Moses Mahlangu facts for kids

Moses Mahlangu (born January 4, 1925 – died June 25, 2001) was a man from South Africa. He strongly believed in the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) for many years. Before learning about the LDS Church, he was a Christian preacher in South African townships.

Discovering the Book of Mormon

Moses Mahlangu first found a copy of the Book of Mormon in the 1960s. Some stories say the book was missing its first page. This meant he didn't know who had published it for a few years. He was very interested as he read it. He invited others to study the book with him.

Around 1968, Mahlangu's friend, Piet Mafora, saw an LDS Church building. This was while Mafora was driving a delivery truck in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mafora told Mahlangu about the building. Mahlangu went to see it for himself. The building was locked when he first arrived. On his second visit, he got contact information for the leader of the church's missionaries.

Learning About the Church

Mahlangu went to the mission home. Missionaries met with him there. He visited the mission home for three weeks. After that, the mission president, Howard C. Badger, allowed missionaries to teach Mahlangu about the church's beliefs. Later, President Badger himself helped teach Mahlangu.

However, President Badger decided that Mahlangu's baptism should wait. This was because of the situation in South Africa at that time. Moses Mahlangu accepted this decision calmly. He was not upset, and he continued to want to learn more about the church. A common story says that church members would leave meetinghouse windows open. This allowed Mahlangu and his friends to sit outside and listen to the Sunday services. But newer information shows this story might not be true.

A Big Change for the Church

In 1978, the leader of the LDS Church, President Spencer W. Kimball, received a special message from God. This message, called a revelation, allowed all deserving men in the church to become priesthood holders. The priesthood is a special authority to act in God's name.

President Kimball personally visited South Africa. The church's only mission in Africa was located there. He directed that missionary work should carefully start to include black Africans as well.

Building the Church in South Africa

In 1980, Moses Mahlangu and his family were baptized. He was also given the priesthood. When a local church group, called a branch, was started, Mahlangu became a helper in its leadership group. Several other black people were also baptized at the same time. Mahlangu had introduced them to the church since he first found the Book of Mormon.

The next year, in 1981, the church started a branch in Mahlangu's neighborhood in Soweto. This was only possible because of the strong will, bravery, and belief of people like Moses Mahlangu. He remained faithful for many years, even during hard times.