Church Members Join Vast National Effort to Plant Trees in Ethiopia

Heeding the call from civic leaders, missionaries and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints braved rainy weather on 15 and 22 July 2023 to plant trees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. President and Sister Oliva and Rebecca Cowley, leaders of the Addis Ababa Ethiopia Mission, full-time missionaries, and local members of the Church participated in this service activity.

In 2021, the City of Addis Ababa set the goal of planting 25 million trees over five years. The national government aims to plant billions of trees across this large African country.

Members of the Church believe that all humankind are stewards over the earth and should gratefully use what God has given, avoid wasting life and resources, and use the bounty of the earth to care for the poor and the needy.

At the October 2022 general conference Presiding Bishop of the Church, Gérald Caussé said, “As God’s children, we have received the charge to be stewards, caretakers, and guardians of His divine creations.”¹