- Elder And Sister Bednar
- Stake President Jimmy Okot and Area President Dale G. Renlund
- Elder and Sister Clayton
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“The Lord will hasten the work in His time. Our part is not to be bound up by tradition. If the Lord is hastening His work we cannot keep doing things the same way we have always done them.” This was the council of Elder Bednar in his address to the Saints in Uganda.
An overflow crowd of more than 700 people gathered Wednesday, January 22nd, at the Uganda Kampala Stake Center in Kololo to listen to the direction given by this Apostle. A Stake Choir of 50 voices sang as he arrived for the meeting to which men and women of the Kampala Stake over the age of 18 had been invited.
“We are here to hear you sing, here because we love you, and here because we want to talk with you, not at you,” were part of his opening remarks.
Several topics were discussed in this three-hour meeting and Elder Bednar invited his wife and other General Authorities of the Church and their wives to join in the discussion. This group consisted of Elder and Sister Whitney Clayton of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, Southeast Africa Area Presidency-Elders Renlund, Cook, and Hamilton, accompanied by their wives; and Stake President Jimmy Okot. Also on the stand were Elder Usi of the Area Seventy, his wife and President and Sister Chatfield of the Uganda Kampala Mission.
Topics discussed included: The Family, the Gospel Culture, Power of the Priesthood and marriage.
Elder Bednar prefaced his remarks by stating,” We are not here to teach you Western culture. We are here to teach you about the gospel culture. Gospel culture takes precedence over any other influence.”
Members were told that when women become more equal partners, the Lord will hasten His work; equal does not mean identical. Priesthood is not “male;” men have the privilege to hold the priesthood but it blesses the lives of both men and women.
Members were also asked to council together, letting the Holy Ghost be the teacher. Men were cautioned not to exercise unrighteous dominion. As questions were asked about marriage, Elder Bednar stated, “You create a happy marriage, you don’t find it.” Men and women were encouraged not to delay marriage and that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Gender is an essential characteristic in pre-mortal life, earth life, and throughout eternity.
Elder Bednar recognized the members as “Pioneers of the Church in Uganda.” He praised them for what they have accomplished.”