Church Experiences Exponential Growth in Africa, Ground Broken for First Central Africa Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground for the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, the first in Central Africa.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided over the ceremony and recognized the day of the groundbreaking as a sacred day. Mormon Newsroom quotes Andersen, saying,

[pull_quote_center]This holy house will also bless the country and the people who surround it, whether or not they are members of the Church. It will be a light upon a hill, and the glory of the Lord will be upon it.[/pull_quote_center]

Government and religious leaders from the area attended the ceremony, as did 800 Latter-day Saints.

This temple will be the fourth temple in Africa, but the first in Central Africa. More than 40,000 members live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Church is growing exponentially in Africa. Just during the year 2014, more than 12,000 individuals joined the Church in Southeast Africa, and 24,000 individuals joined the Church in West Africa, according to Mormon Newsroom.