Aloha and Farewell - Elder and Sister Roberts

As Elder and Sister Roberts depart, we learn a little more about this wonderful couple from Aotearoa who have endeared themselves to so many while they were here.

Mike Roberts’ parents were baptised in 1952, the first converts on the North Shore of Auckland. About a year later, in 1953, by the time Christine (Dil) Roberts’ parents joined the Church, a dependent branch had been established under the Auckland Branch. We started in a rented hall and rapidly grew into an independent branch. In 1958 we became the Auckland 5th Ward, part of the Auckland New Zealand Stake, the first stake to be established outside of North America.

Mike and Christine, the two little blonde children front left

Also in April 1958, the New Zealand Temple was dedicated by President David O McKay. In the first month both the Dil family and the Roberts family went to the temple to be sealed.  Thirteen years later in August, 1971 Mike Roberts and Christine Dil were married in the New Zealand Temple, sealed by the temple president, Fred W Schwendiman.

In 1978, Mike’s parents, William and Norma Roberts, were called  home one year early from their call as Mission President in the England Leeds Mission to be president and matron of the New Zealand Temple. They are pictured here with Mike and Christine’s oldest child, Rebecca.

Rebecca was married to Mark Wolfersberger in the New Zealand Temple in 1999, followed by her brothers Adam in January 2001 (to Michelle Reyes) and Paul in February 2001 (to Haidee Wilson). All three marriages were performed by the then temple president, Rulon G Craven. 

Rebecca and Mark

Adam and Michelle

Paul and Haidee

In 2016 Mike and Christine have been called home early from serving as a senior missionary couple in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission (serving at BYU-Hawaii) to serve a three year term as president and matron of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.

We are blessed to have been able to serve with such faithful dear friends at BYU-Hawaii, PCC and the Visitors Center. We are excited about the prospect of serving in a sacred and holy House of the Lord in Hamilton New Zealand. We pray we may justify the trust that the Lord and the Church leaders have placed in us. May God bless us all as we continue to serve him wherever we are. If you are down our way, please come and see us.