An Apostle in the AWA

Elder Christofferson was in the Africa West Area with Elder Palmer of the Presidency of the Seventy for about ten days.  They traveled from one end to the other, literally from Abuja, Nigeria on the east to The Republic of The Gambia on the west coast.  The Gambia is a tiny country surrounded by Senegal.  It covers the mouth of the Gambia River and either side of the river on the north and south a few miles inland as it stretches to the east; the smallest nation on the continent.  The Gambia has recently recognized the Church and with that, we are able to send missionaries there.  A big thing.

The Church is growing in Africa, and particularly in this West Area.  Did I tell you that world population experts indicate Nigeria will be the third largest nation in the world in population by 2050?  It will surpass the US and be behind China and India.  I bet you didn't know that.

We know the other senior missionaries serving here in the Area office.  Dale and Marla Olsen are the communications couple and have a huge job.  They work with the full-time church employees who are responsible for so much in getting the Church's name out there and connecting with other Church and Country leaders.  They are much better at describing what they do than me so I won't go any farther.  What I want to say is, the communications people spent weeks getting ready for this visit so there could be meetings with national heads of state, religious leaders and other significant individuals in these countries, besides the meetings with Church leaders here; the stake and district presidencies as well as all the Area 70s of course.  A very busy schedule.  

On the last day of the visit, February 28, Elder Christofferson and Elder Palmer spoke to the Church employees as the weekly devotional that originates from the stake center on the temple grounds.  It is attended live by those who work in the greater Accra area and by video through the rest of the Area, all of Africa West Area.  Sister Christofferson spoke as well.  It was great to hear them.

Elaine and I had a seat on the second row.  As the Elders, their wives, and the Area Presidency and their wives came down the aisle, I got a slap on the back from Elder Jorg Klebingat who I report to.  It felt good.  But, the thing that really felt good, was the spirit as these people entered the chapel.  It is that familiar, uplifting, enlivening feeling.  Strengthening and reverential at the same time.  Something special is in the air.  You know what I am attempting to describe.  You have felt it too.  Too bad we can't feel it all the time.  It's not supposed to be that way, but it would be good if we could feel it all the time.

Since I don't want to forget what Elder Christofferson said, I made a few notes:

    Do what I need to do to receive personal knowledge and revelation. So I can better follow the Lord and his prophets.

    Learn to listen to the Spirit, to be warmed by the Lord.  God knows me and yearns to communicate with me.

    The Book of Mormon is perfectly relevant to our current day.

    Focus on what the Lord wants me to do and teach, not what the world thinks of me. (This is one of the first lessons he learned after being called to the apostleship).

    Develop an eternal perspective.  Love God and love my neighbor.  The Good Shepherd knows all his sheep.

    Defend the Church and the truth.

    Develop a relationship with Christ and the Father.  

    (Just a thought about our day and as we think of the Lord's second coming) Are there enough righteous people on the earth for the Lord's second coming?  Not, is the world wicked enough where he must come to physically save the world. (Missionary work is vital, personal spiritual development is vital).

    Christ has all power in heaven and on earth.  He dispenses justice and mercy in full measure.

The picture at the top shows him at the pulpit, of course, and at the right are the Area Presidency; Elder Martinez (Nuria behind the flowers), Elder Klebingat on the second row (Julia behind the flowers), Elder Kacher and Pauline, his wife.

Elder Christofferson dedicated The Republic of The Gambia for missionary work.  He joked that the Church doubled with their visit.  There were eleven members there before and during their stay, eleven more were baptized!

It was good to be there at the meeting, and it is good to be here doing our work.