Africa's 'Mormon superstar' is first black African LDS general authority (OPEN)

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | April 16, 2009 | Peggy Fletcher Stack

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Joseph Sitati grew up as a Quaker in Nairobi, Kenya, but felt no great affection for the faith. Its sermons were too political, he felt, leaving him thirsty for spiritual satisfaction.

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Some 23 years later, Sitati, a Mormon superstar in Kenya, has now arrived where Carmack was -- in the First Quorum of Seventy. He is the first black African to join that august body, the church's second most important tier of leaders.

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The appointment is also symbolically important.

After all, the LDS Church did not allow men of African descent anywhere to be ordained to its all-male priesthood until 1978. Missionary work did not begin among black Africans until after that.

Now there are more than 250,000 African members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across 27 countries.

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During his two decades in the LDS Church, Sitati has seen explosive church growth in his home continent, including the building of temples in Accra, Ghana, and Aba, Nigeria. The Nigerian missionaries he supervises are baptizing someone every three weeks, with 60 percent retention.

"The people of Africa actively seek to know the truth," he said. "This is very fertile ground for Mormonism."

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It does not bother him that the church barred blacks from the priesthood until 1978.

"Christ came only to the Jews and not until the end of his mission did he commission the apostles to go to all the world," he said. "Different communities are invited to participate in the plan of salvation at different times. What is important is that the salvation to which they are invited is the same. It doesn't matter that the Jews were the first, if you like, and the Africans are the last."

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"The population of Africa has grown exponentially over the past century, and consequently shows a large youth bulge, further reinforced by a low life expectancy of below 50 years in most African countries.

The total population of Africa is estimated at 922 million (as of 2005)."

Demographics of Africa

Explosive growth with 250 thousand members in a population of 922 million?

[greyfoxx39]

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[Hoosier-Daddy]

Does he get his own planet now?

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[Marysecretary]

If Africans are seeking truth, they won’t find it in Mormonism.

[greyfoxx39]

Does he get his own planet now?

Yep. Complete with hot and cold running cureloms and cumoms. (Book of Mormon, Ether 9:19)

[Tennessee Nana]

the LDS Church did not allow men of African descent anywhere to be ordained to its all-male priesthood until 1978. Missionary work did not begin among black Africans until after that.
______________________________________

150 years till the mormons “allow” black MEN to belong to their clique..

Then another 30 until black MEN could be in low leadership over other black MEN...

and right now the mishies have discovered the South...

and WOMEN...

Lately they have been bothering my friends and neighbors at an alarming rate...

Even I got a “visit” after living here for 23 years and being sadly neglected..

One of my Christian friends asked me yesterday about the mormon beliefs..

The mishies have picked her out to be an “investigator” and apparantly she asked them some pointed questions that they couldnt or wouldnt answer...

So much for “ya already KNOW MORE than THEM”

[aMorePerfectUnion]

It is worth noting that this religion, mormonism, has its own church offices, like the Quorum of 70, which Christianity does not have, since they are not offices Christ gave to the Church.

I don’t have any problem with these kinds of religions making up whatever they want - like the secret mormonism handshakes and secret underwear. Their religion, their stuff (exposed or hidden).

ampu

[ejonesie22]

You are not telling the whole truth, which should be expected I guess.

You cite total population numbers not Mormon numbers.

All 250,000 Mormons in Africa Are Mormons, so they are at 100 percent growth among Mormons in Africa if you count the total number of African Mormons.

Indeed over the next decade every new Mormon in Africa will be an African Mormon so growth among African Mormons will remain at 100%.

You just use your “population” numbers to mislead and misdirect once again.

SOP for you “haters’....

-Incensed Mormon Guy...

[Tennessee Nana]

And every one of those 250,000 have gummy smiles...

How else do you explain “the building of temples in Accra, Ghana, and Aba, Nigeria” ????

