LDS leader Sitati visits USU

Joseph W. Sitati, a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed Utah State University students Friday at the LDS Institute of Religion. Sitati is the first black African member of the 1st quorum of the Seventy, a governing group ranking just below an apostle in LDS leadership.

While Sitati’s tenure as a seventy has lasted five years thus far, his experience in LDS leadership extends back much further. In 1989, Sitati was made district president, a regional leadership position, of the Church’s first district in his native Kenya. Various other assignments followed until Sitati became a seventy on April 4, 2009.

“I thought it was interesting to see that somebody with such a different background can have such similar beliefs,” said Micail Mann, a senior majoring in biology. “We all connected and felt the same spirit.”

Jay Merrill, a junior majoring in biology, agreed with Mann.

“It took a little bit for my ears to adjust [to Sitati’s accent],” said Merrill. “But it’s so cool to see that the Church reaches that far and to learn from someone who lives so far away.”

While Sitati’s status as the first black African member of the 1st quorum of the Seventy makes him historically unique among Church leadership, he’s quick to say he doesn’t feel or do anything very different than the other leaders.

“General authorities are not called to represent a constituency,” he said. “We’re called as general officers of the church and therefore we serve anywhere. At the end of this year, for example, I will have served as a general authority as many years in North America as I have in Africa.”

Despite the cultural intrigue of the gathering, the largest focus was spiritual. During the hour that those in attendance shared with Sitati, they received guidance on topics ranging from family life to how one can steadily improve throughout his or her lifespan. According to Sitati, his central message was one of faith.

“Trust in the Lord,” said Sitati. “He will always honor his commitments. In this one thing we can be completely sure and have no need to doubt.”

-levi.henrie@aggiemail.usu.edu