Outreach in Africa: Primary General President Susan H. Porter Ministers in Four Nations

President Susan H. Porter of the Primary General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited four nations in Southeastern Africa for 9 days in August and September 2025. While there, President Porter — who also serves on two executive councils of the Church — ministered to Latter-day Saints of all ages, met with government, interfaith and humanitarian leaders, and participated in Primary children's service projects.

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While visiting with Beau-bassin and Rose Hill Mayor Gabriella Batour in Mauritius on Saturday, August 30, 2025, President Porter was struck by the 32-year-old leader’s focus on family.

“She told us she felt like the way to strengthen her community was to strengthen families,” President Porter said. “In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we make every effort to strengthen families. I loved when she said, ‘We’re going to try to create a protective shell around the families in our community so that they can stay together, help children thrive, and make our community strong.”

In Reunion on September 2, President Porter met with several interfaith and opinion leaders, including representatives of the Muslim, Bahá'í, Jewish and other Christian traditions.

“They were there to respect, to support, and to understand one another. It was remarkable,” President Porter said. “And I think that those types of activities are happening all over the world, where people of various faiths are saying, ‘We may have different beliefs, but we have a unified belief that we are all children of God. We want to make this world and this experience a place of peace and hope and safety.’”

In Lesotho on September 5, President Porter participated in a humanitarian project at the St. Louis Primary School where 300 pair of shoes were delivered to students. The Church of Jesus Christ had previously helped provide the school with a library, kitchen and restrooms.

After a tour of the campus, President Porter and others were met by a talented children’s choir led by a 10-year-old boy.

“As we were walking back, we saw this beautiful choir of children singing in parts,” she said. “And I looked to who was leading them, and it was a young boy. And he was bringing in the different parts and giving them dynamics. And I remarked to our hostess, who was the leader of this coalition of schools, ‘This is remarkable.’ And she said, ‘This is what we do to help create leaders.”

“I felt we were unified with their effort,” she reflected later, as helping children become leaders has been one focus of the Primary General Presidency over the past several years.

Later that day, President Porter visited with officials from UNICEF for a demonstration of the neonatal and maternity service the Church and UNICEF engage in at the Queen ‘Mahohato Memorial Hospital.

“I love that the Church always collaborates with others,” she said. “The Church has certain strengths, and we collaborate with others who have other strengths. What a blessing to collaborate with UNICEF to help provide training and support to reduce mother and infant mortality. There’s no more noble effort than helping those mothers who are bringing children into the world.”

As Newsroom reported, another important aspect of President Porter’s ministry was reaching out to those mourning the tragic accident in Lesotho in late June that took the lives of six young women and four Church leaders.

“As human beings, we experience joy and we experience sorrow,” she said. “That was a time to experience both of those — sorrow at the loss of beloved daughters, and joy as we saw people turn to one another to lift and share the love of Christ with their family members and friends. Jesus Christ is the only one who can heal all sorrow and all pain.”

Newsroom also reported on President Porter’s involvement in how children are serving children in southeastern Africa as part of the global Primary children’s community service initiative introduced by the Primary organization in January of this year. She participated in children’s service projects in three countries, including Mauritius, Lesotho and South Africa.

Her ministry also included numerous meetings with Latter-day Saint women, youth, young single adults, and children. Throughout her ministry, she was accompanied by her son, Chris. Also accompanying her on portions of her travels was Sister J. Anette Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, and her husband Jorge.

Reflecting on her journey in Africa, President Porter praised the humility and pure love of those she met.

“What a beautiful people. You can feel God’s love for this whole continent of Africa because the people here are humble and they’re open to feel of God’s love,” she said. “They want to seek Him. And He can speak to them because they are open and want to hear His voice, want to feel His strength. And then once they feel it, they want to share it with everyone. What a beautiful, beautiful example for me.”