Church Continues to Expand in Queensland

Members of Logan, Eight Mile Plains and Coomera Stakes (diocese) gathered to witness the creation of a new stake, the Brisbane Australia Beenleigh Stake on Sunday 4 March 2018.

Francis Iva has been called as the Stake President, with Tai Cecil and Olene (Lene) Tuiatua as his counsellors.

The hististoric creation of this new Stake marks the 12th stake in Queensland, and the 4th formed in the last 6 years. The new stake brings the total number of LDS stakes to 138 in the Pacific Area.

The first stake in Queensland was created in 1960. In the last 58 years the Church has grown significantly, prompting the progressive building of 24 meetinghouses as well as the Brisbane Australia Temple.

Several past leaders that served in the Beenleigh area were invited to witness this special event. John Jeffrey who served as the first stake president over the Beenleigh area was one of those in attendance. During his tenure, Brother Jeffrey’s responsibilities stretched from Brisbane, down to the Gold Coast and out to Redland Bay. Brother Jeffrey noticed how far some members had to drive to get to church each week. He took a map of Brisbane and drew an 8 km radius circle around each chapel. He then worked with Church authorities to create branches (congregations) in areas lying outside of the various circles that would meet in school halls. These small branches meant that members didn’t have to drive as far to attend their church meetings. This direction paved the way for the future growth of membership in Queensland. 

President Iva stated that he "was humbled by the call to serve, however, honoured to be given such a responsibility."

Presiding at the meeting, Elder O. Vincent Halleck, Area President of the Pacific Area asked the rhetorical question, "What should we write down about the history of the Beenleigh Stake going forward?  It should be the history of the people; of families; of their service; of their faith."