A
lot of people stumble upon this little URL looking for information about the
LDS Church in Ethiopia. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, I was excited and nervous to move to Ethiopia and attend Church there.
I had been to one of the branches several times, but I wasn't sure how it would compare to my upbringing as a Mormon in Ethiopia. I know it also was one of the things my family thought about when I got ready to move.
I Love attending Church in Ethiopia. Serving there. Worshiping with my Ethiopian Brothers and sisters.
Here you will find some of the official number and info from the Church website. FAQ's and my personal experiences.
Ethiopia
Updated on 02 April 2011
The first members in Ethiopia were expatriates attached to embassies who held Church meetings in homes in Addis Ababa. In March 1985 Church Apostle Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy visited Addis Ababa with Church relief supplies. The Church donated some $2.8 million for famine relief and irrigation development in Ethiopia and neighboring countries, such as Sudan.
The Kenya Nairobi Mission, which includes Ethiopia, was created in 1991, and the first official Church meeting was held in Addis Ababa in August 1992. In 1993 the Church was legally registered and the first missionary couple arrived. In February 1993 the first missionaries arrived, Elder Eugene and Sister Ruth Hilton. The Church was legally registered on 16 September 1993.
The Addis Ababa Branch (a small congregation) was created in January 1994 and was presided over by Girma Denisa. He was the first Ethiopian to serve the Church as a full-time missionary.
A representative from Ethiopia attended the lighting ceremony for the 1995 Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center in 1995. Ethiopia was among some 50 nations represented at the widely publicized event.
Members from Ethiopia traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to see President Gordon B. Hinckley when he visited there on 17 February 1998.
In 2003 the Church donated several thousand tons of food to famine victims in Ethiopia.
Membership: 1,125Congregations: 4
On Sunday November 15, 2009 Ethiopia was officially formed into a District under the Uganda Kampala Mission. Members of the Church from all over the country came to the Megenagna Church building where the official organization of the district took place. Many of my friends who were in attendance said it was great meeting and an amazing day for Ethiopian Members of the Church.
If
any of you know where the press release of this information can be found PLEASE
send me the link. I
looked everywhere for it.
1. How do I get to the LDS Church in Addis?
Print
this off and hand it to your taxi driver.....No seriously... Please do. Adam
made a little map coming off of Ring Road to Megenagna circle.
The
way the roads and streets are in Ethiopia, I couldn't explain it to you well
enough that you could explain it in English to a driver who might barely speak
English.
Official
Address (which means very little)
Megenagna Branch
Wereda 17, Kebele 24, Megangna, ETHIOPIA
The Building from above as seen on wikimapia
2. What time does Church Start?
Currently
Church services start at 9:00am Church services are conducted in Amharic &
English.
3. How many Branches are there? What is the structure like?
There
are 4 official branches in Ethiopia.
- Meganagna- Is located near the Airpport in Addis Ababa. Here the Branch meets in a church building. The Branch is the easiest to attend for visitors due to its proximity to the center of town.
- Beklobet- Is technically still in Addis Ababa, in the Beklobet neighborhood. The Beklobet branch meets in a House that is rendted by the LDS Church specifically for church meetings.The Beklobet branch is significantly smaller than Meganagna and is the branch where most Expatriate Members of the Church attend, due to its proximity to the US embassy and the housing for embassy families and other Expats working for USAID.
- Debre Zeit- is the Branch that Adam grew up in. Well once it was a branch. Adam's Uncle Ashebir served as the Branch President until last year when he was asked to serve in District Counsel. The Debre Zeit Branch is the largest branch in Ethiopia. They meet currently in a home with property that is has been rented for the last several years for Church worship. The Branch installed a larger covered meeting space outside to hold Sacrament meetings and Gospel Doctrine classes. Smaller classes take place in the home on the property. The current branch building has a fount installed for baptisms.
Debre Zeit has a LARGE Branch Building that is under construction.
I can't wait for it to be finished. IT will be a beauty for the city and a
blessing for the members of the Church. The completion date continues to
change, but here is the latest article about the new building which
showcases Adam's uncle Ashebir and his Aunt Hiwot!
- Awassa- The Awassa branch is the smallest and youngest branch in Ethiopia. I attended the Awassa branch while working in Shashamane, Ethiopia. the branch there meets in a Home that the Church rents Church services. The Awassa branch received its first set of full time missionaries in summer of 2010. Before there were full time missionaries in the area, missionaries serving in Debre Zeit would rotate down to Awassa for a week at a time.
Missionaries
also supervise a growing group in Wondo Genet where they are authorized to hold
Sacrament Meeting. Currently there is also a group that meets in Shashamane for
lessons on Sunday. Though this is not an organized Sacrament Meeting, it helps
members get together who have a hard time making it to the Awassa branch due to
transportation cost and challenges.
4. How many member of the Church are there?
According
to the latest LDS news report. Membership: 1,125
Humanitarian and Proselyting Missionaries serve in Ethiopian in several cities working hard to spread the gospel.
Humanitarian and Proselyting Missionaries serve in Ethiopian in several cities working hard to spread the gospel.
5. What is Church like in Ethiopia?
Church is AMAZING in Ethiopia. There is such a feeling of love and
belonging. The services are conducted in either English or Amharic and
translated into the other language. The Ethiopians people are a kind and humble
people. They love to welcome visitors to their services and may ask you to
teach a lesson or speak in Sacrament meeting. They enjoy meeting other members
of their faith, learning from their experiences and feel strength in sharing
testimonies.
6. Where is the nearest Temple?
The
members in Ethiopia attend the temple in Accra
Ghana. Yearly a temple trip is made from the district to the temple.
Families that are going to be sealed, couples and single member of the Church
go on the temple trip together.
The Temple trip is organized by the District and some of the expense is paid through the Temple Trip fund of the Church. Donations to this fund can be made by members all over the world. The temple trips last about 5-7 days. Members stay in on site housing designed for temple visitors. Endowed members of the Church attend as many sessions as possible and participate in other Ordinances. Youth that are going to be sealed to their families participate in baptisms for the dead. At night the members on the trip cook together, play games and enjoy time together.
The Temple trip is organized by the District and some of the expense is paid through the Temple Trip fund of the Church. Donations to this fund can be made by members all over the world. The temple trips last about 5-7 days. Members stay in on site housing designed for temple visitors. Endowed members of the Church attend as many sessions as possible and participate in other Ordinances. Youth that are going to be sealed to their families participate in baptisms for the dead. At night the members on the trip cook together, play games and enjoy time together.
7. Are all the Church Materials Translated?
Not all materials of
the Church are translated. In Ethiopia the official language is Amharic.
In addition to Amharic there are dozens of indigenous or tribal languages. Many
of the Church materials are translated.
The
Bible & the Book of Mormon are translated.
The
Priesthood Manuel
Latter-day
Saint Woman A & B
The
Young Woman Manual A
Currently the Doctrine and Covenants is being translated in Ethiopia and being crosschecked in the US. Once it is approved and published it will open the door for other materials to be translated.
8. Do people serve missions?
Many
members of the Church choose to serve missions. Members who choose to serve are
asked to serve with Full Time Missionaries in a neighboring branch for a
Month before their mission papers are officially submitted. Members from
Ethiopia are generally called to serve in other African Nations. They attend
the MTC in Ghana where they are able to attend the temple and are trained to
serve as missionaries.
