DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — The East African nation of Tanzania was blessed and dedicated Nov. 18 by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Nelson, who was accompanied by his wife, Sister Dantzel Nelson, gathered for the occasion on a sunny afternoon with some 15 members and Church leaders on a promontory overlooking Oyster Bay on the Indian Ocean, near the capital city of Dar es Salaam.
"It was thrilling to be present as an apostle gave this special blessing to the country of Tanzania," said Elder Steven E. Snow of the Seventy and president of the Africa Southeast Area, who was present with his wife, Sister Phyllis Snow. "While the gospel has been established here, it will now firmly take root and grow and flourish."
Other leaders and their wives present included Kenya Nairobi Mission President Raymond Botterell, Sister Jane Botterell; and Jackson Mbwille, a counselor in the mission presidency and presiding elder in Tanzania, and his wife, Sister Judith Mbwille.
During the evening of the dedication, Elder Nelson spoke to 300 Church members who met at the Kinondoni Branch.
In his remarks, Elder Nelson expressed gratitude for members here sustaining their Church leaders. He assured them: "The Lord honors the blessings of His servants. . . . When a prayer of dedication comes, blessings will follow.
"A dedicatory prayer sets the direction, but the power comes from you who are here. The power to make that dedicatory prayer become a reality rests with members and leaders of the Church here in Tanzania. . . . The Lord will establish a Church here by your efforts."
He spoke to members about developing faith, and about repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost, tithing, prayer, missionary work, the Book of Mormon, and holding a temple recommend despite being far from the nearest temple.
Elder Nelson blessed them that "you will be strong in your faith and strong in your conviction of the truth and be willing to share it with your friends and neighbors, loved ones and families."
In Tanzania, there are three branches of the Church, which are organized under the Kenya Nairobi Mission. They are the Kinondoni, Ubungo and Chang'ombe branches with about 480 members. The Church received legal recognition from the government Oct. 8, 1992. On Dec. 15, 1992, the Dar es Salaam Branch was created.
The first Tanzanian citizen to be baptized was Robert Muhile, who joined the Church in Cairo, Egypt, in 1991, before the arrival of missionaries in Tanzania. After the 2003 dedication of the country by Elder Nelson, Brother Muhile said: "Looking back, 11 years we have been requesting this dedication. Eventually the Lord did hear our prayers. Elder Nelson has opened the doors and windows for the Lord's blessings."
Kinondoni Branch President Benjamin Kirato added: "At the dedication, most of the eyes were wet because a great blessing was given to our land. For so long we've waited. Now we are ready to move forward."
Elder Nelson dedicated the land of Tanzania while in the Africa Southeast Area from Nov. 12-23 for a mission president's seminar and other assignments in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa.
Contributing to this article were Elder Ferrin Orton and Sister Peggy Orton, public affairs missionaries in the Africa Southeast Area; and Jefferson and Stacey Smith, members of the Kinondoni Branch with their two sons. Brother Smith works for the American Embassy.
