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Read or listen to Jean Jacques Tsihala’s full oral history. Original interview in Malagasy. An English translation is also available.

What makes Malagasy and Mormon culture different is the Malagasy traditional custom which doesn’t embrace the Book of Mormon point of view. Malagasy people kill a cow as a sacrifice every time they have good or bad things which occur in their community,… Malagasy Christians should not continue to practice sacrifice because it has been forbidden. One of the Malagasy traditions is to drink alcohol during a period of mourning. We all know that the Mormon culture prohibits its members to drink alcohol. What is unique about Mormon culture that sets it apart from the general culture is the teaching of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon says that all men who have received the Melchizedek Priesthood can place their hands on the sick or give blessings to their wives and children or to anyone else who asks for it. In other churches, they leave this privilege only to their priests


The impact of being a Latter-day Saint in my life is that I improve everyday and do my best to take care of my children. I always try to do the right thing for my children by conducting the family or driving them to the church every Sunday, for example. All these duties help me to improve myself and bear testimony.

This religion has given me the ability to behave well and live well by following the teaching of the church and applyingit to my everyday life and to our family life in order to improve our life on this earth.