Edward Dube was born on 12 May 1962 in Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe to Clement Dube and his wife, Rosemary.
He has been a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 9inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others) since April 2013. He is the first Zimbabwean and the second Black African to serve as a General Authority.
The Influential Power of the Book of Mormon
Elder Dube was a young man working as a servant in the home of Leaster Heath when he was given a copy of the Book of Mormon. Two years passed before he gained an interest in reading the Book of Mormon, but once he did, it made a tremendous impact on his life.
I remember sitting in a railway station and reading the book. I read it for a very long time that day. To me, what was touching was the Prophet Joseph Smith’s testimony, when he related his experience with Moroni’s visitation to him. I would be reading in the middle of the book and go back to the introduction and just read that part. [1]
In February 1984, following the invitation of one of the members of the Kwekwe Branch, he attended his first LDS fast and testimony meeting. At that time, there were no full-time missionaries serving in the Branch (a small congregation of local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) that he could speak with. He recalls that he felt uncomfortable as he sat in the back row of the chapel, “feeling that he was in a servant relationship to most of those in attendance.” [1] However, as he listened to the testimonies of the Branch President and others about the Book of Mormon he soon discovered that he and the members of the congregation were indeed kindred spirits. “I was able to share my feelings about the Book of Mormon,” he said. [1]
In August 1984, full-time missionaries were assigned to the Kwekwe Branch, and Elder Dube formally began his investigation of The Church of Jesus Christ. He was baptized on 19 August 1984, and from 1986 to 1988, he served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ, serving first in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission, and then in the newly opened Zimbabwe Harare Mission.
Missionary Work and Eternal Marriage
While serving on his mission, Elder Dube was blessed to meet the family of Naume Keresia Salazini. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Naume would become his eternal companion. The family had been introduced to the gospel by Naume’s brother, and had at that time been taught some of the gospel lessons by missionaries. Elder Dube and his companion were able to complete the teaching of the lessons, and prior to departing on his mission, Naaume, then 16 years of age, was baptized by her brother.
After being released from his mission, Dube continued to pursue the association between himself and Naume, and on 9 December 1989, they were married in Kwekwe. About two and a half years later, in May 1992, they were sealed for all time and eternity in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple.
A Life of Service to The Church of Jesus Christ
Elder Dube later studied entrepreneurship through the University of South Africa for a time. However, he eventually earned a diploma in education from Zimbabwe E.D. 
College in 1992. His studies in education, combined with his experience teaching Church seminary part time, helped to prepare him for full-time employment with the Church Educational System (also known as CES – a key part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ emphasis on the importance of education), a position that he held for 17 years. During his years with CES he traveled through Zimbabwe and the neighboring countries of Zambia and Malawi to establish the programs of seminary and institute.
“Today, when I look at the Church in those countries, the whole leadership, almost, are men who came through seminary and institute and I had the privilege of handing them certificates at the end of each year,” Elder Dube reflected. “It’s just so amazing to see how that has changed the country.”
Asked what is the greatest need of youth today as they meet challenges facing their generation, Elder Dube said, “We have felt the witness of the true gospel as it was restored beginning in 1820. What’s left is to fully embrace the gospel culture of the Savior Jesus Christ. I think, as we lead our youth in that, they will be blessed in many ways.”
He said he feels that throughout the Church the members young and old are trying very hard, but some seem to be clinging to old ways that hinder them in progressing through the culture of Christ. [1]
At the time that he was called to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ, Elder Dube was serving as an Area Seventy in the Africa Southeast Area. He was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on 6 April 2013, during the Saturday morning session of the 183rd annual General Conference. Elder Dube has served in other Church callings to include: Branch President, District President, Stake President, Counselor in the Mission Presidency, President of Zimbabwe Harare Mission from 2009 to 2012, and Area Seventy.
Elder and Sister Dube have reared their three daughters and son in the gospel and say that some of their cherished family memories go back to the 12-hour automobile trips they would make from their home to attend the temple in Johannesburg, South Africa. Reflecting upon the years and his service in the Church, Elder Dube commented,
“We had some hard times in Zimbabwe,” Elder Dube reflected. Lives were being lost and homes being destroyed in the midst of political turmoil. “I remember a sister coming to me and saying, ‘What do we do now?’ I remember kneeling and asking Heavenly Father what I should say to the Saints in the stake over which I presided. I remember the very clear direction came as to what to say, and I said to this sister, along with the other members, ‘We just need to continue to do the very basic things we’ve been doing: family prayers, family scripture study and family home evenings, and I want you to know that we will all be OK.’?” [1]
“I just want to say the gospel has been everything in my life,” he said. [1]
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Worship with a Local LDS Congregation
Keith L. Brown is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been born and raised Baptist. He was studying to be a Baptist minister at the time of his conversion to the LDS faith. He was baptized on 10 March 1998 in Reykjavik, Iceland while serving on active duty in the United States Navy in Keflavic, Iceland. He currently serves as the First Assistant to the High Priest Group for the Annapolis, Maryland Ward. He is a 30-year honorably retired United States Navy Veteran.
Brother Dube Presided over the re-organization of our Stake in Lehi, Utah this past weekend (Jan. 28, 2018). Although I did not meet him personally, I was very impressed and inspired by the goodness of this man and his wonderful wife as they spoke to the congregation, and bore testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.
His inspirational talk gave me a much needed boost in my own testimony of the reality of the Savior and the truthfulness of the restored gospel in these latter days.
Thank you Brother and Sister Dube for your faithful service in the church!