The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberia

Last updated

Flag of Liberia.svg
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberia
LiberiaLDS1.jpg
Liberia Dedicated for the Preaching of the Gospel by Apostle Marvin J. Ashton. In attendance were Juanita & Philander Smartt, Alexander Morrison, Biz Kajunju, Steven Wolf, Marvin J. Ashton, Barbara Wolf, Jocelyn & J. Duffy Palmer, Thomas Peihopa.
Area Africa West
Members 21,441 (2023) [1]
Stakes 6
Districts 1
Wards 42
Branches 25
Total Congregations [2] 67
Missions 1
Temples 1 Announced
Family History Centers 10 [3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Liberia. At year-end 1986, there were fewer than 100 members in Liberia. In 2022, there were 20,335 members in 67 congregations.

Contents

History

Membership in Liberia [4] [1]
YearMembership
1986*<100
1993*1,400
1995*1,600
19992,694
20044,218
20095,039
20148,081
201914,538
202220,335
*Membership was published as a rounded number.

The LDS Church gained a formal presence in Liberia on 3 July 1987 with the arrival of J. Duffy Palmer and his wife, Jocelyn, as the church's first full-time missionaries in the country.

The origins of the LDS Church in Liberia go back about two years farther. Joe C. Jarwhel received the address of a missionary at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah from a fellow Liberian who had just returned from a visit to Salt Lake City. Jarwhel sent a letter seeking more information about the LDS Church; this letter was forwarded to John K. Carmack, who was at the time president of the LDS Church's International Mission. Carmack sent Jarwhel a copy of the Book of Mormon. Jarwhel was a school teacher and used the Book of Mormon in his teaching.

Jarwhel's associate, John Tarsnoh, also learned of the Book of Mormon and created an organization called the Temple of Christ's Church, which began teaching the doctrines found in the book. Sometime in 1986, Thomas Peihopa, a Latter-day Saint from New Zealand who was employed in Monrovia, came in contact with this group. Peihopa taught them more of the doctrine of the LDS Church. During this time other members of the church living in Monrovia began teaching interested Liberians who were eager to learn more. Harvey Brown, an employee of USAID, began corresponding with church leadership in Salt Lake City to send full-time missionaries to Liberia due to the increasing interest in the church. In response, the Palmers were assigned to come to Liberia.

Due to the preparation for preaching that was laid by Jarwhel, Tarsnoh and Peihopa, the Palmers were able to quickly establish the LDS Church and were followed by the arrival of Philander and Juanita Smartt on 21 August as full-time missionaries. Tarsnoh was baptized on 22 August 1987 along with 46 others, mainly fellow members of his Temple of Christ's Church. The following day, two units of the church were organized, the New Krutown Unit presided over by Peihopa and the Congotown Unit presided over by Steven Wolf, an American citizen in Monrovia on a military assignment with the U.S. Coast Guard. Wolf's counselors were Mike Endecott, an American citizen working at the U.S. Embassy and new Liberian member Joseph Forkpah. The country was formally dedicated for the preaching of the gospel on 2 September 1987 by apostle Marvin J. Ashton and Alexander Morrison, the church's area president over the missions in England and Africa. The dedicatory service was conducted in the backyard garden of the home of the Wolf's along with the Palmers, the Smartts, Peihopa and Biz Kajunju.

By October 1987, church membership had increased to over 100 members. On 21 February 1988, Forkpah became the first Liberian citizen to serve as a branch president. The Liberia Monrovia Mission was organized with Palmer as president on 1 March 1988. Forkpah became the first Liberian citizen to be ordained to the office of elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood on 13 March 1988.

As civil war broke out in 1990, missionaries were transferred to Sierra Leone. Most of these missionaries were Liberians, but conditions were so bad in the country that it was felt to be safer to send them elsewhere. In 1991, the Monrovia mission was combined with the Ghana Accra Mission. A. Tarr, who had been a member less than four years and had been serving as the first counselor in the district presidency, became the church's presiding leader in Liberia with the departure of the mission president and most foreign nationals. In 1999, missionaries were able to return to Liberia. At the height of the civil war in 1992 about 70% of church members had fled the country. LDS Church leaders instructed those remaining to only hold small gatherings. Over the next seven years many church members returned, most of the eight branches that had existed at the time the war broke out were reorganized, and 43 Liberians managed to serve full-time missions in other countries, primarily Sierra Leone and Ghana.

