On Sunday, April 29, 2012, the first LDS Stake was created in Cape Verde. Elders Erich W. Kopischke and José A. Teixeira of the Quorums of the Seventy and European Area Presidency presided and read the letter from the First Presidency creating the stake. Members present raised their right hands to sustain the proposal and play their part in the creation of the first stake.
All three former members of the Praia District Presidency were sustained as the new Stake Presidency. Members of the new Stake wholeheartedly sustained their presidency and accepted the challenge from the visiting authorities to rise to the new level of church service and benefits.
The Conference session to organize the stake was held a few blocks away from the chapel in Achada Santo António in the large national auditorium.
Members gather from all over the island to participate in this historic day.
Buses and Hiace vans brought members from Assomada and Tarrafal, 2 to 3 hours away. But they would not want to miss the opportunity to sustain their stake leaders and to receive council from their Area Presidency. We and a few others had come from distant islands to witness the creation of the stake. One former mission president had flown in from Utah to attend. Of course we all had legitimate business to transact to justify our presence.
A district choir had prepared for months for this event. They had their choir robes, something that is very popular in the islands. They were well rehearsed and looked great in their national colors.
The new Stake President reviews meeting plans with the presiding authority prior to the meeting.
The mission president and his wife sat on the stand along with the two General Authorities and Sister Teixeira.
They all enjoyed the choir’s performance during the conference.
This event was of interest to the general public. The Cape Verde TV station ran a short new item on the conference which can be accessed here: TV Coverage
The American missionaries were a little too obvious on the front row. We enjoyed the very inspiring messages from the visiting authorities and Sister Teixeira. They addressed some of the opportunities the members will now have belonging to a stake. Building and strengthening families will be especially important.
Following the conference the members mix and enjoyed the euphoria from the messages and the impact of the event. There were many missionaries present, some ready to return home but blessed to witness this big step.
Here are shots of the stake president and his wife outside the auditorium as well as his first counselor with his family:
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