Joseph W. Sitati facts for kids

Joseph Wafula Sitati, born on May 16, 1952, is an important leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became a "general authority" in 2009, which means he helps guide the entire church. He was the first Black African to become a general authority in the church.

Early Life and Work

Joseph Sitati grew up in Kenya, a country in Africa. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nairobi and earned a bachelor's degree. After college, he worked in the oil and gas industries. He also worked for an organization called Reach the Children. Before becoming a mission president for the Church, he was the Church's director of public affairs in Africa. This role meant he helped share information about the Church.

Church Service in Africa

Joseph Sitati first learned about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1985. He decided to join the Church in March 1986. In 1989, he became the first district president in Kenya. A district president leads a group of smaller Church congregations.

At that time, the Church was not fully recognized by the government in Kenya. So, Joseph Sitati helped organize small groups of nine people to meet together. This was the largest group allowed by law for religions that were not officially recognized.

In 1991, Joseph Sitati and his family became the first Kenyans to visit an LDS Church temple. They went to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. There, they received a special Church ceremony called a sealing ordinance. This ceremony connects families together forever.

In 2001, Joseph Sitati became the first stake president in Kenya. A stake is a larger group of Church congregations, similar to a diocese. He led the Nairobi Kenya Stake. Later, in 2004, he became an area seventy. This role involves helping to lead the Church in a specific area. In 2007, he became the president of the Nigeria Uyo Mission. A mission president oversees missionaries and Church growth in a certain region.

Becoming a General Authority

While he was still a mission president, Joseph Sitati was called to be a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in April 2009. This is a very important leadership position in the Church.

From 2010 to 2013, he served as a counselor in the Church's Africa West Area. He lived in Ghana and helped manage Church activities in seven countries. He also helped with efforts to open the Church in other West African countries. After this, he worked as an assistant executive director for the Church's Temple Department. In October 2015, he gave an important speech about the Church in Africa at the University of Utah.

Joseph Sitati spoke at the Church's worldwide general conference on October 4, 2009. He said that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a "global faith." He spoke again in April 2015 about the commandment to have children and care for the earth.

In October 2022, Joseph Sitati was released as a general authority. He was given "emeritus" status, which means he is still a leader but no longer has the same active duties. He also spoke during that conference.

Other Important Roles

After his time in West Africa, Joseph Sitati moved to Utah, where the Church headquarters are located.

In 2014, he became an adviser for the Church magazines. In 2015, he became the editor of these magazines. He also served as an assistant executive director for the Priesthood and Family Department. Later, he worked as an assistant executive director for the Missionary Department. He also helped plan the "Be One" celebration in 2018. This event marked 40 years since a special revelation about the priesthood.

Leading Church Areas

From August 2018 to August 2020, Joseph Sitati served as a counselor in the Church's Africa Southeast Area. He lived in South Africa and helped oversee the Church in about 15 countries. In November 2018, he met with Kembo Mohadi, who was the Vice President of Zimbabwe.

In August 2020, Joseph Sitati became the president of a new area called the Africa Central Area. This area is based in Nairobi, Kenya. When it was created, this area had over 600,000 members of the Church.

Personal Life

Joseph Sitati is married to Gladys Sitati. They have five children. Gladys Sitati also gave an important talk that was included in a book called At The Pulpit: 185 years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women.

See also

• Black people and Mormonism
• List of general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints