News Release

Latter-day Saints Experience Unprecedented Growth in Africa

Membership increases by hundreds

Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow at an unprecedented rate throughout West Africa. Elder Terence M. Vinson, President of the Africa West Area said, “The reason why the Church is growing so quickly here in Africa is due to a spirituality amongst the people. You cannot help but love the people of West Africa, their hearts are pure and they are open to spiritual things.”   

 

The groundbreaking growth in the Africa West Area may be unprecedented in the history of the Church’s growth in modern times. During the last quarter of the year, three new stakes were created on successive weekends in West Africa.

“Creating three stakes in one Area of the Church is a very rare event,” said Elder Vinson, “or at least it has been until now. These nine new stakes, created within less than two months, bring to eighteen the total number of new stakes organized in Africa West during 2017.”

Elder Vinson said, “This growth brings the gospel closer to the people. It helps them to grow through knowledge and experience, as they are called upon to assume roles that were previously filled by mission leaders or others. Members often feel inadequate to fulfil their new responsibilities, but as they “act in faith”, they feel first-hand the help of the Lord in their lives. They can then testify to their family members and neighbors of the reality of God’s power in our lives.”

Leadership positions throughout The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are filled from the ranks of the membership of the Church. Both men and women are asked to assume leadership roles in specific organizations of the Church. No one is paid for their ministry. This pattern follows the example shown by Jesus Christ in the church He established during His ministry on this earth.

On October 22, 2017 the following three stakes were created: 1) Daloa Cote d’Ivoire Stake, 2) Lomé Togo Tokoin Stake and 3) Abomosu Ghana Stake. Two more were established on November 11 - Bo Sierra Leone North and Bo Sierra Leone West Stakes.

December 3, 2017 saw the organization of three more stakes: 1) Calabar Nigeria North Stake, 2) Freetown Sierra Leone East Stake and 3) Abidjan Niangon Center Stake.

On December 10, 2017, Elder Marcus B. Nash, First Counselor in the Africa West Area oversaw the creation of the Asamankese, Ghana Stake. Elder Terence M. Vinson presided when the Caldwell Liberia Stake and Paynesville Liberia Stakes were created that same day.

President Douglas A. Clark, Mission President of the Liberia, Monrovia Mission said “I am delighted to be part of the wonderful growth of the Church in Liberia. Over ninety percent of the 11,000 Church members in Liberia now live in one of the four stakes in the capitol city of Monrovia. This growth is absolutely phenomenal, considering not one of these stakes existed 13 months ago.”

Clark continued, "Much of our mission’s effort will continue in these stakes as we partner with them to share the gospel with their friends and neighbors,” he said. “Having these stakes in place enables us to take the gospel to new areas beyond Monrovia for the first time in ten years, fulfilling the Lord’s admonition to ‘strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders’.”

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