Elder Rasband Dedicates the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple — the country’s first house of the Lord — in one session on Sunday, May 25, 2025, 10 years after it was announced in 2015.

Elder Rasband commended Church members in the Ivory Coast for their exemplary faithfulness. In just a few decades, Church membership has surpassed 67,000 members, and the temple district encompasses 38 stakes across several West African countries. The Saints are also actively gathering names for the temple.

Referring to Church President Russell M. Nelson’s 2018 “Hope of Israel” message about gathering Israel through missionary efforts and temple and family history work, Elder Rasband said, “Ivory Coast — Côte d‘Ivoire — is a gathering oasis. Of all the people I have seen around in the world, they understand the gathering here.”

The session was broadcast to all units in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia , and Senegal, as well as two branches in the Gambia.

The temple will serve members in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania and Western Sahara.

The dedicatory session was conducted in French, with speakers delivering messages in both French and English, and translations were provided.

Elder Rasband was accompanied at the dedicatory services by his wife, Melanie; Elder Steven R. Bangerter, a General Authority Seventy and assistant director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Susann; and Elder Alfred Kyungu, a General Authority Seventy and President of the Church’s Africa West Area, and his wife, Lucie.

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“This means a lot to our members. This temple is an answer to the prayers of faithful members from Cote d’Ivoire,” said Elder Kyungu, who explained that in addition to traveling long distances, it was sometimes challenging for French-speaking Saints to communicate when at the temple in Ghana, where English is the official language. “It’s a blessing. We are happy. We thank the Lord and also the living prophet for bringing this blessing closer to our members here.”

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Elder Mathias N. Niambe, an Area Seventy, was the first member of his family of 13 children to be baptized in 2005. Most of his family members are now faithful Latter-day Saints.

“The temple represents this tree of life for the Saints of Côte d’Ivoire — The most desirable thing. The tree that fills the soul with joy. It is a symbol of dedication, commitment, determination, perseverance, unity, hope, sacrifice, faith and devotion to the Lord.“

He added, “The Abidjan temple is the answer to the prayers of all the Saints in Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa. It is a real relief to have a temple nearby.”

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Read more in the Church News ‘A gathering oasis’: Elder Rasband dedicates the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple