News Story

Apostle Counsels Hundreds in East Africa

Apostle David A. Bednar was in Kampala and Nairobi on 22nd and 23rd January 2014 and counseled over 3000 members of the Mormon Church who attended special adult conferences in the two cities on the importance of family.

Elder David A. Bednar was ordained and set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7 October 2004. Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Bednar served as an Area Seventy, Area Authority Seventy, Regional Representative, twice as a stake president, and as a bishop.

As a special witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder Bednar is a strong defender of the institution of family and travels around the world counseling people to protect and honor it. In the two meetings he held in East Africa, he interacted with the adult members of the Church who asked him questions regarding family and marriage. “We need to become more diligent and concerned at home as we express love – and consistently show it,” he has observed.

On this trip he (Elder Bednar) was accompanied by Elder L. Whitney Clayton who assists him in supervising the Africa Southeast and Africa West Areas of the Church. President Dale G. Renlund, the Africa Southeast Area President and his counselors Elder Carl B. Cook and Elder Kevin Hamilton, and Area Seventies Elder Hesbon Usi and Elder Jackson Mkhabela were also in attendance and shared their insights on the importance of family.  

Kenya and Uganda have over 50 congregations of the Church with over 20,000 members.

A married sister liked Elder Bednar's suggestion that parents should develop a gospel culture in their homes which starts by praying together. A single mother was impressed by the counsel that consistency in teaching children was important. 

A former Branch President in Uganda who attended one of the meetings noted, "This is the first time to be at a meeting with five General Authorities. Elder Bednar is a great teacher and has a great sense of humor."

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