Sierra Leone: Chronology

1970s–1980s • Outside Sierra LeoneSeveral Sierra Leonean converts were baptized while living abroad, including in Europe, Ghana, and the Cook Islands.

June–October 1981 • Freetown, Sierra LeoneAfter being baptized in the Netherlands, Michael Samura returned to Sierra Leone, contacted Church headquarters about establishing the Church there, and started gathering investigators into unofficial congregations.

August 23, 1984 • FreetownHilda Quaye, who had joined the Church in Ghana, wrote to Church leaders. She received a response almost a month later and was given Michael Samura’s address. She began assisting with his congregations, teaching a Primary class for children.

1987 • Lunsar, Sierra LeoneBai Sama Sankoh, who had joined the Church in Spain, returned to Sierra Leone and began holding unofficial meetings for people interested in the Church.

January 17, 1988 • FreetownChristian George, who had joined the Church in Germany, began instructing an independent congregation that Elizabeth Bangura, a convert from Ghana, had introduced to the restored gospel.

March 1, 1988 • FreetownThe Liberia Monrovia Mission was organized and included Sierra Leone.

May 7–8, 1988 • FreetownC. Erwin and Colleen Waite and Claire J and Iliene Fisher, the first missionaries assigned to Sierra Leone, arrived and held the first official Church meeting, with about 60 people in attendance at Elizabeth Bangura’s home.

June 6, 1988 • Sierra LeoneThe Church received official recognition from the government of Sierra Leone.

June 11, 1988 • FreetownThe first baptismal service was held at Lumley Beach. Saidu Michael Bangura, Elizabeth Bangura’s husband, was the first of the 14  people baptized that day.

August 7, 1988 • FreetownThe Freetown Goderich Branch was organized, with Christian George as president, Michael Samura as one of the counselors, and Elizabeth Bangura as Relief Society president.

group at the dedication of Sierra Leone

May 18, 1989 • Freetown

Elder Richard G. Scott, standing on Leicester Peak, dedicated Sierra Leone for the preaching of the gospel.

May 1990 • Liberia and Sierra LeoneDue to the First Liberian Civil War, proselytizing was suspended in Liberia, and mission headquarters were moved from Monrovia to Freetown.

July 16, 1990 • FreetownEight Liberian missionaries arrived at the mission home after a perilous 34-hour journey from Monrovia to escape the war. They completed their missions in Sierra Leone.

July 27, 1990 • Bo, Sierra LeoneThe first Church meeting outside of Freetown was held in Bo after the Mohamed and Abibatu (Abie) Turay family moved there.

January 1991–July 1992 • Sierra LeoneChurch leaders directed members to gather in home-group meetings instead of meeting at their usual meetinghouses.

1991–2002 • Sierra LeoneSierra Leonean Saints suffered through the Sierra Leone Civil War. Missionaries were repeatedly withdrawn and reinstated as the level of security in the country fluctuated. Local district missionaries and members continued missionary work, however, and the Church continued to grow.

November 5, 1991 • FreetownThe Freetown Sierra Leone District was organized, with Christian L. George as president.

April 22, 1991 • Sierra LeoneThe Liberia Monrovia Mission was dissolved, and Sierra Leone became part of the Ghana Accra Mission.

February 28, 1992 • BoThe Bo Sierra Leone District was organized, with Mohamed Turay as president.

September 6, 1992 • FreetownMichael Samura was called to serve in the Ghana Accra Mission presidency.

October 12, 1992 • Sierra LeoneThe seminary program was instituted in Sierra Leone.

1993 • Sierra LeoneBy the end of the year, 89 Sierra Leoneans were serving as full-time missionaries.

1997 • BoA meetinghouse was looted and burned by rebel forces.

December 2000 • FreetownMembers of the Freetown Sierra Leone District conducted a service project for victims of war atrocities.

September–October 2003 • Sierra LeoneRelief Society members gathered for the first district women’s conferences held in Freetown and Bo.

October 13, 2004 • BoA groundbreaking ceremony was held for the first Church-built meetinghouse in Sierra Leone.

Freetown District at Accra Ghana Temple

May 2, 2006 • Accra, Ghana

The first group of Sierra Leonean Saints to receive temple ordinances arrived at the Accra Ghana Temple.

July 1, 2007 • Sierra LeoneThe Sierra Leone Freetown Mission was organized and reported nearly 500 baptisms by the end of the year.

October 27, 2007 • Sierra LeoneSaints in Sierra Leone participated in the Church’s first Annual All-Africa Mormon Helping Hands Day.

January 2008 • FreetownThe Sierra Leone Freetown District launched a literacy program.

September 2008 • BoThe Sierra Leone Bo District held a career workshop.

November 25, 2012 • Kenema, Sierra LeoneThe Kenema Sierra Leone District was organized, with Jonathan Cobinah as president.

December 2, 2012 • FreetownThe Freetown Sierra Leone Stake was organized, with Patrick Swarray Jr. as president. It was the 3,000th stake of the Church to be organized worldwide. Mohammed S. Kamara became Sierra Leone’s first ordained patriarch.

August 2014 • Sierra LeoneFull-time missionaries were withdrawn from the country in response to an outbreak of the Ebola virus. Missionary work continued through branch missionaries, and the Church distributed aid to thousands of families throughout the crisis.

2015 • Sierra LeoneChurch membership in the country surpassed 16,000.

August 2017 • FreetownChurch members helped distribute aid from LDS Charities to those affected by flash floods and a large mudslide.

November 12, 2017 • BoThe first stakes in Bo were organized. Peter B. Kpaka was called to preside over the Bo Sierra Leone West Stake, and Victor K. Hindowa was called to preside over the Bo Sierra Leone North Stake.

2017 • Sierra LeoneIn response to a request from the government of Sierra Leone, the Church began a project to digitize vital records across the country.