On 15 October 2023, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created a new Stake in Cote d’Ivoire. The Man District, the Danane District, and the Duekoue District (Cote d’Ivoire Yamoussoukro Mission) were combined to create the Cote d’Ivoire Man Stake. This is the 18th Stake in the West African Country.
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Called to preside over the new Stake was President Veh Tia Albert, with President Ebi Koffi Jean Bedel and President Gnahe Mohon Hilaire Theophile Angenor as his counselors. The Stake is the fifth Stake created in the Africa West Area in 2023. There are now 139 Stakes in the Area.
Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and member of the Africa West Area presidency presided over the creation of the new Stake. He was assisted by Elder Jeane-Claude Sai Tonga, an Area Seventy in Cote d’Ivoire. Also attending the conference was President Stephen L. Bodhaine, Mission Leader of the Cote d’Ivoire Yamoussoukro Mission.
The new Stake was created during a meeting of all three districts at the Hotel Beau Se’jour De Man in Man, Cote d’Ivoire. Due to the number of conference attendees, tents were set up outside and the conference broadcast to accommodate those who could not be seated in the Hotel conference room. Several of the local traditional leaders also attended the conference.
In his remarks, Elder Kyungu thanked the leaders and members for their faith, efforts, and prayers that led to the creation of the stake. He also reminded them that,” the creation of the stake should not be considered as an end, rather the beginning of the establishment of the Lord's work, Zion.” He shared D&C 82:14 with the conference attendees, “For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments."
The new Stake reflects the significant growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cote d’Ivoire. The Church was established in the West African country in 1987. The first Stake of the Church was organized in 1997, and just 20 years later the 12th Stake was created. The French speaking country has over 61,000 members of the Church with 268 congregations. In 2015, President Thomas S. Monson announced that a temple would be built in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. That temple is nearing completion with the Ivorian saints anxiously awaiting its dedication.