John Tarsnoh baptized by Thomas Peihopa Africa10.jpg
John Tarsnoh baptized by Thomas Peihopa

In June 2000, the Monrovia Liberia Stake was organized with Toby wleboe Tweh Sr. as president. Tweh had been among the members of Tarsnoh's Temple of Christ Church prior to joining the LDS Church. In June 2007, the stake was discontinued and divided into two mission districts. The next July a new mission, the Freetown Sierra Leone Mission, which covered Sierra Leone and Liberia, was organized. Liberia was converted into its own mission in July 2013.

2,200 converts were baptized in 2021, the most since the mission was established in 2013. [5]

First group of 47 Liberians baptized on Aug 22, 1987. Africa9.jpg
First group of 47 Liberians baptized on Aug 22, 1987.

Stakes and district

As of February 2023, Liberia had the following stakes and district: [6]

Stake/DistrictOrganized
Caldwell Liberia Stake27 Nov 2016
Gardnersville Liberia Stake16 Jun 2019
Kakata Liberia District10 Jun 2018
Monrovia Liberia Bushrod Island Stake4 Dec 1994
Monrovia Liberia Stake12 Feb 1989
Paynesville Liberia Stake8 Jun 2014
Virginia Liberia Stake13 Mar 2022

Congregations not part of a stake or district include the following:

The Liberia Monrovia Mission Branch serves families and individuals in Madagascar that is not in proximity of a meetinghouse.

Mission

The Liberia Monrovia Mission was organized on March 1, 1988 but closed on February 12, 1991 due to civil war with work transferred to the Ghana Accra Mission. [7] The mission was recreated in July 2013. [8] Gary S. Price served as the mission president July 2019 to June 2022. [5]

2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak

After two church members died during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the LDS Church required its missionaries to remain in their apartments as a precautionary measure. [9] [10] On August 1, 2014, the LDS Church announced that it would transfer all of its 274 missionaries out of Sierra Leone and Liberia, thereby closing the Liberia Monrovia Mission for the duration of the outbreak. [9] [10] [11] In July 2015, a new mission president returned to Liberia to reopen the mission. New missionaries were called and a number or current missionaries were reassigned to the Liberia Monrovia Mission to assist in reopening the mission.

Temples

On October 3, 2021, church president Russell M. Nelson announced plans in general conference to construct the Monrovia Liberia Temple.

 edit
Location:
Announced:		 Monrovia, Liberia
3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson [12] [13]

See also

Religion in Liberia

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accra Ghana Temple</span> Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Accra Ghana Temple is the 117th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph William Billy Johnson was one of the first converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana, and was one of the first stake patriarchs in the country. Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen. He was baptized six months after the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood and among the first to be baptized in the church in Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janath R. Cannon</span> American Mormon missionary