:)

[Tennessee Nana]

“You see some classes of the human family that are BLACK, UNCOUTH, UNCOMELY, DISAGREEABLE and LOW in their habits, WILD, and seemingly DEPRIVED OF NEARLY ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THE INTELLIGENCE that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been KILLED, and THAT WOULD HAVE PUT A TERMINATION TO THAT LINE OF HUMAN BEINGS. This was not to be, and the Lord put A MARK upon him, which is THE FLAT NOSE AND BLACK SKIN. Trace mankind down to after the flood, and then another curse is pronounced upon the same race — that they should be the “servants of servants;” and they will be, until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree.” LDS “Prophet” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 290, 1859

“Though he was a rebel and an ASSOCIATE OF LUCIFER IN PRE-EXISTENCE, ...Cain managed to attain the privilege of mortal birth.... [H]e came out in open rebellion, fought God, worshiped Lucifer, and slew Abel.... AS A RESULT OF HIS REBELLION, CAIN WAS CURSED WITH A DARK SKIN; HE BECAME THE FATHER OF THE NEGROES, and THOSE SPIRITS WHO ARE NOT WORTHY to receive the priesthood are born through his lineage.” LDS “Apostle” Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 108-109, 1966 edition. 1

[Tennessee Nana]

“Negroes IN THIS LIFE are denied the priesthood; UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty.” LDS “Apostle” Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527, 1966 edition, emphasis added. (See also LDS Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 1:20-27)

“Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became THE FATHER OF AN INFERIOR RACE. A curse was placed upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so WHILE TIME ENDURES. Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a BLACK SKIN and have been DENIED THE PRIVILEGE OF PRIESTHOOD and the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel. These are the descendants of Cain. Moreover, they have been made to FEEL THEIR INFERIORITY and have been SEPARATED from the rest of mankind from the beginning. Enoch saw the people of Canaan, descendants of Cain, and he says, ‘and there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were DESPISED AMONG ALL PEOPLE.’” LDS “Prophet” Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, pp. 101-102, 1931

“In the kingdom of God ON THE EARTH THE AFFRICANS (sic) CANNOT HOLD ONE PARTICAL (sic) OF POWER IN GOVERNMENT [within the LDS church].” LDS “Prophet Brigham Young, Brigham Young Addresses

“When all the other children of Adam have had the privilege of receiving the Priesthood, and of coming into the kingdom of God, and of being redeemed from the four quarters of the earth, and HAVE RECEIVED THEIR RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, then it will be time enough to remove the curse from Cain and his posterity.” LDS “Prophet” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 143, 1854

[ejonesie22]

They gave those fillings willingly, who are we as the more educated and wealthy to question their “gift”.

Besides despite they fact we have billions in the bank it would be an insult for us to not receive gifts in order to build a temple..

And we offer a great interest rate on the balance as well...

You haters are always looking to blame your weakness on others....

[Alex Murphy]

He is the first black African to join that august body, the church's second most important tier of leaders....the LDS Church did not allow men of African descent anywhere to be ordained to its all-male priesthood until 1978. Missionary work did not begin among black Africans until after that....It does not bother him that the church barred blacks from the priesthood until 1978.

Consider that blacks were (according to Mormon history) excluded from membership in the Melchizidek priesthood and from related Temple ceremonies, from the time of Cain (when black people came into existence in their system) until 1978 a.d. That would mean their lack of participation in the above effectively and decisively denied them any knowledge of the spiritual "keys" that would permit them entry into the "Celestial Heaven" after death.

That would mean that according to Mormonism, no black person ever entered into Celestial Heaven prior to 1978 a.d. (at least not without the aid of a non-black Mormon doing good works on their behalf posthumously), if my understanding, conjecture, and extrapolation is correct.

[ejonesie22]

God edit that out some years ago (just a few minutes in his time). He changed his mind, after all he is only human...

[ejonesie22]

Tsk Tsk...

You have not ‘learned” anything, you present just half the story.

Sad that you have to quote LDS works and leaders in order to make your self feel better.

If you would just keep reading and learn more before you misrepresent the truth faith of God(s). You would then understand why what you quote is wrong unless we tell you it is right despite the fact it was actually written/said.

The blatant misuse of actual quotes and such grows tiring...

-Incensed Mormon Guy

[Tennessee Nana]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Thank you for explaining that...

That was deep...

:)

[colorcountry]

Your understanding is correct, I believe.

And you are right that some lucky, white and delightsome Mormon is able to now do the saving Temple ordinances for all those black people who lived before 1978. I wonder how actively Mormons are doing genealogy research in African Nations?

[greyfoxx39]

I wonder how actively Mormons are doing genealogy research in African Nations?

Weren't we recently informed that the missionary effort is "going where the harvest is"? That surely includes genealogy research...however...I have to wonder how you do that research in an area that as far as I know has a population that until possibly recently was/is mostly illiterate.

What records could be researched?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Isn’t the entire Mormon religion based on what those former leaders wrote or said? But now we can’t quote them because they weren’t right? Please explain?