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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Togo

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Togo
AreaAfrica West
Members6,500 (2022)[1]
Stakes2
Wards15
Branches8
Total Congregations[2]23
FamilySearch Centers1[3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Togo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Togo. A small group was formed in 1997 which developed into a branch in 1999. In 2022, there were 6,500 members in 23 congregations.

History

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Membership in Togo[4][1]
YearMembership
199770
1999122
2004504
20091,034
20142,801
20195,320
20226,500
*Membership was published as a rounded number.

Dieudonné Attiogbe became a member of the LDS Church in 1989, while he and his father lived in England. After returning home, he found the LDS Church was not in Togo. He sent letters to church headquarters in South Africa who then sent a letter to Salt Lake City asking if a group could be organized. Dieudonné Attiogbe was given tentative permission to organize a group and was given a list of 70 individuals that were baptized abroad and had returned to Togo.[5] On July 15, 1997, James O. Mason, who was serving as president of the church's Africa Area organized the Lome Togo group, with Agnon Ameri Didier as presiding elder.[6]

On February 19, 1999, Togo came under the stewardship of the church's Ivory Coast Abidjan Mission, and the first missionary couple, Demoine A. and Joyce Findlay, began missionary work in Togo. Three days later on February 21, 1999, the Lomé Branch, the first in Togo, was organized with Dieudonné Attiogbe as branch president. Seminary and institute commenced that same year. Legal recognition for the LDS Church was granted in July 2000. Lomé Branch's first conference was held December 17, 2000.[6] In 2009, the church's first district was organized in Lomé.[7] On December 8, 2013, the Lomé Togo Stake, the first in Togo, was organized.[8] A second stake was organized in Lomé in 2017.[1]

The LDS Church conducted several humanitarian and development projects in Togo between 1985 and 2019 which included community projects, vaccination initiates, newborn and prenatal care, and wheelchair donations.[9]

Stakes

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As of November 2024, Togo had the following stakes and congregations:

Lomé Togo Agoe Stake (created 7 May 2023)
  • Adetikope Branch
  • Adidogome Ward
  • Agoe Nyive Ward
  • Apedokoe Ward
  • Djagble Ward
  • Djidlolé Branch
  • Kélegougan Ward
  • Legbassito Branch
  • Sanguéra Ward
  • Tsevie Branch
Lomé Togo Be Stake (created 20 Dec 2009)
  • Adakpame Ward
  • Anfame Ward
  • Attiegou Ward
  • Baguida Ward
  • Be-Kpota 1st Ward
  • Be-Kpota 2nd Ward
  • Hédzranawoé Ward
  • Kpogan Branch
Lomé Togo Tokoin Stake (created 22 Oct 2017)
  • Ablogame Ward
  • Akodessewa Ward
  • Doumassesse Ward
  • Souzanetime Ward
  • Tokoin Ward
  • Wuiti Ward
  • Kodjoviakope Branch

Congregations directly administered by the Benin Cotonou Mission include:

  • Kpalime Branch
  • Tabligbo Branch
  • Benin Cotonou Mission Branch

The Benin Cotonou Mission Branch serves church members not in proximity to a meetinghouse, and is not part of a stake or district. Congregations not within a stake are named branches, regardless of size.

Missions

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Togo was assigned to the Ivory Coast Mission in 1999. Shortly after, the Ivory Coast Mission was renamed the Ivory Coast Abidjan Mission to meet the church's mission naming guidelines. The Ghana Cape Coast Mission was organized on 1 July 2005, of which Benin was a part. On July 1, 2011, the Benin Cotonou Mission was created. The mission covers the countries of Benin and Togo.[10]

Temples

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There are no temples in Togo. Togo is currently located in the Accra Ghana Temple district.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Togo", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 15 June 2023
  2. ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
  3. ^ Category:Togo Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 6 October 2021
  4. ^ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Togo
  5. ^ How One Man's Faithful Efforts Brought the LDS Church to an African Nation, Meridian Magazine, October 9, 2017, retrieved October 11, 2021
  6. ^ a b "Church Almanac: Country information: Togo", Church News, Deseret News, February 1, 2009, retrieved October 11, 2021
  7. ^ "his Piece of Stone Come to Us Now:Saints in Togo See Daniel's Stone Rolling through Own Land", Church History, LDS Church, February 1, 2014, retrieved October 11, 2021
  8. ^ First LDS Stake Organized in Togo, LDS Living, December 22, 2013, retrieved October 11, 2021
  9. ^ "Latter-day Saint Charities - Where we work", Latter-day Saint Charities, retrieved October 1, 2021
  10. ^ Hall, Richard; Avant, Gerry; Stahle, Shaun, eds. (February 2012). "Benin". 2012 Church Almanac. Deseret News. p. 429. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
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