Elder S. Mark Palmer, of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Jacqueline Palmer, recently visited the national chief imam in Ghana, His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu at his residence in Accra.
They were accompanied by the Africa West Area Presidency — Elder S. Gifford Nielsen a General Authority Seventy and area president, and his wife, Sister Wendy Nielsen; Elder Jörg Klebingat, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the area presidency, and his wife, Sister Julia Klebingat; and Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and second counselor, and his wife, Sister Lucie Kyungu.
The Church’s Africa Newsroom reported the chief imam received the group with kindness and warmth and a warm welcome to all during the visit on Aug. 17.
In a video posted to the Church’s Africa West Area Facebook page, the chief imam spoke to the Church delegation through a translator.
“Your community ... are known for helping Muslim communities. It is because of peace — you have done all this because of peace ... . We thank you for this,” he said.
Elder Palmer thanked the imam for his prayer with them and his words to them. He said he brought the greetings of Church President Russell M. Nelson and presented the imam with a copy of the Book of Mormon.
“We are humbled and honored to be here today,” Elder Palmer said.
Elder Nielsen spoke to the imam about their shared priorities to further education and strengthen communities. “The way you strengthen communities, [is] you strengthen families and you strengthen individuals,” Elder Nielsen said.
Later in the day, the Church delegation visited the Ghana National Mosque where they dined with other Islamic officials and were given a tour of the mosque.
While Muslims are a minority in Ghana, the chief imam is seen as an icon of interfaith dialogue and harmony in the country. And the Church of Jesus Christ has worked to partner with and show love and support to members of the Islamic faith as well, Newsroom noted.
For example, when Muslims were unable to hold celebrations in the Takoradi area, they were able to use the Church’s property to hold their event, Newsroom reported.
