Auckland, New Zealand —
American Samoan-born general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder O. Vincent Haleck, has returned to the Pacific Area.
Elder Haleck has served as second counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, since 1 July 2013.
When he and his wife, Sister Peggy Haleck, arrived in Auckland, New Zealand — where the Church’s Pacific Area headquarters are located — they were welcomed by Elder James J. Hamula, Pacific Area President and Elder Kevin W. Pearson, first counselor in the Area Presidency, and their families.
They were also welcomed to the Pacific Area by family and friends in American Samoa, and friends throughout the region.
Elder and Sister Haleck have been living in Salt Lake City, Utah since he began his service as a member of the Church’s Second Quorum of the Seventy on 2 April, 2011.
“I’m grateful and honored by the confidence the Lord has placed in us,” Elder Haleck said when he was called to serve as a general authority of the Church. “I Iove the Lord and hope to be a good instrument. I know the Lord will help me.”
He married Peggy Ann Cameron in June 1972. They are the parents of three children and have seven grandchildren.
As a young boy, Elder Haleck remembers his family paying tithing, fasting weekly, reading the Bible daily and giving of what they had to those in need.
Elder Haleck’s mother was a member of the Church but hadn’t attended worship services in years. His father wasn’t a member of the Church.
At the age of 17, his parents Otto and Dorothy Haleck, sent him to school in California. He noticed that some friends in student government were different from other students.
“They invited me to Mutual, and the rest is history,” Elder Haleck says.
Eventually Elder Haleck’s whole family found the gospel. Elder Haleck had the privilege of baptizing his 80-year old father, and seeing his mother return to activity in the Church after 50 years of marriage.
Elder Haleck received a bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing from Brigham Young University.
He owns a number of businesses in American Samoa and is involved in philanthropic work.
Prior to his call to the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Elder Haleck served as a full-time missionary in the Samoa Apia Mission, bishop, stake high councilor, patriarch, stake president, and most recently, president of the Samoa Apia Mission.
Elder Haleck believes that all his life experiences have led him to where he is now. “I look back on my life, and I can say that I can see the hand of the Lord, “Elder Haleck said.