SALT LAKE CITY-Per a Thursday report, an Ethiopian religious leader recently visited Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

The head of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, Secretary General Tiguhan Kesis Tagay Tadele, came to Salt Lake City to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed his happiness after touring the Bishops’ Central Storehouse.

He then saw a film depicting how former Church President Spencer W. Kimball invited Church members to dedicate their fast to victims of Ethiopia’s widespread famine in 1985.

This act ultimately resulted in the formation of Latter-day Saint Charities.

Tadele was introduced to the First Presidency and participated in a brief luncheon with local religious leaders.

They included Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Utah, Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, the Rev. Father Elias Koucos, rector of the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church and Avias Ahmed of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake and Utah Muslim Civic League.

Elder Kent F. Richards, the director of Church Hosting and an emeritus General Authority called visits like this “essential,” as they result in barriers being broken down and myths being dispelled.

Additionally, U.S. First Lady Jill Biden met with President Jean B. Bingham, the general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sister Bingham confirmed “education should not be a political issue” after meeting with Biden.