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Church leader meets with government, religious leaders in Nigeria
Feb 22, 2022, 8:52 PM | Updated: 9:17 pm
Elder Todd D. Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, meets with a Nigeria government official on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. Photo credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SALT LAKE CITY — Elder Todd D. Christofferson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is traveling to several countries in West Africa, meeting with government and other religious leaders.
Elder Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, began his ministry in Nigeria where he delivered messages of peace and love.
While in Nigeria, Elder Christofferson traveled to Abuja to meet with Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, the country’s vice president.
“You’ve got to appreciate a meeting that begins and ends with prayer,” said Elder Christofferson in a press release. “He couldn’t have been more gracious to receive us, and we talked about some of the history of the Church, especially in Nigeria, mentioning the growth that we’ve seen since [the Church was organized in] 1978.”
Elder Christofferson was joined in the meeting with 20 local Church leaders, and the meeting was covered by the Nigerian national media.
The Church has humanitarian efforts that are ongoing in Nigeria, which include vision, clean water and neonatal care.
“In that short time, we emphasized the humanitarian work we’ve done here, our efforts to make sure that our people are among the best citizens of the nation in their efforts to promote education, self-reliance, strong families,” said Elder Christofferson in the press release.
Elder Christofferson is joined in his ministry in West Africa by his wife, Kathy. Elder Mark S. Palmer, of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Hugo E. Martinez, Elder Larry S. Kacher and Elder Jorg Klebingat, of the Africa West Area Presidency.
An Apostle has not visited the region in two years. Elder Neil L. Andersen ministered in the area before the pandemic began.
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