During the Soweto uprising—a series of black student–led protests against apartheid—Julia Mavimbela noticed how hate and anger were affecting the youth in her hometown. So she created a community garden as a way to help the youth deal with their feelings, the same feelings she had felt after the death of her husband. “Let us dig the soil of bitterness, throw in a seed of love, and see what fruits it can give us… . Love will not come without forgiving others.”



In 1981, Julia met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while they were working together to clean up a boys’ club in Soweto. Soon after, she began taking the missionary discussions. At first, she was not really interested, but then the missionaries began to teach the plan of salvation. “Then I started listening, really listening, with my heart… . As the missionaries taught me the principle of eternal relationships, I had the feeling that here is the way to be with my parents and my husband.” Within months, Julia was baptized.



Soon after joining the Church, Julia was asked to speak in stake conference. Julia recalled: “When I walked to the podium, I think most everybody was shocked. It was their first time seeing a black person speaking at conference.” She served the Church in many capacities, including as a Relief Society president, a public affairs missionary, and a public affairs director for the Church in South Africa. After the dedication of the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, Julia was sealed to her parents and husband and became one of the first temple workers there. She continued to serve until her passing in 2000.