Sisters Minister, Meet, and Present

Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, and Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, outlined many of the Church humanitarian programs, such as clean water, neonatal care, and immunizations, and also Church education and literacy programs, as they met with government leaders and ministered to Church members in Ghana, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire).

“The purpose of our visit is to meet the Saints, to do some instructing for the sisters, to hear their challenges, to feel their hearts, and to let them know that we love them,” Sister Bingham said.

Sister Bingham and Sister Cordon held a devotional with missionaries of the Ghana Accra West Mission. They also met with several members in their homes. Sister Bingham participated in a pilot gospel literacy program, which teaches people how to read while teaching them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. And both sisters participated in a leadership training broadcast originating in Accra, which reached more than 100 congregations in West Africa; met with the First Lady of Ghana and with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of the Government of Lagos State in Nigeria.

After meeting with sisters in Ivory Coast, Sister Cordon said, “Their trust and understanding about God and who He is and what He can do with their lives, is amazing to me.” She said that when she talked about having a temple in Abidjan, one sister wept tears of joy. “We’re going away with African eyes,” Sister Cordon said. “We’re going away with new hearts.”

Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary General President, delivered funds raised through the Light the World campaign to the offices of several charitable organizations in Manhattan, New York, USA. “We honor the Savior Jesus Christ through service,” Sister Jones said, noting that it was remarkable to see what happened “as people recognized the sweet opportunity to give.”

In Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, delivered funds raised from Light the World “giving machines” to a food bank, a charity that provides eye care for children, and a center for refugees. These were just some of the $2.3 million raised from machines in Arizona, New York, and Utah, USA, and in London, England, and Manila, Philippines, and passed along to charities worldwide.