Members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, welcomed about 50 members of the public to an open house held at the local meetinghouse on Saturday 28 May.
The town, also known as Bishoftu, has about 300,000 people and is home to the third branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the country of Ethiopia. “Finished in 2013, the Debre Zeit chapel quickly became the centre of much attention among the citizens of the town,” said Joseph Nelson, a missionary serving in the Ethiopia Addis Ababa mission.
“The local church leaders, with support from area government authorities, opened the gates this Saturday to all interested people with the intent of allowing everyone to learn more.”
Visitors-make-their-way-on-the-church-premises-in-Debre-Zeit,-Ethiopia-on-May-28,-2022.-
Visitors make their way on the church premises in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia on May 28, 2022. 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The youth of the branch worked alongside missionaries in the street, inviting pedestrians into the building. Church members, especially organizational leaders and recent converts led people throughout the church and explained different doctrines of the church at stations along the tour.
Aynad Burhanu, who joined the Church less than a month ago, said that he hoped this would garner more understanding about the Church and its doctrines for those who are curious. "Before joining the church, I had heard many rumours about what people claimed the church to be. However, after meeting with the missionaries and joining the church, I learned these rumours weren't true. Through this open house I hope people were able to understand the true doctrine that this church teaches."
Misak-Mohammed-of-the-Debre-Zeit-Branch-Presidency-speaks-to-a-small-group-of-visiting-people.-Elder-Kejela-(to-his-left)-translates-from-Amharic,-the-national-language-of-Ethiopia,-to-Oromoo,-the-native-language-of-the-visitors-(May-28,-20220).-
Misak Mohammed of the Debre Zeit Branch Presidency speaks to a small group of visiting people. Elder Kejela (to his left) translates from Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia, to Oromoo, the native language of the visitors (May 28, 20220). 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Yetimwork Getachew Asfew, a long-time member of the Church who participated in the event, said, "The open house went very well. There were many people who came. It was great to be able to teach them the gospel and it was a miracle that people were learning about the gospel through us."
President Robert Dudfield, who oversees the Ethiopia Addis Ababa Mission, said that a “miracle moment followed as the community members and missionaries came together to invite the community to the chapel. The missionaries spent the entire following day teaching people who had attended the open house.”
To find out more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or to find the meetinghouse closest to you, visit: www.comeuntochrist.org