Elder D. Todd Christofferson Continues Interfaith Outreach, Wraps Up Central African Tour

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accompanied by his wife, Kathy, and other Church leaders, continued blessing and inspiring members and friends of the Church with warmth, love and testimony during a tour of Central Africa. The 10-day trip included ministering in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Ethiopia, and also connecting electronically with members in Uganda.

Elder Christofferson was joined on the tour by Bishop Gérald Caussé of the Presiding Bishopric and his wife, Valérie; Elder S. Mark Palmer, a General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Jacqueline; Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, and his wife, Shelly; Elder Ian S. Ardern, and his wife, Paula; and Elder Thierry K. Mutombo. Elders Carpenter, Ardern and Mutombo are all members of the Africa Central Area Presidency.

“In the Church we have prophets, Apostles, and today we are privileged to have one of the [Quorum of the] Twelve Apostles, Elder D. Todd Christopherson, with us here in Africa,” Elder Carpenter, President of the Africa Central Area of the Church, said as he introduced Elder Christofferson.

Meeting interfaith leaders

While busy with a schedule of member meetings and missionary and leadership training, Elder Christofferson made time for an outreach to interfaith leaders in Kenya. Following a warm reception by Church leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the most senior interfaith leaders of Kenya were also eager to meet an Apostle for the first time.

Elder Christofferson and leaders of the Church hosted a lunch on Friday, November 18, 2022, for the religious community’s leaders, which included the Hindu Council of Kenya, the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, Kenya Women of Faith Alliance, the National Council of Churches of Kenya, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Muslim Leaders Forum, and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims.

“We collaborate with like-minded people for the things of the Lord. I want you to know that it’s not essential that we all believe the same thing. We can share common values and work together on things that we all agree are important and are a priority. We hope that we can be a force with you and collaborate with you for the same purposes,” Elder Christofferson said while speaking to the gathering of religious leaders in Nairobi, Kenya.

In response, Abdirahman Ismail, executive director of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), said, “We wish to work together to carry on this good work, ensuring our communities live harmoniously. We don’t just engage in matters of faith — faith is broader than just our spaces of worship. We engage in national development and social discourses and above all ensure peace, that our country lives in peace.”

The religious leaders were given copies of the Book of Mormon as well as materials on strengthening the family.

Ethiopia was the last stop

The visiting group of Church leaders blessed the members in Uganda with virtual meetings, then moved on to Ethiopia for a special Sunday member conference and missionary meetings in Addis Ababa. Religious leaders from Ethiopia — including Ambassador Mussie Hailu from the United Religions Initiative and Mesud Adem from the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia — attended the member conference.