Difference between revisions of "Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Temple"
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Members of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] around the world were delighted when President [[Thomas S. Monson]] announced plans for the Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple at the opening session of the 181st Semiannual [[General Conference]] of the Church. Kinshasa, the country’s capital and largest city, will house the first Mormon temple built in the nation and in Central Africa. The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Temple will be the fourth Mormon temple built on the African continent. The other three temples in Africa are in [[Johannesburg South Africa Temple|Johannesburg, South Africa]] (dedicated in 1985); [[Accra Ghana Temple|Accra, Ghana]] (2004); and [[Aba Nigeria Temple|Aba, Nigeria]] (2005). | Members of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] around the world were delighted when President [[Thomas S. Monson]] announced plans for the Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple at the opening session of the 181st Semiannual [[General Conference]] of the Church. Kinshasa, the country’s capital and largest city, will house the first Mormon temple built in the nation and in Central Africa. The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Temple will be the fourth Mormon temple built on the African continent. The other three temples in Africa are in [[Johannesburg South Africa Temple|Johannesburg, South Africa]] (dedicated in 1985); [[Accra Ghana Temple|Accra, Ghana]] (2004); and [[Aba Nigeria Temple|Aba, Nigeria]] (2005). | ||
| − | The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced rapid membership growth since the first [[stake]] of the Church in Kinshasa was created in 1996. There are currently 9 stakes in the combined conurbation of Kinshasa-Brazzaville with a total of 15 stakes and 4 [[district]]s in the countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo. Congolese members currently travel more than 2, | + | The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced rapid membership growth since the first [[stake]] of the Church in Kinshasa was created in 1996. There are currently 9 stakes in the combined conurbation of Kinshasa-Brazzaville with a total of 15 stakes and 4 [[district]]s in the countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo. Congolese members currently travel more than 2,100 miles (3,200 kilometers) to Johannesburg, South Africa, to enjoy temple worship and [[ordinance]] work. Unreliable public transportation makes the journey to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple difficult. The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple will be a tremendous blessing to over 23,000 Church members spread throughout the vast region of Central Africa. |
| − | + | The completed temple will contain [[Ordinance|instruction rooms]], [[Sealing Power|sealing rooms]], a [[Celestial Kingdom|celestial room]] and a [[Baptism for the Dead|baptistery]]. In instruction rooms, Church members learn about the purpose of life and make promises to live faithfully. Marriages are performed in sealing rooms, and Latter-day Saints believe families can be sealed, or joined, not only for this life but for eternity. The celestial room symbolizes eternal life in the presence of God and Jesus Christ. | |
| − | Kinshasa’s first Mormon [[missionaries]] arrived in February 1986. Church services were organized in members’ homes until September of that year when the remodeled villa the Church purchased was ready to accommodate its 208 members. Nine years after the Zaire Kinshasa Mission was established, | + | ==Establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ in Kinshasa== |
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| + | Kinshasa’s first Mormon [[missionaries]] arrived in February 1986. Church services were organized in members’ homes until September of that year when the remodeled villa the Church purchased was ready to accommodate its 208 members. By July 1987, there were 300 members in the country, many of them young men and young families. Nine years after the Zaire Kinshasa Mission was established, the first stake (or group of local congregations) was organized. | ||
| + | As of 2014, there were 37,909 Church members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 130 congregations, 11 [[Family History Library|Family History Centers]] and now a temple on the way. | ||
==Temple Site== | ==Temple Site== | ||
Revision as of 22:46, 13 February 2016
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world were delighted when President Thomas S. Monson announced plans for the Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple at the opening session of the 181st Semiannual General Conference of the Church. Kinshasa, the country’s capital and largest city, will house the first Mormon temple built in the nation and in Central Africa. The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Temple will be the fourth Mormon temple built on the African continent. The other three temples in Africa are in Johannesburg, South Africa (dedicated in 1985); Accra, Ghana (2004); and Aba, Nigeria (2005).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced rapid membership growth since the first stake of the Church in Kinshasa was created in 1996. There are currently 9 stakes in the combined conurbation of Kinshasa-Brazzaville with a total of 15 stakes and 4 districts in the countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo. Congolese members currently travel more than 2,100 miles (3,200 kilometers) to Johannesburg, South Africa, to enjoy temple worship and ordinance work. Unreliable public transportation makes the journey to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple difficult. The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple will be a tremendous blessing to over 23,000 Church members spread throughout the vast region of Central Africa.
The completed temple will contain instruction rooms, sealing rooms, a celestial room and a baptistery. In instruction rooms, Church members learn about the purpose of life and make promises to live faithfully. Marriages are performed in sealing rooms, and Latter-day Saints believe families can be sealed, or joined, not only for this life but for eternity. The celestial room symbolizes eternal life in the presence of God and Jesus Christ.
Establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ in Kinshasa
Kinshasa’s first Mormon missionaries arrived in February 1986. Church services were organized in members’ homes until September of that year when the remodeled villa the Church purchased was ready to accommodate its 208 members. By July 1987, there were 300 members in the country, many of them young men and young families. Nine years after the Zaire Kinshasa Mission was established, the first stake (or group of local congregations) was organized. As of 2014, there were 37,909 Church members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 130 congregations, 11 Family History Centers and now a temple on the way.
Temple Site
The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple will be constructed next to the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake Center on land that has been reserved for several years. An institute and seminary building also operates on the 10-acre property. The temple will be located at Avenue de l'OUA, Commune de Ngaliema, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Site Dedication and Ground Breaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking for the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple is scheduled for Friday, February 12, 2016. Attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only, with the general public invited to view the proceedings live from local meetinghouses.
