Special Youth Devotional in Kinshasa

Hundreds of youth gathered in Kinshasa on Saturday to hear Elder Dale G. Renlund, a member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, address a special devotional ahead of the dedication ceremony of the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple.

Elder Renlund and his wife, Ruth Renlund, were joined by jubilant youth who beamed with appreciation as they received counsel about the historic significance of having a temple in Kinshasa.

For many years Latter-day Saints from The Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries have had to travel to Johannesburg or elsewhere to attend the temple, almost always under great financial cost and sacrifice.

However, their prayers were answered in 2011 when the Church announced plans to build a temple in Kinshasa.

Speaking prior to the Youth Devotion, Elder Renlund said: “It is an amazing blessing to have the temple in Kinshasa. Members will no longer have to travel far to receive the blessings of the temple.”

The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple is the 163^rd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide, and the fourth operating temple on the African continent.

Five more temples are in various stages of planning or construction for the African cities of Durban, South Africa; Harare, Zimbabwe; Nairobi, Kenya; Lagos, Nigeria, and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

In his remarks, Elder Renlund also said that:

“The blessings of the temple are found in the ordinances performed therein. When we (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are endowed, we covenant to follow Jesus Christ’s example and dedicate our whole life to Him.” The endowment is one of the special ordinances performed in the temple and is considered a great blessing by members of the Church.

Last month the Kinshasa Temple was a beehive of activity as it hosted a near month-long public open house which was attended by more than 11,000 visitors, including Church members and their friends. 

The Africa Southeast Area Presidency also hosted a one-day special Guests and Media Day, which gave members of the press and leaders of government, business and diverse religious organizations an opportunity to tour the temple before its dedication.

The dedication, which will be attended by hundreds of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and broadcasted live to meetinghouses across the country, is scheduled for this Sunday.

After the dedication, the temple grounds will remain open for the public to enjoy.

One of the invited youths said, “I know that the temple is the house of God. When we go there, we find peace.”

On Sunday Elder Renlund, and Sister Renlund, will lead a cornerstone ceremony which signifies the temple’s completion and readiness to be dedicated for sacred use.

Saturday’s youth devotional was in every way a joyful celebration to welcome a consecrated edifice in the heart of Kinshasa, a sacred place that will stand as a beacon of faith to many generations of Latter-day Saints in Central Africa.