As part of a two-week ministry in the Africa South Area, Sister J. Anette Dennis of the Relief Society General Presidency traveled to South Africa to uplift, minister to, and learn from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She was joined by President Susan H. Porter, Primary General President, as they began their travels on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in Mauritius, continuing across several countries in the area.
Strengthening the Rising Generation
On Monday, September 1, Sister Dennis arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, where her first meeting was with a group of young single adults (YSA). In an intimate focus group setting, 11 young men and women, gathered to discuss both the blessings and the challenges of living the gospel in today’s world.
“You are all sons and daughters of a kind, loving Heavenly Father,” Sister Dennis reminded them. “I hope you’ll remember who you are and whose you are.”
She emphasized the growing influence of the Savior’s love across the world, saying, “The Lord is turning people to Him all over the world. And He is using many people. There are very many good people. […] Right now, we need to form relationships so we can stand strong together.”
Speaking of personal growth and discipleship, Sister Dennis likened the refining process of becoming more like the Savior to polishing a stone: “It takes adversity and trials to be polished and strengthened.”
One by one, the young adults candidly shared the challenges they face—ranging from casual attitudes and approaches toward the gospel, to peer pressure and the need for training in Church callings. Together, they discussed ways to remain spiritually strong and support one another. Local Church leaders in attendance also offered words of encouragement and reassurance, making it an evening of reflection, learning, and connection.
Serving with Compassion
The following morning, Sister Dennis participated a humanitarian service project in Cape Town’s Langa Branch, joined by Elder Carlos A. Godoy, President of the Africa South Area, his wife Sister Monica Godoy, and Elder Carl F. Krauss, Area Seventy, with his wife Sister Amy Krauss.
In collaboration with women from the Cape Town and Bellville stakes, the group assembled over 150 comfort packs for the Ilitha Labantu Women and Children Shelter. The shelter provides support and resources to survivors of violence and abuse in underserved communities.
The atmosphere was one of love as members served together. Siyakholwa Majezi, Young Women secretary in the Mandalay Ward, shared her motivation for participating.
“I only heard about it on Sunday and told my husband I needed to be there because I just want to show and share the same love and service that my people got during their time of need,” she said, referring to the help and support her adopted hometown received from the Church after devastating floods in Mthatha.
She spoke of the Savior’s love, saying “The world is such a crazy place, it’s very easy to feel alone, it’s very easy to feel like everyone is going about their lives and you suffer internally… The Savior emphasized service and love because He wanted each and every one of His children to know that they might be alone physically but He’s there and these pack [are one way] He makes provisions for them.”
During the handover of the comfort packs to Ilitha Labantu Women and Children Shelter, Sister Dennis expressed her gratitude for the ongoing efforts to protect and uplift women and families in vulnerable communities. “You are instruments in the Savior’s hands—all of you—blessing the lives of our Heavenly Father’s children,” she said.
Ella Mangisa, who currently serves as the shelter’s executive director and continues the legacy of her late mother, Mandisa Monakali, shared the inspiration behind its founding in 1989. “My mother was a selfless, committed, and courageous woman,” she said. “She didn’t want us, her daughters, her grandchildren, or the other children she brought along this journey, to suffer the same consequences she and the women before her endured. Building this shelter wasn’t just about her; it was about creating a safe place for all women, so they could feel protected and loved.”
Rooted in the vision and sacrifice of its founder, Ilitha Labantu has become a refuge of healing and hope for women and children in need. The shelter’s mission is to provide emotional support, practical advice, education, and training to help individuals cope with and address the effects of violence. Through decades of dedicated service, it has grown into a place where the Savior’s love is felt—made manifest through compassion, community, and the tireless efforts of those who seek to uplift and protect the vulnerable.
Women's Devotional: “We Are Apprentices to the Savior”
Later that evening, Sister Dennis met with sisters from Cape Town and Bellville stakes in a special devotional focused on ministering and the sacred work of Relief Society.
“Ministering isn’t what we do, but what we become,” she said. Using a simple role-play example with the Stake Relief Society President, Sister Dennis demonstrated how accessible and natural ministering can be when rooted in love. “We are apprentices to the Savior in ministering,” she said. “He went about doing good. His whole life was about ministering. Through ministering, we are learning to become like Him.”
Reflecting on what made Sister Dennis’s message particularly meaningful, Nokuthula Jantjies of the Milnerton Ward shared: “Only love can conquer everything,” she reflected. “Even if a person doesn’t believe in God or Jesus Christ, the minute you show them love, they see Jesus Christ in you, they see the attributes of Jesus Christ in you.”
