Accra hosts special screening of ‘Dedicate’ featuring Ghana’s Favour Okeke

Young Single Adults of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in Accra on Saturday, 24 October 2026, for a special screening of the fourth episode of Dedicate, a six-part global video series exploring faith in Jesus Christ through the experiences of seven young adults from around the world.

The series follows participants from Brazil, France, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States as they explore the renovated Salt Lake Temple in Utah and reflect on the role of faith in their lives. Ghana is represented by Favour Onyinyechukwu Okeke, a young adult from the Greater Accra Region.

The screening was held at the Christiansborg Stake Center, within the Accra Ghana Temple in North Ridge, attracting hundreds of attendees. It took place a day before the episode’s worldwide release on the Church’s YouTube channel. A similar special screening of the third episode was held the previous Saturday at a meetinghouse beside the Mexico City Mexico Temple.

For Sister Okeke, participating in the series was an unexpected opportunity. After prospective participants were invited to volunteer to share their experiences and personal stories, she put herself forward. “It’s honestly a great privilege. It’s an honour, and I feel very humble to represent Africa in this series, because my life is showing what the life of an average young single adult in this area is all about,” she said. “I want to tell people’s experiences.”

She described the production as emotional at times and deeply inspiring, adding that the experience had strengthened her faith. “I learnt so much, and throughout the journey it’s added to my testimony,” she said.

Strong foundations

The fourth episode takes viewers inside the Salt Lake Temple during its extensive renovation, where between 700 and 800 construction workers are on site on any given day. With the help of YouTuber Zack Nelson and his wife, Cambry, the young adults examine models of the temple on an earthquake simulator to understand why the 19th-century structure required additional reinforcement.

The engineering measures are substantial. The temple’s estimated 188 million pounds (approximately 85,000 tonnes) are supported by 98 base isolators designed to allow the building to remain relatively stable as the ground moves during an earthquake. In addition, approximately 262 miles (422 kilometres) of cables, tensioned to 10,000 pounds per square inch, reinforce the structure by tying its stone blocks together from the foundation to the spires. The need for such measures was underscored by a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck Utah in 2020, causing movement in blocks of the temple.

Beyond the engineering, the episode draws parallels between the building’s structural resilience and the foundations of Christian faith. The base isolators represent Jesus Christ as a constant source of stability, while the cables symbolise daily prayer, scripture study and temple worship. The participants also meet senior Church leaders, including Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

For Ms. Okeke, the episode’s central message is one she expects to carry with her for years. “In our lives, we have our own earthquakes and points where we shake and we might have cracks. But if we want to strengthen that foundation, Christ can help us. We are not perfect; we make mistakes, we fall. But one thing we were reminded of is that we are never too far from the reach of God,” she said.

A shared viewing experience

For members of the audience, the screening offered an opportunity to experience the series collectively and reflect on its message.

Nana Yaa Agyeiwaa, a Church member in Accra, said she had followed the first three episodes mainly by listening to them on YouTube while driving to work. Watching the fourth episode alongside other members offered a different experience. “Having to sit with my friends and watch it, it just felt different, because I was able to see the reactions from other people. It made it better,” she said.

Brad Tate, a member of the production crew behind Dedicate, also spoke at the event about his experience working on the series. His contribution offered attendees an opportunity to hear about the production from someone involved in bringing the project to the screen. “Working on Dedicate was a meaningful opportunity to help share stories of faith with audiences around the world. The series brings together young adults from different backgrounds and cultures, but their experiences reveal a shared desire to strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope viewers will see something of their own journeys in these stories and be encouraged by the message that faith can provide a firm foundation through life’s challenges,” Mr. Tate said.

A global release

President Dallin H. Oaks introduced Dedicate at the conclusion of the Church’s general conference on 4 October 2026 as part of a worldwide invitation associated with the Salt Lake Temple Celebration. Approximately 500 people attended the series’ premiere screening in Salt Lake City the following day. New episodes are being released on Sundays through 1 November 2026, with the sixth and final episode scheduled for spring 2027. The concluding release will coincide with preparations for the Salt Lake Temple’s public open house, scheduled to run from 5 April to 1 October 2027.

All episodes are available on the Church’s YouTube channel and through the Gospel Library app. Beyond English, the series is available in Cantonese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Ms. Okeke encouraged audiences to watch the series and engage with its message of faith and spiritual resilience. “Every part of the series was made with love. We were ready to share everything so that people would get inspired. Please watch it,” she said.

About Dedicate

Dedicate is a six-part video series produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the global Salt Lake Temple Celebration. It follows seven young adults as they tour the temple during its renovation, meet Church leaders and explore questions of faith, purpose and spiritual growth. The series is produced by Aaron Merrill and directed by Shantelle Squires and Adam Anderegg.

About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana

The Church reported 122,978 members across 401 congregations in Ghana as of 2025, making the country home to the third-largest Latter-day Saint membership in Africa. The Accra Ghana Temple, the first temple in West Africa, was dedicated on 11 January 2004 by President Gordon B. Hinckley.