Courtesy of LDS Church News

Four new mission presidents and their wives, began service in the Africa Southeast Area in July 2010. They are: Julie P. and Steven H. Broadbent, Kenya Nairobi Mission; Eric C. and M. Kaye Jackson, Uganda Kampala Mission; Gary L. and Paula Packer, Democratic Republic of Congo Lubumbashi Mission; and Aleta M. and James C. Von Stetten, South Africa Durban Mission.

President & Sister BroadbentPresident & Sister JacksonPresident & Sister PackerPresident & Sister Von Stetton

          From

    Cumorah's Hill

       The Book of Mormon Speaks to Our Day

The Book of Mormon Speaks to Our Day

A Musical Presentation

-Words and Music by Steven Kapp Perry-

-Script by Brad Wilcox-

Saturday, 4 September

Bedfordview and Benoni Stakes at the Bedfordview Stake Center - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, 5 September

Johannesburg Stake at the Sandton Building - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, 11 September

Pretoria Stake at the Pretoria East Building - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12 September

Roodepoort Stake at the Roodepoort Stake Center - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, 19 September

Soweto Stake at the Dobsonville Building - 3:30 p.m.

Ma Albertina Sisulu displays the African Family statuette presented to her in recognition of her Family Value Award.Photo by Wynne AdlardBy Sister Debi Warr, WebSite Content Editor

A beautiful, bright African day, August 16, 2010, will be remembered as a day the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took a giant step out of obscurity in the African community.  That is the day the Africa Southeast Area Office of the Church hosted dignitaries and representatives from the community likewise engaged in that most important work, “Strengthening the Family.”  Before an audience of more than 200 honored guests, including numerous government and media officials, Mrs. Albertina Sisulu was awarded the Family Value Award, and Mr. Malusi Gigaba, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa, was honored for his work in the fight against pornography.  Elder Paul E. Koelliker of the Seventy and Africa Southeast Area President presided over the event. In attendance, also, were Elders F. Michael Watson and Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy, Counselors in the Area Presidency.

Endulini, home of the Africa Southeast Area Office in Johannesburg, South Africa, was the setting for the program. Musical Items which included energetic renditions of traditional African sacred music and hymns shared and loved by members of other Christian religions as well as Latter-day Saints were performed by the majestic Thulas Nkabinde’s SABC Choir. The music set the spirit for an afternoon focused on the basic values necessary to strengthen homes which then strengthen our society. The printed program, in fact, shared the vision stated on the “Family, A Proclamation to the World” pamphlet: “The strength of any nation is rooted within the walls of its homes. We urge people everywhere to strengthen their families in conformity with time-honored values.”

Caption: Back row L to R: Elder Taylor Mortensen, Thomas Mahlo, Elder Tyrell Jones, Elder Tapiwa Makosa, Brother James Manzini, Elder Klane Forsgren and Elder Philip C. Pubsley. Front row: in the front Mohale Sekgota, Desiree Blessie, Nelly Sebashe, Daisy Sekgota, and Stephen Sebopetsa (principal of Motupa school).By Sister Eva Kaye Forsgren

The Motupakgomo Primary School, in Motupa Village, northeastern South Africa, recently received 900 book bags with learning material in them from the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  There were over 150 parents of students in attendance.  The hand-over of the bags was conducted in the playing field of the school.  Mr. Steven Sebopetsa, the principle of Motupakgomo Primary School, was the officiator of the program.

Elder Tawanda Calton Chikonye, a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave the opening prayer.  Aaron Mokgabuki, chairman of the school board, spoke saying,” Thank you so much for coming and helping us, we so appreciate it , these bags will add to our education and help us to read and write.”  Mr. Sebopetsa was grateful to the church and happy for the response of the parents.  He said “we will call on these people and they can call on us for anything in the future.”

Also in attendance was the Motupa Circuit Manager, Lawrence Makgato and two local editors of the Letabe Herald, Mopani Herald and Phalaborwa Herald, Cathrine Mawila and Tonia Rikhotso.  They took pictures and names of those participating in the ceremony.