Janath Russell Cannon was a counselor to Barbara B. Smith in the general presidency of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cannon was also a prominent missionary in the church and was among the first to preach to black people in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulisses Soares</span> Brazilian Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Ulisses Soares is a Brazilian religious leader and former businessman who serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been a general authority since 2005 and served as a member of the church's Presidency of the Seventy from January 2013 until his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve in March 2018. He is the LDS Church's first apostle from South America. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Soares is accepted by the LDS Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was introduced to Ghana, West Africa, in 1962. It was officially organized in 1978, following announcement of the revelation on priesthood. As of 2022, the LDS Church reported 101,924 members in 353 congregations in Ghana, making it the second largest body of LDS Church members in Africa, behind Nigeria. In 2021, Ghana ranked as having the third most LDS Church members per capita in Africa, behind Cape Verde and Sierra Leone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Marshall Islands</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Marshall Islands refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Marshall Islands. As of 2022, there were 6,832 members in 13 congregations, making it the second largest body of LDS Church members in Micronesia, behind Kiribati. The Marshall Islands has the second most LDS Church members per capita in Micronesia, and the fourth most members per capita of any independent country in the world, behind Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Florida. The LDS Church represents about 1% of the population of Florida according to the Pew Research Center 2014 Religious Landscepe Survey. Official membership statistics show the church representing about 0.75% of the general population. Florida has the 8th largest membership population in the United States and the largest membership population east of the Mississippi. The LDS Church is the 6th largest denomination in Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Utah. Utah has more church members than any other U.S. state or country. The LDS Church is also the largest denomination in Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of 2021, the LDS Church reported 102,862 members in 269 congregations in the DRC, making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Africa, behind Nigeria and Ghana. Currently, the DRC ranks as having the 16th highest LDS growth rate among countries of the world, with an annual growth rate of 13 percent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in Brazil in 1926 with the opening of the South American Mission. Missionary work was focused on small German immigrant colonies in South Brazil. The LDS Church was forced to expand missionary work to Brazilians and Portuguese speakers when non-Portuguese languages were banned in public meetings in 1938. The Brazil Mission was opened on February 9, 1935, with Rulon S. Howells as mission president. The first Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon was published in 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine</span> Presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Ukraine. In January 1991, there were 40 members in one congregation in Ukraine. In December 2022, there were 10,344 members in 46 congregations. In 2022, LDS Membership dropped from 11,216 to 10,344, likely due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Leone</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Leone refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Sierra Leone. In 2022, Sierra Leone ranked as having the third most LDS Church members per capita in Africa, behind Cape Verde and Liberia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Madagascar. In 1990, a small congregation was created in Madagascar. In 2022, there were 14,353 members in 43 congregations.

Edward Dube has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2013. He is the first Zimbabwean and the second black African to be a general authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in India</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed its presence in India since the 19th century. As of 2019, there were local members, missionaries and multiple meetinghouses of the LDS Church in the country. The Church of Latter-day Saints stated in 2023, that there are 15,224 members from India.

<i>Freetown</i> (film) 2015 American film

Freetown is a 2015 biopic film based on a true story about missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberia seeking to escape the 1990 Liberian Civil War to safety in bordering Sierra Leone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Finland. In 1950, there were 204 members in Finland. In December of 2022, there were 4,826 members in 29 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo</span> Church in the Republic of the Congo

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Republic of the Congo. The country was opened to the church's missionaries in 1991. Since then, the church has grown to 11,481 members in 32 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Togo</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Togo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Togo. A small group was formed in 1997 which developed into a branch in 1999. In 2022, there were 6,500 members in 23 congregations.

References

  1. 1 2 "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Liberia", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 10 June 2023
  2. ↑ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  3. ↑ Liberia Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 10 June 2023
  4. ↑ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Liberia
  5. 1 2 Price, Gary S., Price in Liberia: Liberia Monrovia Mission , retrieved March 8, 2022
  6. ↑ "Accra Ghana Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved March 8, 2022
  7. ↑ Mortimer, Wm. James (2000), 1999-2000 Church Almanac, Deseret Morning News, p. 431, ISBN   1573454915
  8. ↑ Kessler, Mori (February 22, 2013), LDS Church announces 58 new missions to accommodate influx of applicants, St George News, retrieved January 29, 2023
  9. 1 2 "Official Statement: Missionaries Serving in Two African Nations are Reassigned". Church News. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  10. 1 2 Stack, Peggy Fletcher (4 August 2014). "Mormon missionaries leaving Sierra Leone and Liberia". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Walch, Tad (1 August 2014). "Ebola outbreak prompts evacuation of LDS missionaries from two African nations". Deseret News . Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "13 new temple locations announced by President Nelson as conference closes", Church News , Deseret News, 3 Oct 2021
  13. ↑ "At the October 2021 General Conference, the Prophet Says the Church Will Build 13 More Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 3 Oct 2021
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.