The Church has great hope for its future in Nigeria, but some would add that Nigeria has a greater hope for its future with the Church.

Such optimism may seem misplaced in a nation where Church membership is a diminutive .03 percent of the estimated 111 million population. Yet, both seasoned Church leaders who have grappled with the challenges of Africa and local members who experience these challenges on a daily basis express this hope.The Church's first members were baptized in Nigeria in 1979, and since that time membership has grown to more than 34,124 members in eight stakes, 11 districts and three missions.

The stakes are Lagos, Benin East, Benin South, Umuaiha, Aba, Port Harcourt, Eket and Etinan. During this period of rapid growth, acquiring property for meetinghouses has proved a major but difficult effort for the Church.

And although the Church has many humanitarian efforts in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, those efforts are kept carefully separate from the ecclesiastical side so that no dependency is fostered. Leaders emphasize that the Church in Nigeria is the same as the Church in any other country.

One of the most optimistic views regarding the Church's role in the future of Nigeria is offered by Elder James O. Mason of the Seventy, president of the Africa Area. He is a former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and officer of the U.S. Public Health Service.

"The opportunities for the Church here are infinite," said Elder Mason. "We baptize 3,500 people a year in Nigeria and we have a high retention rate. We have grown from three to eight stakes in the last 18 months. Nigeria has the potential to become a Philippines or a Brazil in terms of Church growth."

However, he noted, "we are still building the foundation here. Once it is built, the growth will be more rapid."

Elder Mason explained that the Church is growing in cities where wards and stakes are established "to put those pilings down deeper. We don't even have full-time missionaries assigned to some stakes, yet they continue to grow."

He said President Gordon B. Hinckley's recent visit was a miracle, and it was "significant for him to visit the most populous country in Africa where the Church is growing most rapidly."

He said that while there are some problems with crime in Nigeria, "for every dishonest person, there are 999 honest people of integrity. They are a clean, deeply religious, very spiritual and Christ-loving people."

Nigerians are also busy, energetic people for whom religion is an integral part of life. They are a seeking people whose teeming masses fill the roadsides, the market places, and centers of worship. Some estimate that 80 percent of the Nigerians attend weekly worship services. Religious slogans are written on vehicles and businesses. Nigerians love to pray and engage frequently in this practice. They seem always ready to learn more about religion, said Pres. George C. Pingree, president of the Nigeria Port Harcourt mission, a Salt Lake City ophthalmologist.

"In two and a half years, I have never had one person turn me down on a referral," said Pres. Pingree. "They all want to hear about the gospel.

"They are interested in religion and they are an extremely spiritual people, and so eager to know the truth. For that reason, the Church is growing here very, very fast."

He said typical sacrament meeting attendance in the wards and branches of Nigeria is between 60 to 80 percent, and retention of new converts is high.

He said the greatest gift he has received in Nigeria is the love of the people. "They are such a good people."

Sister Anne Pingree, a former Relief Society general board member, commented that she is most impressed by "the example of the Nigerian Saints' faith and courage and deep spirituality. Their whole lives are focused in Christ and in spiritual things.

"They have taught me so much about faith and hope under very difficult conditions, yet the joy of the gospel radiates from their countenances. We feel privileged to have been a part of the dawning of a brighter day for the people in Nigeria."

Many converts in Nigeria are young men, many of whom serve missions within a few years of their conversions. Their lives change dramatically as they begin missionary service, a stark contrast with local conditions.

"I really believe these young men will be the leaders of West Africa," said Pres. Pingree. "No one else is training young men to be leaders - no one else is prepared to lead in these countries. Missionaries come from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and all parts of Nigeria. Women are also serving in missions."

After their missionary service, the young people return to their homes and become leaders in the Church.

However, they face many challenges. Marriage is more difficult in Nigeria because traditionally a handsome dowry is expected by the bride's family from the groom. This is paid to the bride's family and to her village and village chieftain.

