Edward Dube facts for kids

Edward Dube was born on May 12, 1962. He is a top leader, called a general authority, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has held this important role since April 2013.

He is the first person from Zimbabwe and the second Black African to become a general authority in the Church.

Edward Dube grew up in Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe. His parents were Clement and Rosemary Dube. He first learned about the LDS Church from his employer, Leaster Heath. Mr. Heath gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, which is a sacred book for the Church.

In February 1984, Edward Dube went to a Church meeting for the first time. It was at the Kwekwe Branch, which is a local Church group. At first, he felt a bit out of place. But soon, he and the other members shared their feelings about the Book of Mormon. This made him feel much more comfortable. He decided to be baptized in August 1984.

Edward Dube studied education and earned a diploma from the Zimbabwe D. E. College. He also studied business at the University of South Africa. Later, he worked for the Church Educational System. This system provides religious education for Church members. He became a director for Zimbabwe and helped manage other programs. He also helped expand Church education programs into Zambia and Malawi.

Church Leadership Roles

Edward Dube served as a full-time missionary for the Church from 1986 to 1988. He first served in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. This mission included Zimbabwe at the time. When the Zimbabwe Harare Mission was created in 1987, he served there.

After his mission, Edward Dube held many leadership positions in the Church. He served as a branch president, which is like a leader of a small local congregation. He was also a district president and a counselor in a mission presidency.

In 1999, Edward Dube became the president of the first stake in Zimbabwe. A stake is a larger group of congregations. From 2009 to 2012, he was the president of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. This meant he led all the missionaries in that area. He was the first Zimbabwean to serve as a mission president.

In 2012, he became an area seventy. This is a regional Church leader. He served in this role for a year. Then, on April 6, 2013, he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. This is a group of top Church leaders who serve worldwide.

In August 2013, Edward Dube started serving as a leader in the Church's Africa West Area. He moved to Ghana to help oversee Church activities there and in other West African countries. In October 2013, he spoke at general conference. This is a big meeting where Church leaders share messages with members around the world. In his talk, he taught that what matters most is where we are willing to go in our faith.

A few years later, he moved to Utah to work at the Church headquarters. One of his jobs was to help with the Be One celebration. This event celebrated a special time in Church history. He worked on this with two other leaders, Joseph W. Sitati and Claudio R. M. Costa.

In August 2018, Edward Dube returned to Ghana. He became the first counselor in the Africa West Area presidency. In November 2018, he helped start the building of the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple. A temple is a special building for sacred ceremonies.

In August 2020, Edward Dube moved to South Africa. He became a counselor in the Africa South Area presidency. He helped oversee Church operations in South Africa and about ten other countries, including Zimbabwe. He later became the area president for that region.

Starting August 1, 2024, he moved back to Church headquarters. He began a new important assignment in the Presidency of the Seventy. He is the first Black African native to serve in this special presidency.

Family Life

When Edward Dube was a missionary, he taught the family of Naume Keresia Salazini. Naume was later baptized by her brother, who had already joined the Church. After his mission, Edward Dube met Naume again. They were married in 1989 in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe.

In 1992, they were sealed in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. Being sealed means they made special promises in the temple to be a family forever. Edward and Naume Dube have four children.