Edward Dube facts for kids

Edward Dube was born on May 12, 1962. He is a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the LDS Church. He became a general authority in April 2013. This means he is a senior leader who helps guide the worldwide church. He is the first person from Zimbabwe and the second black African to become a general authority.

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, who gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon. In February 1984, Edward went to an LDS Church meeting for the first time. He felt a bit out of place at first. But as he and the church members talked about the Book of Mormon, he felt more comfortable. He decided to join the church and was baptized in August 1984.

Edward Dube studied education at the Zimbabwe D. E. College. He also learned about starting and running businesses at the University of South Africa. After his studies, he worked for the Church Educational System. This system provides religious education for church members. He became a director for Zimbabwe and held other important jobs. He also helped expand religious education programs into Zambia and Malawi.

Serving in the Church

Edward Dube served as a full-time missionary for the church from 1986 to 1988. Missionaries share their beliefs with others. He first served in South Africa, which included Zimbabwe at the time. Later, when a new mission was created in Zimbabwe in 1987, he served there.

After his mission, Edward Dube continued to serve in many leadership roles in the LDS Church.

• He was a branch president, which is a leader of a small local church group.
• He was also a district president.
• He served as a counselor in a mission presidency, helping to lead a group of missionaries.

In 1999, Edward Dube became the president of the first stake in Zimbabwe. A stake is a larger group of church congregations. From 2009 to 2012, he served as a mission president in Zimbabwe. He was the first Zimbabwean to hold this position. In 2012, he became an area seventy, a regional church leader. A year later, on April 6, 2013, he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. This is a group of general authorities who serve the church worldwide.

In August 2013, Edward Dube became 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 a general conference. These conferences are held twice a year for church members around the world. In his talk, he taught that what matters most to God is where we are willing to go and what we are willing to do in the future.

A few years later, he moved to Utah to work at the church's main offices. One of his important assignments was helping with the "Be One" celebration. This event marked 40 years since a special announcement that allowed all worthy men to hold the priesthood. He worked with other church leaders, Joseph W. Sitati and Claudio R. M. Costa, on this event.

In August 2018, Edward Dube returned to Ghana to serve as the first counselor in the Africa West Area presidency. In November 2018, he took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple. This is a special building where church members perform sacred ceremonies. In August 2020, he became a counselor in the Africa South Area presidency. He moved to South Africa to help lead church operations there and in about ten other countries, including his home country of Zimbabwe. He later became the area president for that region. Since August 1, 2024, he has been serving in the Presidency of the Seventy at church headquarters. He is the first black African native to serve in this important presidency.

Family Life

While serving as a missionary, Edward Dube taught the family of Naume Keresia Salazini. Naume was later baptized by her brother, who had already joined the church. After his mission, Edward and Naume reconnected. They were married in 1989 in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. In 1992, they were sealed in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. This means they made special promises to each other and to God, believing their family can be together forever. They have four children.