Nigeria Invited to “Come Unto Christ”

The Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have extended an invitation to all Nigerians to explore the true gospel of Jesus Christ, raise families in love and harmony in order to solve the ailing challenges the country currently face. This call was reinforced by leaders of the church in the Lagos Nigeria Ikeja Stake special conference held on the 27th and 28^th of April 2019.

The Africa West Area President, Elder Marcus B. Nash, a General Authority Seventy of the Church, who presided over the 2-day conference as part of his 4-day ecclesiastical visit to Nigeria and accompanied by Elder Adeyinka Ojediran an Area Seventy, explained while addressing the press that the church globally and locally organizes conferences, where different congregations gather at a central location such as in a stake (similar to a diocese) to sustain their old and new leaders and also listen to God’s words.

Elder Nash, in response to the question by the press on how the church intends to impact positively on Nigeria, said; “The Lord said to his people anciently; ye are the salt of the earth. If our people through the gospel of Jesus Christ learn  to live honestly, with integrity, showing humility before God and man, not exalting one man over the other, keeping God’s commandment, being faithful to their wives, being faithful to their husbands, treating each other as equals, being kind, raising children who will  learn to love God and be honest men and women of integrity, then they are the people who will become the salt of the earth and the salt of the nation. Salt has properties that remain preserved and purified and we can bless this nation with people who abide by the law of the Lord and the law of the nation”.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its humanitaian arm - LDS Charities, have given over fifteen million($15.million) dollars in humanitarian relief to Nigeria since its official commencement in 1978. “We will continue to do this. We just want to be good citizens, be the salt of the earth and bless this nation", he concluded.

The conference also featured the reorganization of the church’s leadership in Lagos Nigeria Ikeja Stake (diocese). The former stake president, Elder Christian C. Chigbundu who was recently called and given higher responsibilities as an Area seventy to supervise a group of stakes or dioceses,  was released as a stake president while Moses John Ekpah, Peter Oyewole Oyedeji and Uzodinma Michael Onyema were called as President, 1^st Counselor  and 2^nd Counselor in the stake presidency respectively.

Moses Ekpah, the newly called Lagos Nigeria Ikeja Stake president stated while throwing more light on the name of the Church- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; “That we are the saints does not mean we are perfect and that we have no sin. It means we are a group of people who are striving to be perfect. And as we continue to strive to be perfect, we gain the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ which will help us to be perfect”. 

President Ekpah also corrected the notion that the church is only meant for the elite; “The church is actually meant for  everyone, old, young, rich, poor, big, small, young, high class, middle class and low class. The savior did not classify his church as elitist and his humble birth in the manger also emphasizes that''.

According to President Oyedeji, while speaking to the press; callings in the Church are not by election or by popular votes, but are made through revelation from the Lord, and it is a privilege for us to serve the Lord in this capacity”, 

Asked to advise the newly called leaders, Elder Nash stated, “my advice for them is to love God, love the people they serve and love their neighbours. The Lord will bless us if we exercise faith in Him by keeping His commandment, and He wants His people blessed''.

Elder Nash and Elder Chigbundu had earlier made calls, in separate media chats prior to the conference, to invite Nigerians to "come unto Christ" and abide by the true teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently have over 16 million members globally and is led by a Prophet, his two counselors (or assistants) and a Quorum of  twelve Apostles. The Church’s standard works include The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.