Elder Stevenson concludes his Apostolic Ministry in East Africa this afternoon following his visit to Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. It is well befitting that he would conclude his visit to East Africa by visiting the wonderful nation of Tanzania with the saints eager to learn from him and draw from his strength and special witness of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He was accompanied by his wife Sister Lesa Jean Higley, a member of the Area Presidency of the Africa South East Area; Elder Joseph Sitati and his wife Sister Gladys Nangoni, and the Mission President with stewardship over Tanzania President Sibongiseni Ephraim Msane and his wife Sister Nomthandazo Salvatoris.
This historic visit in Tanzania started with a special Missionary Meeting on 21St February 2019 at 2PM to which twenty-two fulltime missionaries currently serving in Tanzania in the cities of Dar Es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza were invited. It was a very intimate encounter with the Apostle for the missionaries in attendance as Elder Stevenson rearranged the chairs in the venue to allow him to minister closely to the young missionaries in a small semi-circle arrangement in which every missionary present was within close sight and hearing. The missionary meeting centered on the divine role that missionaries have; to bear the name of Jesus Christ and invite all men everywhere to follow Him. Elder Stevenson blessed the missionaries that they may have increased faith and testimony to accomplish their sacred duty.
Following the missionary meeting, Elder Stevenson, Elder Sitati and President Zabron Mwaipopo the District President in Tanzania held a brief press conference in which journalists from several local television, print, radio and online media outlets were briefed on this historic visit and invited to ask questions. The first question asked was “what is the difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all other churches?” to which Elder Stevenson answered in two parts: One, that as a Church we share many common characteristics with other Christian churches and we believe that all mankind are Sons and Daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. Two, that the Church is different from other churches, in part, because it is established on a foundation of a living prophet President Russell M. Nelson and twelve apostles just as it was when Jesus Christ established His church in the New Testament times and just as it was in the old testament when prophets such as Abraham, Noah, Enoch were called and ordained as God’s messengers to His children.
The ministry ended with a Special Member Meeting that ran from 5-7PM attended by members of the Church in Tanzania and invited quests. Elder Stevenson exhorted the members to continue to hold on to their testimony and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He bore special witness of the Lord, the reality of the restoration of the Gospel and the continuation of revelation through the Lord’s anointed servant, the prophet. He pronounced an apostolic blessing upon all the members who attended, upon their children and posterity that they would be blessed with strong faith and testimony on the Jesus Christ and upon the great nation of Tanzania that peace and prosperity would prevail.