Côte d’Ivoire: Chronology

Saints from abroad living in Côte d’Ivoire held Sunday School meetings, sometimes joined by neighborhood Ivorian children.

The first known Ivorian converts were baptized in Europe: Lucien Y. Affoué in Lyon, France, and Philippe C. Assard in Bonn, Germany.

Lucien and Agathe Affoué returned with their family to Côte d’Ivoire. Unable to find other Church members, the Affoués held private meetings in their home.

Before Philippe and Annelies Assard returned to Côte d’Ivoire, Elder Russell C. Taylor of the Seventy gave Philippe a blessing, asking him to be a shepherd over the handful of scattered members in the country.

Elder Russell C. Taylor visited Saints in Côte d’Ivoire, the first General Authority to visit the country.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Côte d’Ivoire for the preaching of the gospel.

Felix Gnambi and Severin Adoupoh Niangui became the first converts baptized in Côte d’Ivoire.

Barnard and Cherry Silver arrived as the first Church representatives to serve in Côte d’Ivoire. They assisted local members and pursued legal recognition for the Church.

A Church unit was organized in Bouaké after the Affoué family moved there. Lucien presided over the unit, while Agathe led the Relief Society and Young Women organizations and Clarice Affoué was called as a Primary teacher.

Relief Society sisters resolved to visit all female investigators and members in the country and succeeded in visiting every home each month.

Philippe C. Assard was called to preside over members in Abidjan.

The first district in Côte d’Ivoire was organized.

About 200 Saints gathered for the first official district conference in Côte d’Ivoire. During the conference, the Plateau Dokui Branch, the country’s fourth branch, was organized.

The Church was granted legal recognition by the Ivorian government.

Sister Elaine L. Jack, Relief Society General President, visited the sisters in Abidjan. This was the first visit by a General Auxiliary Presidency member.

With 85 students enrolled, the first seminary and institute classes were held.

The Côte d’Ivoire Abidjan Mission was organized.

Over 300 youth attended the first youth conference in Côte d’Ivoire.

Construction began on the Yopougon meetinghouse, the first Church-built meetinghouse in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire Stake, the country’s first stake, was organized, with Philippe C. Assard as president.

Mamadou Zadi was called as the country’s first patriarch.

General conference was broadcast in Côte d’Ivoire for the first time via a live internet feed.

President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Accra Ghana Temple, making it possible for many members from Côte d’Ivoire to attend the temple for the first time.

Because of dangerous conditions after a French base was bombed, all non-African missionaries were evacuated to Ghana.

Norbert K. Ounleu and his wife, Valerie, began presiding over the Côte d’Ivoire Abidjan Mission. Ounleu was the first Ivorian to serve as a mission president.

Norbert K. Ounleu became the first Ivorian to be called as an Area Seventy.

With the outbreak of the Second Ivorian Civil War, foreign missionaries were transferred to surrounding missions, and Ivorian missionaries returned to their homes or stayed with members until it was safe to travel.

The Cocody Côte d’Ivoire Stake was recognized for having the highest percentage of adults who had submitted names for temple work of any stake in the world. Two other Ivorian stakes were in the top 25 stakes in the world by this measure.

Elder Quentin L. Cook spoke to a gathering of thousands of Saints and investigators.

By the end of the year, Church membership in Côte d’Ivoire exceeded 25,000.

Philippe C. Assard was called to serve in the Accra Ghana Temple presidency, with his wife, Annelies, serving as assistant to the matron.

President Thomas S. Monson announced the construction of a temple in Abidjan.

The Yamoussoukro Côte d’Ivoire Stake was organized, with Koffi Philippe Kouame as president. This was the first stake outside of the Abidjan region.

Members and missionaries in Cote d’Ivoire participated with members across Africa in Mormon Helping Hands service projects in their local communities.

The Daloa Côte d’Ivoire Stake was organized. This was the country’s 12th stake.