Africa Area Branch opens doors

BENIN CITY, NIGERIA - The Benin 9th Branch, created a year ago with 11 members, now has an average attendance of 140. The branch's growth has come because its members are very missionary-minded, said branch Pres. Duke Igbinedion.

      Members participated in a recent branch open house that brought many people into the meetinghouse and resulted in a number of referrals, said Pres. Douglas Alston of the Nigeria Lagos Mission.

      At the open house, guests, greeted by missionaries and members, enjoyed displays, various Church videos, and listened to presentations about gospel principles. Philippines/Micronesia Area New offices dedicated

      MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The new Manila Philippines Area Church Administration Office Building was dedicated recently by Elder Vaughn J Featherstone of the Seventy and Philippines/Micronesia Area president.

      The building will be "the Lord's center of operations in the Philippines," Elder Featherstone said. "We will administrate the Church in the Philippines from this great place." Elders Ben B. Banks and Augusto A. Lim of the Seventy, counselors in the area presidency, also participated in the dedicatory service.

      The building, which has a simple yet durable architecture, is located across from the Manila Temple and houses all offices of the area including the area presidency.

      Government and civic officials - including Speaker Jose De Vencia of the House of Representatives and Metro Manila Authority Chairman, and Muntinlupa Mayor Ignacio Bunye - toured the facility during an open house of the building.

      De Vencia commented: "We are very proud that you are expanding, communicating and achieving all in the name of the Lord."

      Europe Area Chernobyl children hosted

      MONCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - Children affected by the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Russia, were entertained by members of the Monchengladbach Branch of the Duesseldorf Germany Stake. In the service project, branch members held an open house and provided games, activities, food and music for about 90 children and their host families. The children were temporarily staying in the area during their recuperation from sicknesses caused by the disaster.

      Pacific Area Appears on television

      SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Missionary work here received a boost Nov. 20 when all 229 centimeters (7-foot-6-inches) of Elder Shawn Bradley of the Australia Sydney Mission appeared on one of Australia's popular television news programs. Elder Bradley was interviewed about his community service project, that of visiting schools and encouraging young people to avoid drugs and alcohol. He also explained why he turned down a $5 million offer to play professional basketball in Sydney and instead chose to continue his missionary work.

      Viewers also saw clips of Elder Bradley tracting in a suburb and of him talking with local youth gangs in downtown Sydney to encourage them to stay away from petty crime and drug abuse.

      "I just hope I can be an example of someone who's living his life successfully without all those things that can wreck your life," he said.

      Television news reporter Janet Gibson said it was a pleasure to work with Elder Bradley. "He has such a pleasant disposition and he was so professional in the way he dealt with the assignment," she said. "There were many at the station who were very impressed by his sincerity."

      North America West Area Library receives gift

PASADENA, CALIF. - The Pasadena California Stake recently presented a copy of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism to the world-renowned McAlister Library at the Fuller Theological Seminary here.

      Stake Pres. Bruce G. McGregor presented the five-volume encyclopedia, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, to the library's director, John Dickason.

      Pres. McGregor explained, "We trust the encyclopedia will assist in some small measure the students in their studies of various religions."

      Dickason said, "The McAlister Library endeavors to collect important primary and secondary works of various religious traditions. This encyclopedia is a major contribution to our understanding of Mormon heritage and thought, and we thank LDS leaders for this meaningful gift."

North America Central Area Youth standards dramatized

      CARDSTON, ALBERTA - Seven wards in the Cardston Alberta West Stake recently presented roadshows based on topics from the booklet For the Strength of Youth. Young actors and actresses applied the Lord's standards to a variety of real-life situations involving dating, speech, dress, music and dance. The message was captured in advice given by 14-year-old Armes Perrett of the Mountain View Ward during one skit: "When in doubt, consult the book!"

      North America Northeast Area Teddy bears for tots in trauma

      MIDLAND, MICH. - The Relief Society of the Midland 2nd Ward, Midland Michigan Stake, made and then donated teddy bears to the Midland Fire Department to give to children involved in traumatic situations. The bears, 50 in all, were donated as part of the ward's Relief Society sesquicentennial project. About 40 women helped sew the teddy bears.

      North America Southeast Area LDS books donated

      NAUSAU, BAHAMAS - The library of the College of the Bahamas has a collection of LDS works, thanks to the recent efforts of a missionary couple and a former branch president.

      Elder Lynn B. and Sister Georgia K. Evans from Salt Lake City collected the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Jesus the Christ, The Miracle of Forgiveness, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, and The Articles of Faith for presentation to the library. The presentation was arranged by Antoine Ferrier, former branch president for 13 years, and was made by the current branch president, Edward Smith.

      Elder and Sister Evans are serving in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. Utah Central Area Young women cook dinner

      WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH - Young women in the Copperhill 4th Ward, Salt Lake Hunter Copperhill Stake, recently cooked a turkey dinner for 30 children at the Salt Lake Ronald McDonald House.

      Susan Quist, Young Women president, said 24 Beehives, MIA Maids and Laurels, plus six Young Women leaders prepared the dinner.

"The girls had the opportunity to visit some of the children that were under treatment at Primary Children's Medical Center, some with terminal illnesses," she said. "They were so touched by these children and their parents, and for the courage they had to carry on despite their sicknesses." The Ronald McDonald House is a chain of charitable facilities near hospitals that provide accommodations for families of seriously ill patients.

      Utah South Area Clear trail to historic site

      ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Members of the Red Hills Ward, St. George Utah College Stake, recently helped clear the trail leading to a historic monument at Mountain Meadows in southwest Utah.

      About 60 members of the Single Adult ward converged on the site with rakes, shovels, hoes and wheelbarrows and cleared the trail and area surrounding the monument within a couple of hours.

      Bishop Jay Ence said he was "amazed at how much work was accomplished in such a short time."

      Readers from around the world are invited to submit news items and photos for this feature on Church events worldwide. Submissions should include a telephone number of someone who can be contacted for additional information. Items should be mailed to Church News, "From Around the World," P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110. Fax No. (801) 237-2121.