KTN-Sunday-Best-Program.--Host-and-Panelists-Live
KTN Sunday Best Program Host Anthony Ndiema Interviews Elder Ian S. Ardern, Africa Central Area President, Elder Johnny Baddoo, Area Seventy, Vulfrida Simiyu, Area Organization Advisor, and Prince Omondi, Nairobi West Stake President.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Four leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in a one-hour televised discussion on Kenya’s KTN Television July 7, 2024, answering questions about the Church and explaining how its programs help nurture the rising generation, which was the theme of the Sunday Best television program.
Elder Ian S. Ardern, President of the Church’s Africa Central Area; Elder Johnny Baddoo, an Area Seventy responsible for Kenya and Ethiopia; Vulfrida C. Simiyu, Area Organization Advisor in the Africa Central Area; and President Prince Omondi of the Nairobi West Stake joined Anthony Ndiema, host of the Sunday Best program on KTN.
KTN-Sunday-Best-Program.--Panelists-Prepare-to-Go-on-Live-Talk-Show
Africa Central Area President Ian Ardern, Area Seventy Johnny Baddoo, Area Organization Advisor Vulfrida Simiyu, and Nairobi West Stake President Prince Omondi Prepare for Live KTN Television Sunday Best Program.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Ardern answered Ndiema’s first question: “Are Latter-day Saints Christian?”
“Yes, in every way, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christian,” Elder Ardern said. “We are followers of Jesus Christ. We believe He came to this earth, that He died for us, that He is resurrected, and that as we follow His commandments, we can return to live with Him once more.”
Elder Ardern, described the organization of and the role of General Authorities in the Church. Through his 13-years as a General Authority, he has learned “that God does not forget his people. That we are children of a loving Heavenly Father and He wants the best for us. That when opposition comes it is an opportunity to grow nearer to God.”
Elder Baddoo explained that the future of the Church is in the hands of the youth who will grow and become the next leaders of the Church.
“We have the programs to nurture the children temporally and spiritually,” President Omondi said, explaining how Latter-day Saint youth lead committees and help decide what activities work for them. Young people 14 to 18 years of age attend seminary (religious instruction), and beginning at age 18 may serve in missions around the world.
“And, what do [the missionaries] do?” Elder Ardern said, “They teach of Christ, they preach of Christ, they rejoice in Christ (see 2 Nephi 25:26),” he said, quoting from the Book of Mormon, which he explained was a companion book of scripture to the Bible.
Sister Simiyu described her work with the women and girls of the Church in Central Africa and talked about the challenges young women face. “First, we teach them the principles of the Gospel, and then we allow them to govern themselves,” she said. “They lead themselves. We teach them about the Savior. We mentor them according to the Savior.” Those who turn astray and are still guided and loved.
Regarding questions about religious and secular education, Elder Ardern stated that to the Church, “the glory of God is intelligence,” and affirmed that “education is a religious responsibility.”
Elder Baddoo explained one way the Church of Jesus Christ invests in secular education is the extension of Church-owned Brigham Young University to students all over the world through BYU–Pathway Worldwide. Currently, 600 Kenyans are enrolled in BYU–Pathway. Those who complete a Pathway curriculum receive a bachelor’s degree from a great university.
The Church’s focus on and investment in both religious and secular education is a great difference maker in the lives of the rising generation, Elder Ardern explained. “Education is not confined to the walls of a school, it extends to the walls of the home.”
