Gathering African Saints to the Temple | A How I Lead Interview with Brenda Angle

Brenda Angle has served as a Young Women president, Primary president, stake and ward Relief Society president, stake camp director, and as a service missionary teaching study skills at the Provo Missionary Training Center. She is an author and a certified faith-based life coach and speaker who has also trained and certified 200 other faith-based life coaches. Brenda has served as president of United Families for Arizona and as an NGO lobbyist at the United Nations. In her humanitarian work, she has served as vice president of Hearts and Hands for Humanity, vice president director of philanthropy for Legacy Giving Fund, and has traveled to Tanzania, Africa for eight years. She is the mother of nine children and grandmother of 40. Links Nairobi Temple Open House Trip Fundraiser Listen to the follow-up interview: Thank You For Supporting Tanzanian Latter-day Saints | An Interview with Brenda Angle Why Not Me? Breaking the Yokes that Bind Us Mully Hearts and Hands for Humanity Faith-Based Life Coaching Academy Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Brenda shares her journey of navigating leadership within the Latter-day Saint community after experiencing divorce. She reflects on her personal struggles and the feelings of being sidelined in the church community post-divorce, emphasizing the importance of empathy and connection for those facing similar challenges. Brenda recounts her experiences of feeling isolated and the transformative power of service, which ultimately led her to take on leadership roles, including serving as a stake Relief Society president. Brenda also discusses her humanitarian work in Eastern Africa, where she has been involved in various projects, including drilling wells and empowering young women through education. She shares her excitement about the recent announcement of a temple in Nairobi, Kenya, and the unique challenges faced by members in Africa who may not fully understand the significance of the temple. Brenda is organizing a trip for Latter-day Saints from Tanzania to attend the temple's open house, aiming to deepen their understanding of its importance and encourage them to pursue their own temple ordinances. Throughout the episode, Brenda emphasizes the need for church leaders to reach out consistently to those who are struggling, fostering a sense of belonging and community. 05:02 - Brenda's Mission to Help Struggling Saints 06:22 - Common Struggles Among Latter-day Saints 07:24 - Navigating Life's Messiness 07:47 - Brenda's Books and Their Themes 08:44 - The Question of "Why Me?" 09:09 - Brenda's Journey Through Divorce 10:27 - The Challenge of Being a Divorced Leader 11:07 - The Social Dynamics of Divorce in the Church 12:14 - The Importance of Presence and Support 13:05 - The Need for Connection in Leadership 14:28 - The Experience of Being Sidelined 15:18 - Finding Purpose After Divorce 16:10 - The Role of Service in Healing 17:23 - The Impact of Leadership on Others 18:25 - The Importance of Empathy in Leadership 19:46 - The Value of Non-Formal Callings 21:05 - The Need for Consistent Outreach 22:06 - Brenda's Humanitarian Work in Africa 23:32 - The Joy of Serving in Africa 25:00 - The Dynamics of the Church in Africa 26:06 - The Need for Understanding and Support 27:32 - The Excitement of the Nairobi Temple Announcement 29:05 - Preparing Members for the Temple Experience 30:30 - The Logistics of the Temple Trip 32:00 - Fundraising for the Temple Trip 33:40 - The Importance of Empowering Local Members 34:40 - Observations on the Church's Growth in Africa 34:50 - The Need for Cultural Sensitivity in Leadership 37:00 - The Significance of the Nairobi Temple 39:00 - Engaging Members in the Temple Experience 40:00 - Planning for the Temple Trip Logistics The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent ...