General conference DVD blesses African Latter-day Saints
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More than 900 Mormons in the Africa West Area traveled to their local meetinghouses on Nov. 1 to listen to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speak in general conference. Although general conference took place at the beginning of October, for many Church members throughout the world, watching general conference live is difficult because of time differences and other technical details. For this reason, they gather together in meetinghouses to watch the DVD version of general conference.
Although a short time lapse has occurred since the live conference, members recognize the importance of attending and are strengthened as they hear the words of the living prophet and apostles.
"Members who have come to the DVD viewing of conference and heard the prophet and apostles have felt the Spirit," said President Francis Nmeribe, of the Aba Nigeria Stake. "Many have specifically said that it feels as if they are in the real life presence of the prophet of the Lord."
Although Mormon Church members have been watching conference this way for years, a specific day was designated by leaders in the Africa West Area to watch the DVD of conference. Members attending the DVD conference session in the Aba Nigeria Stake on Nov. 1 watched conference projected on the wall in their meetinghouse.
Each year increasing numbers of people attend, making the DVD viewing a highly anticipated event, President Nmeribe said.
"I feel it must be spiritually uplifting to them, as it is to me, as we have steadily increased attendance to the DVD viewing of general conference. It has been heartwarming for me to have our members come to listen to the prophet. The increasing attendance over time has encouraged my hope that our people would grow better in the gospel as they have the prophet confirm, reaffirm and sustain and improve the little efforts we are making to teach our people the gospel of Jesus Christ."
For many Church members in the area, the DVD conference viewing day has become a way to do more than strengthen their own testimonies; it is also a great venue for doing missionary work.
He said that a man of another faith was invited to the general conference DVD viewing. "At the end of the event, he was reported to have said, 'This is the first Sunday in my life that I spent my time in a worthwhile venture. ...' " President Nmeribe explained.
President Nmeribe said that general conference over the years has been a time for him to strengthen his testimony to guide him in his personal and leadership responsibilities and is a time to learn more of the principles, doctrines and ordinances of the gospel, and to appreciate the guidance it gives from the words of the Church leaders. He said he hopes to take the lessons he learned from watching general conference and apply them to his life, and hopes the members do the same.
"I hope our stake members learn and feel that the Church is true and [are] encouraged and prepared to make the sacrifices unto repentance and attraction of the blessings of Heavenly Father for themselves and their posterity."
