On May 25, 2025, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple, calling Côte d’Ivoire a “gathering oasis” for its rapid growth through missionary work and the members’ deep commitment to temple and family history service.
“Ivory Coast—Côte d’Ivoire—is a gathering oasis,” he said. “Of all the people I have been around in the world, they understand the gathering here.”
More than a year later, Latter-day Saints and missionaries in the area are living up to that vision.
In his final months as president of the Côte d’Ivoire Abidjan East Mission before being released July 1, Pascal J. Budge reported rising temple attendance among members from neighboring countries who now have a house of the Lord closer to home.
He also reported that through technology and members’ efforts, large groups of people were taught and baptized over several months in a growing branch in Bamako, the capital of Mali, north of Côte d’Ivoire.
Visit the Church News to learn more about how the Church is growing in Côte d’Ivoire.
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