Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, recently completed a far-reaching ministerial tour of the Africa West Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from February 13 to 22. He was accompanied by Elder Michael T. Ringwood of the Presidency of the Seventy and their wives, Sister Mary Cook and Sister Rosalie Ringwood.
The purpose of the visit to Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire was to provide spiritual guidance and training to local leaders and members; to hold devotional meetings with missionaries, youth, and young single adults across several nations; and to bear witness to all of the divinity of the Savior and His work.
Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife Mary, pictured along with Sister Rosalie Ringwood, are greeted upon their arrival at the Lagos Nigeria Ikeja Stake Center before the Area Instruction meeting on 14 February 2026.
Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife Mary, pictured along with Sister Rosalie Ringwood, are greeted upon their arrival at the Lagos Nigeria Ikeja Stake Center before the Area Instruction meeting on February 14, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The leaders began their journey in Nigeria, where on Saturday, February 14, Elder Cook, accompanied by Elder Ringwood, presided over an Area Instruction Meeting for stake, district, and mission presidencies, as well as area seventies and temple presidency members. Rapid growth in the Africa West Area brings opportunities for instruction and guidance, and both Elder Cook and Elder Ringwood brought their vast leadership experience, as well as specific direction from the Lord, to the local leaders. While they were engaged in the instruction, Sisters Cook and Ringwood had the opportunity to tour the Lagos Nigeria Global Education Center, which is one of only four such facilities in the world. Following that full day of activities, the group traveled to Ghana to prepare for the next series of meetings.
The next day, being Sunday, the visiting authorities attended sacrament meetings in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Elder and Sister Cook attended in the Jamestown Ward, while Elder and Sister Ringwood attended sacrament meeting in the combined Mamponse 1 and 2 Wards. Ward members at both locations were thrilled to have General Authorities attending in their humble surroundings.
- Elder-Cook-greets-priesthood-leaders-from-Nigeria-prior-to-the-start-of-the-Area-Instruction-training-on-14-February,-2026.
- Elder-Cook-addresses-local-church-leaders-in-Nigeria-at-the-Area-Instruction-Meeting-held-on-14-February,-2026
- Elder-Cook-addresses-local-church-leaders-in-Nigeria-at-the-Area-Instruction-Meeting-held-on-14-February,-2026
- Elder-and-Sister-Cook-greet-members-of-the-Jamestown-Ward-in-Ghana-prior-to-the-start-of-sacrament-meeting-on-15-February,-2026.
- Elder-Adeyinka-Ojediran-looks-on-as-Elder-Michael-T.-Ringwood-greets-members-of-the-Mamponse-Wards-in-Ghana-prior-to-the-start-of-sacrament-meeting-on-15-February,-2026
- Sisters-Olufunmilayo-Ojediran,-Rosalie-Ringwood,-Mary-Cook,-Lucie-Kyungu,-and-Hannah-Morrison-visit-the-Ghana-national-Mosque-on-16-February-2026
- Sisters-Cook-and-Ringwood,-along-with-the-wives-of-the-Africa-West-Area-Presidency,-tour-the-Ghana-national-Mosque-on-16-February-2026.
- Elder-Ringwood-looks-on-as-Elder-and-Sister-Cook-are-greeted-outside-the-Accra-Ghana-Christiansborg-Stake-Center-prior-to-the-start-of-the-employee-devotional-on-17-February-2026.
- Elder-Ringwood-addresses-the-audience-at-the-Employee-devotional-held-on-17-February-2026.
- Elders-Michael-T.-Ringwood-and-Quentin-L.-Cook,-along-with-members-of-the-Africa-West-Area-Presidency,-meet-with-Ghanas-President-John-Mahama-in-Ghanas-presidential-palace-on-17-February-2026.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Monday's activities included an Africa West Area Review with the Area Presidency. While Elder Cook and Elder Ringwood were thus engaged, their wives were welcomed by Dr. Mohammed Marzuq Abubakari, Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam of Ghana and Executive Director of the Islamic Peace and Security Council, who conducted them on a personal tour of the Ghana National Mosque, fostering interfaith understanding and goodwill.
During their time in Accra, the visiting General Authorities participated in several devotionals. On Tuesday, February 17, they addressed employees of the Church at the Christiansborg Stake Center. As the audience listened to Elder Ringwood, he drew from stories in the Old Testament to explain that God works in meaningful moments that "fell on a day," and he assured the audience that those moments are not coincidences but signs that God is involved in the details of people's lives and placements, including where they serve and work.
Elder Cook related personal experiences about his family during a time when missionary work was restricted because of world conflicts. He told about his older brother who received the opportunity and chose to serve a mission despite his father's concerns for his son’s medical career. Elder Cook told how his brother's decision played a part in his gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and as he spoke to the employees, he counseled them to take as their goal in life the Savior's admonition as recorded in Third Nephi 27:27: "Therefore, what manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." He concluded bearing his special witness of the Savior.
Elder Cook greets a young member of the Jamestown Ward in Ghana prior to the start of sacrament meeting on 15 February, 2026.
Elder Quentin L. Cook , of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, greets a young member of the Jamestown Ward in Ghana prior to the start of sacrament meeting on February 15, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.After delivering the Employee devotional, Elder Cook, accompanied by Elder Ringwood and members of the Africa West Area Presidency, met with His Excellency President John Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, at the Jubilee House (Presidential Palace) in Ghana. The cordial meeting focused on faith, freedom of religion, and the Church's humanitarian efforts in Ghana. Then, after that meeting ended, and to conclude the busy day, Elder and Sister Cook, along with Elder and Sister Ringwood, enthused and motivated over 340 young missionaries at the Ghana Accra Missionary Training Center (MTC) with meaningful talks during a devotional.