Often, men work for 10 years or longer to acquire a dowry, so men are typically older than their wives. In the Church, earlier marriage is encouraged but tradition makes this difficult.

In the male-dominated culture, women often do not attend school, said Sister Pingree. "Conversion has a great impact on women. Relief Society lessons teach them how to manage their homes, how to nurture their children. They attend literacy classes. This makes it possible for women to have their own testimonies, to learn about Jesus Christ, to say prayers, to be able to teach the scriptures to their children.

"One woman said to me: `Now I can read the letters my missionary son sends. Now I can read and I am not embarrassed.' "

Sister Pingree explained that "there is a kinder, gentler feeling in the homes when the gospel changes attitudes. Parents interact with children differently."

Pres. Nduka B. Ojaide of the Port Harcourt Nigeria Stake, a systems consultant for a computer training center, has served as stake president for about a year. He said that during that period, he has seen many people join the Church, and most have remained active.

"The only problem they have [in remaining active] is the problem of poverty," he said. "They tend to be weak, not because of the gospel, but because of the circumstances of their environment: they need food and they need employment. Those things lead them to fall into inactivity."

He said that in the past year, stake priesthood leaders have taken an active role in retention in response to President Hinckley's concerns.

This stake effort "has been very successful," he said. "I spend time talking to the people. When a leader takes time to speak to the members, they feel happy and confident, and that helps them to stay."

Another challenge priesthood leaders face is that of helping new converts shed their tribal customs and traditions and bring their lives to conform with the culture of the gospel.

"We have a lot of struggle with people bringing tribal beliefs," said Pres. Ojaide. "Africa has a lot customs and traditions, and most we learn from childhood, and they become a kind of habit.

"Those who accept the gospel have a transformation, but it takes a lot of time to leave some of these customs, because Africans have a lot of strong roots when it comes to family.

"Once you believe, you have to take your family along, and if you can't, it causes problems, because they will drag you back."

Pres. Ojaide noted that "I have seen and heard of members who have decided not to participate in some cultural activities that are against the tenets of the gospel of Christ. Their father and mother say, `This is supposed to bring pride to the family. Because you refuse to do this, you are no longer my son' or `You are no longer my daughter.'

"That creates a lot of pain, but some members have decided to do that. It is really very hard.

"But the members are definitely blessed for this sacrifice, because they are free from bondage, from the troubles that can come as the result of that cultural activity. This brings happiness and joy in their lives. In some instances, the parents have come to see the changes in their children and have accepted the gospel as well."

In his case, he said, he was the first in his family to hear about the Church, but his father was the first to be baptized.

"My family had stopped going to church for 10 years. They couldn't find satisfaction in church because the people lacked commitment. My family began searching for a church," he said.

"I found out about the Church from a friend . . . and told my father. He decided to go to the missionaries."

Pres. Ojaide said that his father didn't speak to the family, but began taking missionary lessons. The family learned about this for the first time one Saturday when he announced that he was being baptized.

"Everybody in the family was surprised," said Pres. Ojaide. "Everyone went and saw his baptism. Soon all the children were baptized. I was the last one, but when I was baptized, I knew the Church was true. Everything the missionaries taught me fell into place because it was just as if I had known most of these things before. It was what I was looking for but I couldn't find. That was the satisfaction I had."

One local member in Port Harcourt is Kenneth Opara Wobo, chairman of the United Nigerian Congress Party for the Rivers State.

He joined the Church after a strong impression directed him to the meetinghouse. He investigated the Church and was baptized. The gospel provided a powerful change in his life that included marriage to a Church member. His associates soon noticed the changes.

"I give credit to the Church," Brother Wobo said. "The gospel gives me the wisdom to manage the affairs. My associates have recognized the change in my management style, and my attitude as well. I am a new creature."

Serving as stake director of public affairs, Brother Wobo said he is trying to "disabuse the people's minds about the impressions they have of the Church, to help them get it right. We want to bring the Church out of obscurity. We need to do so much more."