The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is well known all over the world for their amazing ability to organize its members. Whether attending a meeting in the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, South America or any other part of the world, the sacrament services, Sunday School and other auxillary lessons are very much the same. Members are assigned to visit each other to make sure they are a support when needed. For families suffering hardships, the Church welfare organization has food storehouses and employment services to offer support. Members of the Church have been counselled for many years to be prepared for adversity. They are taught that preparation, both spiritual and temporal, can dispel fear. With the guidance of Church leaders, individual members and families are taught to prepare to be self-reliant in times of personal or widespread emergency. An organization of this magnitude is especially helpful when disaster strikes certain areas across the world, and help from the Church is often the first on the scene, regardless of one’s religion or nationality. Humanitarian Aid is also being provided by the Church to millions of people in need all over the world.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim that they do these things because that is what Jesus Christ would do, and Jesus Christ is the head of their Church. Under His direction, General Authorities and local leaders lead and teach Church members throughout the world.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The General Authorities consist of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presidency of the Seventy, the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric. There are currently eight quorums of the Seventy. Each quorum may have up to 70 members. Members of Quorums of the Seventy are often referred to simply as “Seventies.” Seventies are called to proclaim the gospel and build up the Church. They work under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Presidency of the Seventy.
In April, 2014, four Area Seventies were added to the Third Quorum of the Seventy in Southeast Africa. Members are excited to see their local leaders in these positions. Below is a short bio on the four area seventies recently called.
Walter Chatora, 48, Johannesburg, South Africa, was named a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2014.
Elder Chatora studied sales and marketing and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Institute of Marketing Management in 2005. He has worked as a school teacher in Zimbabwe, a depot manager for the Grain Marketing Board, and a branch manager for Norman Bissett & Associates. From 2004-2009 he worked with Nestlé as an assistant brand manager and a business development manager. Currently he is the temple recorder for the Johannesburg South Africa Temple.
Since joining the Church in 1993, Elder Chatora has served in several Church callings, including branch president, bishop, bishop’s counselor, stake president’s counselor, and temple recorder. Walter Chatora was born in Ivishavane, Midlands, Zimbabwe. He married Diana Tapfumanei in April 1987. They are the parents of three children.
W. Jean-Pierre Lono, 54, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, was named a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2014. Elder Lono worked as a teacher for the Mabuidi Institute from 1986-1990. He then graduated as an electro-mechanic from an Institut Supérieurin in 1990 and then graduated as a surveyor from the Ecole Nationale de Cadastre in 1995. In 1994 he began working for the Ministry of Land Affairs as a surveyor, where he is still employed.
Since joining the Church in 1989, Elder Lono has served in numerous Church callings, including branch clerk, high councilor, branch president, stake president’s counselor, and stake president. Wembo Jean-Pierre Lono was born in Lubumbashi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He married Mukwakaya Angel Tshisekedi in November 1991. They are the parents of eight children.
Tasara Makasi, 40, Johannesburg, South Africa, was named a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2014. Elder Makasi received a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health from Solusi University in 2001 and a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Africa in 2012. He worked as a teaching assistant before he began working for the Church. From 2003-2013 he worked as the coordinator for the Church Educational System in Zimbabwe. Elder Makasi is currently employed as the Seminaries and Institutes director for the Africa Southeast Area.
Since joining the Church in 1994, Elder Makasi has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission, branch president’s counselor, district president’s counselor, district president, stake president, and high councilor.
Tasara Makasi was born in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. He married Shamiso Mberengwa in December 2001. They are the parents of three children.
Khumbulani Mdletshe, 49, Johannesburg, South Africa; Elder Khumbulani Mdletshe was named a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2014. Elder Mdletshe received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Brigham Young University-Hawaii in 1991, a master’s degree in education from Brigham Young University in 1992, and a PhD in education management from Rand Afrikaans University in 1999. In 1993 Elder Mdletshe began his career as an education center coordinator for the National Research Foundation and continued to work in the education research field until 1997 when he began working for the Church. Since that time he has worked as both a regional and area director for the Church Educational System (CES). Currently, he serves as the director of the Roodepoort South Africa Institute.
Since joining the Church in 1980, Elder Mdletshe has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the London South Mission, bishop’s counselor, branch president’s counselor, branch president, high councilor, stake president’s counselor, and mission president’s counselor.
Khumbulani Desmond Mdletshe was born in Durban, South Africa. He married Cynthia Ntombifuthi Hlongwane in December 1994. They are the parents of four children.
For more information about the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, please visit how the church is organized.