I am not defending it, it just seems to be the philosophy of expansion in the modern church.

I’m scratching my head here. There are already complete translations of the Book of Mormon into Fante, Shona, Swahili, Amharic, Ibo, Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Lingala, Twi, and Yoruba, and partial translations into Efik and Kisii. Plus, as mentioned before, the overwhelming majority (over 90 percent) of Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda as a first language and conflict along ethnolinguistic lines is highly unlikely to emerge there. Did Elder Bednar not fully understand the ethnolinguistic homogeneity of Rwanda?

Also, a question to anyone who might know. Are LDS church meetings in Ghana and Nigeria held in English? Are they held in French in the DRC? I’m assuming that that is the policy in those countries because of ethnolinguistic diversity and that Elder Bednar was assuming that a like standard should be applied to Rwanda. Also, about Ethiopia, where English and French never really gained widespread usage?

The need for linguistic unity makes some sense in a country like Rwanda’s northern neighbor Uganda, which, in addition to English, Swahili and Ugandan Sign Language, has a staggering 42 indigenous languages from four different language families.

But Rwanda is different, and a rarity in Africa, with over 90% of Rwandans speaking the same language, Kinyarwanda. Unity would be possible for the Rwandan members of the church in Kinyarwanda, it would seem. But it appears that the church is thinking of linguistic unity on continental rather than national terms. In fact, Rwanda is part of the Uganda mission, along with Ethiopia. And Rwandan saints need to travel to South Africa, Ghana or Nigeria to attend the temple.

Interestingly, the Kigali branch meetings are currently held in both English and Kinyarwanda. Members are asked to give their talks in English (sometimes perfectly, others almost unintelligibly, depending on their proficiency level), and another member, usually a returned missionary who served in an English-speaking mission, translates. Accommodating members and visitors who don’t speak English well or at all by offering the meeting in both languages seems an important compromise in these still early years of the church there.

The two questions that really stuck out to me were about language and about worshiping according to local culture and traditions. And the response to both was basically the same: correlation. The church is focused on consistency, building from centers of strength, and avoiding fragmentation. I can see why, from an institutional perspective, the church chooses this approach. But it also stifles individual spirituality and makes it more difficult for families to pass on their local languages and cultures, traditions that have been passed down for hundreds of years. Instead, you rely on some 19 year old from Utah to tell you how to connect with God. The church is just a small piece in this process, but the cumulative impact from Christianity on local traditions and practices and cultures is devastating.

I was surprised that there was no formal opportunity to greet Elder Bednar afterwards, especially given the relatively small number of people in attendance and the great rarity of an apostle in Rwanda. A few listeners did go up to speak to him, but most just left. I’m sure if he had invited them to come shake his hand, most would have.

I was told that he was only in the country for about 5 hours, so he might have had a plane to catch.

And then there’s the issue of the missionaries not having the opportunity to approach these people on their own linguistic foundation. Any of us who had to learn a language for our missions know that some of the most profound and humbling experiences we had were a direct result of not knowing enough to do what we were asked to do and thus having to rely on the Lord and others in ways we never do in our mother tongue. Not to mention the fact that the missionaries are denied the chance to learn the beauties of another language and what that can teach us about approaching God and one another.

For those members who see GAs regularly, this was as close to an Apostle as I have been since our temple was open 13 years ago. It was promoted as come listen to a Prophets voice, it was a big disapointment.

I understand why English is the official language in many wards and branches in different parts of Africa (and other parts of the world) and see some major institutional benefits to that policy, but it is so hard to stay active when you’re not able to use your native language to worship. It is far more difficult to learn another language fluently than many US Mormons realize, and even then it might not be the language of your heart.