Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree: Reflections on What God Sees in Us

Elder Edward Dube grew up in rural Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia), against the backdrop of civil war. From humble beginnings, he worked hard in the fields, walked miles for water, and sacrificed for the privilege of education. There, in Silobela, his mother would sometimes gather her children and teach them in the shade of the mango trees near their home. But we can’t learn everything we need to know if we stay in the comfort of a tree’s shade.

Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree: Reflections on What God Sees in Us shows us how our Heavenly Father speaks to and magnifies His children who turn to Him. Elder Dube’s story is in some ways the same as many of God’s children’s, but in other ways his experiences are vastly different. From growing up in war-torn Zimbabwe, where he discovered the gospel at age twenty-two, to his Church leadership experiences in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United States, Elder Dube’s stories and insights offer fresh perspectives on core gospel teachings. Through Elder Dube’s own personal experiences along with teachings of latter-day prophets and the scriptures, Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree teaches us that we can come to see ourselves as the Lord sees us―His beloved children, with the potential to become like Him.