March 13th, 2025, 4:50pm MDT
The President and First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone welcomed 12 Apostles of Freetown and his wife, D. Todd Christofferson, elder of Quorum, Sisters of Sisters Cathy Christofferson, on February 20th.
The visit was a reunion for the leader as First Lady Fatima Maada Bio met Elder Christofferson in Salt Lake City last October and toured the Welfare Square.
In Freetown, Bio said: And I said, “Elder Christofferson comes and I’m going to pay him back.” ”
Her husband, Julius Maada Wonnie Bio, told Elder Christofferson: We are truly delighted and pleased with you. ”
Elder Christofferson expressed his gratitude to the BIOS for his efforts to promote conferences and religious freedom.
“I think that’s a wonderful example for the world. We are grateful for the freedom of religion and the way people (of different faiths) live together,” he said. “You’ve set up a great model for what should be anywhere in the world.”
The diplomatic visit was part of Elder Christofferson’s recent ministry in Africa on February 13-24, including countries in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.
Elder Michael T. Ringwood of Seventy’s presidency and his wife, Sister Rosalie Ringwood; Elder Alfred Kyong, president, 70 years old, president of the Western African region, his wife and sister Lucy Kyong; And Elder Kenneth Pambu, an area assigned to the Western African region, and his wife Susan Pambu, were also part of the Sierra Leone Conference with the President and First Lady.
The Church’s African newsroom reported that in addition to conversations about religious freedom, leaders also spoke about the church’s humanitarian support and educational efforts.
The Sierra Leone Temple in Freetown has been under construction since March 2022, and Elder Christofferson invited the President and First Lady to see it when it was finished and the Open House began.
“We are delighted to have our most special and sacred building, our temple, being built here in Freetown. We are eager to see it,” he said. “That’s where our most sacred ordinances and religious rituals, especially marriages happen.”
The 2025 Reinforcement Family Conference will be held in Freetown next June. Elder Christofferson thanked the First Lady for her support in the meeting. She is an advocate for the empowerment of women and child protection of the country.
Some of the church’s efforts in Sierra Leone include providing clean water to communities and sanitation facilities for schools. Nutrition programs especially for children. and educational programs. Higher education opportunities are available through BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
The President and First Lady invited guests to eat at home, while Elder Christofferson presented the President with a replica of the Christus statue and a copy of the Book of Mormon.
Serves throughout the western African region
While in the church’s western African region, Elder Christofferson taught and spoke to local leaders, missionaries, Latter-day Saints and their friends at multiple meetings, prayer and stake meetings, the African newsroom reported.
He was joined by Elder Ringwood, a member of the Western African presidency, and Elder Ringwood, a member of Bishop Christopher Waddell, the first counselor of the Church.
In Nigeria, Elder Christofferson held a leadership meeting on Saturday, February 15th. The next day he attended the Icott Epken Nigeria Stake Conference, serving as prayers for Nigeria Uyo, Calabar and ABA missions.
In Accra, Ghana, Elder Christofferson spoke with local employees in the local office and served as a dedication to missionaries in Ghana Aklaist, North and West Missions.
As Church News reported earlier, Elder Christofferson met with the king of the GA people of Ghana on February 20th during the ministry assignment.
In Sierra Leone, in addition to meetings with the country’s president, Elder Christofferson and Elder Ringwood spoke with missionaries at Sierra Leone Freetown and Bo Mission.
Later, after the Leadership Meeting on February 21, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Elder Christofferson spoke to missionaries of the Côte de Ivoire Abidjan East, North and West Missions.
Back in Accra at the end of his assignment, Elder Christofferson attended a stake meeting in Accra on Sunday, February 23rd, holding a leadership leadership leadership meeting for multiple stakes leaders in Ghana.