During that devotional, Elder Ringwood counseled the missionaries to give a first-class effort to their first-class cause, promising them that if they do, their mission will change their life forever for the better. Elder Cook then explained a little about the process of calling a missionary and indicated that in the week just previous to his visit in West Africa, the largest number of missionaries ever assigned in a single day in the history of the Church were called. Elder Cook then spoke of "four loves" all missionaries should have: love for their companion, the people they serve, their mission leaders, and the Savior. He reminded them that the Savior establishes His church by their hands, so they need to be dedicated and serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength. Again, he concluded bearing his special witness of Jesus Christ.
Elder Cook addresses the audience at the Employee devotional held on 17 February 2026.
Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, addresses the audience at the Employee devotional held on February 17, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Having completed the first half of their ministerial tour, Elder Cook and his wife, along with Elder Ringwood and his wife, used the day on Wednesday to connect with youth and missionaries in Togo. Seventy-eight of the 180 missionaries in the Benin Cotonou Mission, which covers both Benin and Togo, gathered in the Lomé Agoe Stake Center in Togo and joined with the other 102 missionaries in a Zoom meeting to hear the apostle address them. Later that evening, youth between the ages of 14 and 17 who lived close enough, gathered at the same stake center for a Youth Devotional with Elder and Sister Cook and with Elder and Sister Ringwood.
Thursday, February 19, was another day for missionary devotionals as Elder and Sister Cook, along with Elder and Sister Ringwood, met with the combined missionaries serving in the Ghana Accra East, Ghana Accra North, and Ghana Accra West missions. Over 540 young and senior missionaries listened as Elder Ringwood used personal stories and scripture to illustrate that God is deeply involved in the details of missionary work, guiding them to find His prepared children. They were attentive as Elder Cook recognized the 550 baptisms from the previous month, and the over 6,000 baptisms of the previous year that came from just those three Ghana Accra missions. He then emphasized that the harvest is the Lord's, and that missionaries are not salesmen, but rather emissaries of the Savior Jesus Christ striving to bring people to Him.
The Apostle’s ministering continued westward to Côte d'Ivoire. In Abidjan on Friday, February 20, Elder Cook, accompanied by Elder Ringwood and their wives, held a devotional for young single adults at the Cocody Stake Center. The next day, Elder Cook, accompanied by Elder Ringwood, led another Area Instruction Meeting for local leadership at that same location, while their wives attended a session at the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple.
- Missionaries-from-the-Ghana-Accra-MTC-gather-to-hear-Elder-Quentin-L.-Cook-at-a-devotional-held-on-17-February-2026.
- Elder-Cook-addresses-Ghana-Accra-mission-leaders-Elder-and-Sister-Beeson-of-the-Ghana-Accra-East-Mission,-Elder-and-Sister-Campbell-of-the-Ghana-Accra-West-Mission,-and-Elder-and-Sister-Lovell-of-the-Ghana-Accra-North-Mission-on-19-February-2026.
- Elder-Cook-addresses-missionaries-from-the-Accra-Ghana-East,-West,-and-North-Missions-on-19-February-2026.
- Missionaries-from-the-Benin-Cotonou-Mission-gather-in-the-Lome-Togo-Agoe-Stake-Center-to-listen-as-Elder-Cook-addresses-them-on-18-February-2026.
- Missionaries-from-the-Benin-Cotonou-Mission-celebrate-a-joyous-reunion-as-they-gather-to-attend-Elder-Cooks-devotional-on-18-February-2026.
- Sister-Mary-Cook,-Elder-Quentin-L.-Cook,-Elder-Michael-T.-Ringwood,-and-Sister-Rosalie-Ringwood-talk-with-the-youth-in-Togo-over-a-Zoom-connection-for-a-youth-fireside-held-on-18-February-2026.
- Youth-ages-14-17-gather-in-the-Lome-Togo-Agoe-Stake-Center-for-a-devotional-with-Elders-Cook-and-Ringwood-and-their-wives,-conducted-over-Zoom-on-18-February-2026.
- Elder-Ringwood,-with-a-translator-by-his-side,-addresses-the-Young-Single-Adults-in-the-Cocody-Cote-dIvoire-Stake-Center-during-a-devotional-on-20-February-2026.
- Elder-and-Sister-Cook-greet-young-single-adults-in-the-Cocody-Cote-dIvoire-Stake-Center-prior-to-the-start-of-the-devotional-held-on-20-February-2026.
- Elder-Cook-and-Elder-Morrison-provide-instruction-to-leaders-in-Ghana-at-the-Christiansborg-Stake-Center-on-22-February,-2026.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Returning to Ghana to conclude his ministering, Elder Cook, with Elder Ringwood accompanying him, convened a final Area Instruction Meeting on Sunday, February 22, at the Christiansborg Stake Center in Accra. There, church leaders from Ghana gathered to meet with the Apostle to receive his instruction before he concluded his assignment. Later that evening, having accomplished what he was sent to do, Elder Cook, along with his wife and Elder and Sister Ringwood, departed Africa on their return flight to Salt Lake City.
The visit of an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ is a momentous occasion for members of the Church anywhere, but especially for the members in the Africa West Area. Elder Cook’s visit provided an opportunity for leaders and members of the Church to receive direct instruction from the Lord as well as an outpouring of His Spirit through him. They received a witness of divine authority for the work going on, a unifying and strengthening influence from his words, and a validation and witness of the work's importance. Elder Cook's visit will long be remembered by the members of the Church in the Africa West Area for the profound way in which it blessed their lives.