Former Samoa College student among Church of Jesus Christ leaders

A former student of Samoa College, Faapito Auapaau, has been named as one of the Area Seventies leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced nine new General Authority Seventies and 58 Area Seventies during a session of the April 2020 General Conference.  

The 47-year-old Elder Auapaau, who currently resides in American Samoa, is one of only two from the Pacific on the long list of newly chosen leaders, alongside Paul Whippy from Fiji, as new leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The father-of-four is a multipack operations manager, at the Starkist Samoa Company, and has been serving the company for over 10 years.

Prior to that, Elder Auapaau was also involved in the former largest private employer in the country, Yazaki E.D.S. Samoa for more than six years.

He is currently serving as the President of the Pago Pago Samoa Mapusaga Stake and is  a former bishopric member, high councilor, and stake presidency member.

He is married to Auapaau Irva Faapito.

The other Pacific islander, Elder Whippy is a retiree of Nasese, Fiji. 

At 59-years old, he has been called to serve as an Area Seventy member and stake President.

He is currently serving as counselor in the Fiji Suva Mission presidency, a former bishop, branch presidency member, stake presidency member, and stake president

He is married to Olive Whippy and has seven children.