Elder Stevenson Sees Zion in the Saints of Senegal

Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, is the westernmost city on the continent of Africa. Though Dakar may seem like a city at the edge of the world, it is also a place of new beginnings— especially as Saints there take early steps towards establishing Zion in their country. In a meeting with missionaries, and later in a meeting with the entire body of Latter-Day Saints in Senegal, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles reaffirmed for the Senegalese saints that they are, indeed, establishing Zion in their country.

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As part of a 10-day tour of small enclaves of church members throughout select West African countries, the meetings in Senegal were held in small hotel conference rooms in Dakar on August 26, 2025. Elder Stevenson, who traveled with his wife Lesa, met with and greeted the Senegalese faithful with handshakes and hugs expressing their delight in being there. For their part, those in attendance in this tiny corner of the Lord’s Kingdom were touched and thrilled with the opportunity to meet and listen to an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

When compared with other countries in the Africa West Area of the Church, Senegal is small and remote, so having an Apostle visit is a unique event to be treasured and remembered for a long time. During his visit, Elder Stevenson first met with the missionaries serving in Senegal. Eight companionships of young missionaries and one senior missionary couple were blessed to receive instruction and testimony in an intimate setting that included Elder and Sister Stevenson, Elder Alfred and Sister Lucie Kyungu, the Africa West Area President and his wife, and President Christopher and Sister Angelique Vore, the Mission Leaders of Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission, of which Senegal is a part.

President Vore, opened the meeting recounting the story of Ammon and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, describing how Ammon experienced the joy of the Savior by bringing souls to repentance. He invited his missionaries to seek that same joy through the same work. Following his remarks, additional counsel and testimony was offered by other leaders. In conclusion, Elder Stevenson addressed the missionaries emphasizing two key messages.

First, of living prophets and of the Restoration, highlighting the significance of the First Vision. He testified of the restoration of the priesthood and priesthood keys allowing an unbroken chain of authority beginning with Joseph Smith and continuing to President Russell M. Nelson as the living prophet of our day. He testified that “we have a living prophet on the earth today, in the same way that Abraham, Moses, and Noah were in their day.”

The second point emphasized the divinity of the missionaries’ call and assignment, assuring each missionary that theirs was divinely inspired with eternal significance for them. He recounted the story of Cornelius and Peter, as recorded in Acts 10, teaching the missionaries that the Lord has surely prepared a “Cornelius” for each of them. He encouraged each missionary to find and minister to their Cornelius. He concluded the meeting by promising them wisdom and understanding as they consecrated themselves and testified that the Lord would direct them.

Leaders and missionaries then joined with members and friends in Senegal to receive instruction from Elder Stevenson. Elder Stevenson shared the following with the congregation, “Now you might ask me what am I going to describe to President Nelson and the First Presidency about you and your beautiful country when I return? I'm going to describe that . . . I found something very special. I found Zion in Senegal. Zion is where the Covenant people are. Zion is where the pure in heart reside. Zion is where those who seek Jesus Christ come together. Zion is where those who have made sacred covenants and have been baptized by authority reside. Zion is each one of you.”

Elder Stevenson then continued his remarks, reminding the congregation of key gospel concepts: that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father, that He sent His Son to atone for us, that He speaks through living prophets, and that through Joseph Smith, priesthood authority and keys were restored, as well as the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

He testified to the importance of the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives and shared a story from his time as a mission leader in Japan. Two of his young missionaries were saved from being crushed by a falling construction beam through listening to the promptings of the spirit. They felt inspired to cross the street just moments before a huge beam fell exactly where they would have been had they not crossed. He then testified that the companionship of the Holy Ghost is one of the blessings of being a member of the Church.

Elder Stevenson concluded the meeting expressing his hope and confidence to the members of Senegal that the righteous desires of their hearts would be fulfilled. They will come to know Jesus Christ and their faith in Him and His atonement will grow as a seed in their hearts. As they build the Kingdom in Senegal, the hearts of family and friends will continue to be prepared to receive the gospel, and they will find courage to invite them to come unto Christ.

CIA World Factbook estimates the 2024 population of Senegal to be approximately 18.85 million with 97.2% of the population being Muslim. The membership of The Church there, as of August 1, 2025, is 325, organized into a single district comprising 5 branches. The hub of the Church in Senegal is in Dakar, its capital city. Currently, the Church owns no buildings or meeting houses; instead, members meet in rented buildings.

Elder Stevenson compared the Church in Senegal to the early days of the Church in Kirtland, Ohio. In Dakar, as in Kirtland, members are laying a foundation for the establishment of Zion. Membership is small, but faith is strong—a testament to the foundational efforts being made to establish Zion in this part of the Lord's vineyard, and with the added strength of faith and prayers, Zion will surely continue to grow in Senegal.