President Freeman and Sister Dennis Conclude 10-day Tour of the Africa West Area

The youth of the Africa West Area gathered on 19 November 2023 to hear from General Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman and Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, were concluding a 10-day tour of West Africa that included visits to Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

More than 1,500 youth gathered at the Christianborg Stake Center in Accra, Ghana, and thousands joined online from throughout the Africa West Area to hear messages from the visiting Church leaders.

“You are part of a rising generation,” Sister Dennis said. “The Lord has saved you for these last days because you are some of his greatest warriors.” 

President Freeman and Sister Dennis began their visit to Africa on 10 November. They were accompanied by Brother Greg Freeman and Brother Jorge Dennis. They were also joined by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, a General Authority Seventy and President of the Africa West Area, as well as his counselors — Elder Jorg Klebingat, General Authority Seventy and first counselor, and Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and second counselor.

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On 12 November, the Lagos Nigeria Ikeja Stake Center hosted an all-area Young Single Adult (YSA) devotional featuring President Freeman and Sister Dennis.  YSA’s from Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia gathered in their local meetinghouses to hear the general leaders.  Over 400 YSA’s attended the devotional in person. Sister Freeman taught that we can rely on the Lord when we struggle. “The Lord will show up and stand by you, and He will bless you where you are standing,” she said and added,” He will meet you where you are, but He won’t leave you there. He will bring you to a better place, a place of happiness and joy.”

The West African tour included a visit to Sierra Leone where the Church leaders had the opportunity to visit with Sierra Leone’s President, his Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady her Excellency Fatima Jabbe Bio.  President Freeman and Sister Dennis also had the opportunity to meet the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, and the First Lady of Angola, Ana Dios Laurenco.  The First Ladies were in Sierra Leone for the commemoration of the UN World Day for Prevention of Child Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence.  Invited to attend a prayer ceremony in honor the commemoration, President Freeman had the opportunity to speak and thank the First Lady Bio for her efforts in the fight against sexual exploitation of children and gender-based violence.

While in Sierra Leone, President Freeman and Sister Dennis, accompanied by Elder Nielsen and Sister Nielsen, visited the grounds of the Sierra Leone Temple.  Announced in 2019, the temple groundbreaking was held in 2022 and is currently under construction.  While in Lagos they visited the recently announced site of the Lagos Temple with Elder Klebingat.  They were also able to attend a session at the Accra Ghana Temple while in Accra.

During their time in Accra, the Church leaders were able to tour the Ghana National Mosque.  The tour was conducted by Dr Mohammed Marzuq Abubakari, personal assistant to the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu.

During the tour of West Africa, the Church leaders had the opportunity to meet with missionaries in the Lagos Nigeria Mission, the Freetown Sierra Leone Mission, and the Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana.  At the MTC Sister Freeman quoted from Ezra 7:10 and encouraged the missionaries to seek the word of the Lord. “Open your mind to inspiration.  Then you can know the answers to your own questions and those of the people that you teach,” she said, and added, “Through your diligence, you will be successful missionaries and bless the lives of those you serve.”

During the visits to Lagos, Accra, and Freetown, the organization leaders were able to do ministering visits accompanied by members of the area presidency and local leaders.  They were also able to meet with young women and relief society leaders throughout the Africa West Area.

In Freetown, Sister Dennis and Elder Nielsen were able to visit the Child Nutrition Program pilot that was developed and is being implemented by the Relief Society Organization of the Church.  The program provides malnutrition screening and monitoring as well as education and training on proper nutrition for young children.

The Church leaders were able to attend Sacrament meetings in both Nigeria and Ghana.  President Freeman attended Egbeda Ward in Lagos, and the North Ridge Ward in Accra.  Sister Dennis attended the Opebi Ward in Lagos and the La Ward in Accra.  “We need to strengthen our children,” said Sister Dennis at the La Ward. “One hour per week is not enough, we need to be teaching our children in the home, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other friends and relatives, all working together.”

A highlight of President Freeman and Sister Dennis’s visit to West Africa was a visit to Cape Coast Ghana, where the Church was first established in West Africa. They visited several historic sites including the beach where the first members of the Church in Ghana were baptized.