand — The 2012 New Zealand National Interfaith Forum will be held next weekend (18-19 February) in Hamilton at the former Church College of New Zealand campus in Temple View.

The New Zealand Herald provides further details, here.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Newsroom website states that "a respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world's faiths is one of the hallmarks of Mormonism." Read the full article here.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — New Zealanders Dionne and Josh, parents of three, share their love of family, faith and life in a new video on www.mormon.org.nz.

Introducing the video, Dionne describes herself in this way:

"I am a Kiwi. I am madly in love with my precious little family. I am a Polkadot and I'm a Mormon."

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Even though the daily scripture study class for Mormon youth, called seminary, is now 100 years old, taking part is still a day-to-day proposition. Take New Zealander Sabrina M. as an example. She rises early each school day, prepares for her day, and then attends an hour of scripture study before her regular school classes begin.

She and hundreds of thousands of other young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide are making seminary a priority, and seeing the benefits in their lives.

The following transcript of an interview with Sabrina sheds some light on why young Latter-day Saints participate in seminary, and how it is helping them develop into strong and capable adults.

Q: Why do you go to seminary?
A: "I really enjoy it, but sometimes I don't feel like going, so I just push myself and those are the times I have really needed ...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — "While traveling throughout New Zealand and Australia during January 2012, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with missionaries, members, and local officials to express his love and concern for the people," according to a new report on www.lds.org.

NADI, Fiji — Raging waters have overflowed river banks in several Fijian towns and villages flooding streets and homes and displacing residents. Nadi is one of many affected towns.

Elder Taniela Wakolo, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Fiji Service Centre Manager for the Church in Fiji, reports there are no injuries or deaths among Church members to date.

"The missionaries are also safe," he says, "and are assisting with evacuation when needed."