Anthony Obinna
Encyclopedia
Anthony Uzodimma Obinna (15 April 1928 – ), born in Umuelem Enyiogugu in Aboh Mbaise, (local government area of Imo State, Owerri) in Nigeria, was the first convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Nigeria
.
Obinna's family were followers of a tribal religion but while still young Obinna became a Christian
. He became employed as a school teacher.
In 1965, Obinna had a vision in which Jesus Christ showed him rooms in a beautiful building. In 1971, he found an article in Readers Digest which had a picture of this building and he discovered it was the Salt Lake Temple
of the LDS Church.
He contacted the headquarters of the church and received literature. The church informed him that it had no plans to send missionaries
to Nigeria. However, Obinna organized an unofficial congregation of the church while waiting to be baptized a member of the church. In 1978, after the LDS Church lifted its restriction
on black people
holding the priesthood
, Mormon missionaries travelled to Nigeria and baptized Obinna and a number of other converts. Immediately after his baptism, he was ordained a priest and appointed to be the branch president
. It is thought that Obinna was the first black person to serve in that office in the church; certainly he was the first black man to serve in such an office in Africa
.
After his ordination to the priesthood, Obinna baptized his wife Fidelia. She served as the first black Relief Society
president in Africa. Obinna and his wife were sealed in the Logan Utah Temple
in 1989.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Obinna's family were followers of a tribal religion but while still young Obinna became a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. He became employed as a school teacher.
In 1965, Obinna had a vision in which Jesus Christ showed him rooms in a beautiful building. In 1971, he found an article in Readers Digest which had a picture of this building and he discovered it was the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
of the LDS Church.
He contacted the headquarters of the church and received literature. The church informed him that it had no plans to send missionaries
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
to Nigeria. However, Obinna organized an unofficial congregation of the church while waiting to be baptized a member of the church. In 1978, after the LDS Church lifted its restriction
Blacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
From 1849 to 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a policy against ordaining black men of African descent to the priesthood. Whereas other churches usually have full-time salaried clergy of whom individual members are often the chief minister to several families, in the LDS...
on black people
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
holding the priesthood
Priesthood (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...
, Mormon missionaries travelled to Nigeria and baptized Obinna and a number of other converts. Immediately after his baptism, he was ordained a priest and appointed to be the branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
. It is thought that Obinna was the first black person to serve in that office in the church; certainly he was the first black man to serve in such an office in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
After his ordination to the priesthood, Obinna baptized his wife Fidelia. She served as the first black Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
president in Africa. Obinna and his wife were sealed in the Logan Utah Temple
Logan Utah Temple
The Logan Utah Temple is the 4th constructed and 2nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Logan, Utah, it was the second LDS temple built in the Rocky Mountains .The LDS temple in Logan was announced on May 18, 1877, just after the dedication...
in 1989.