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Leaders & Ministry

Leaders from Armenia, Belgium, Finland and Ghana visit Church headquarters

See photos from official visits with the First Presidency

The Ga Mantse is greeted by President Russell M. Nelson at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City
The Ga Mantse is greeted by President Russell M. Nelson at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Mary Richards
By Mary Richards
Mary Richards is a reporter for the Church News

Government leaders from Armenia, Belgium, Finland and Ghana met with the First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this month in Salt Lake City. 

They discussed common interests and key issues in today’s world, reported ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The government leaders were also given a copy of the Book of Mormon.

The leaders included: 

  • H. E. Lilit Makunts, Armenian ambassador to the United States.
  • Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Belgian ambassador to the United States.
  • Okko Pekka Salmimies, the Finland consul general in Los Angeles.
  • King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council of Accra, Ghana.

The visits included a tour of Welfare Square, while the Ga Mantse was also able to visit Brigham Young University and attend the April 2023 general conference. 

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — who has been to Ghana several times — welcomed the king from the pulpit. In a report on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the king said he was inspired by President Russell M. Nelson’s talk on seeking peace. 

“I think that the teachings of Christ — I saw it alive in these words,” said the Ga Mantse. “For me, that is what general conference meant.” 

The Ga Mantse met with Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in late February in Accra. A few days later, he was with Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, General Authority Seventy and president of the Africa West Area, at a ceremony marking a donation from the Church to a hospital in Accra. 

See photos below from the official visits in Salt Lake City.

Armenia

A man smiles in the background as President Russell M. Nelson shakes hands with H. E. Lilit Makunts, ambassador of Armenia to the United States, in a conference room at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
President Russell M. Nelson greets H. E. Lilit Makunts, Armenian ambassador to the United States, Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, April 6, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Five people stand shoulder to shoulder for a photo. From left: President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency; Ambassador H. E. Lilit Makunts, ambassador of Armenia to the United States; President Russell M. Nelson of the First Presidency; Lilit Harutyunyan, assistant to the ambassador; Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Left to right: President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency; H. E. Lilit Makunts, Armenian ambassador to the United States; President Russell M. Nelson of the First Presidency; Lilit Harutyunyan, assistant to the ambassador; Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, April 6, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
H. E. Lilit Makunts, ambassador of Armenia to the United States, shakes hands with President Russell M. Nelson in a conference room and holds a copy of the Book of Mormon. Several other people are in the background.
H. E. Lilit Makunts, Armenian ambassador to the United States, receives a copy of the Book of Mormon from President Russell M. Nelson at the conclusion of their meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, April 6, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Belgium

President Russell M. Nelson shakes hands with Jean-Arthur Régibeau, ambassador of Belgium to the United States, in a conference room at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
President Russell M. Nelson greets Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Belgian ambassador to the United States, at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sit with Jean-Arthur Régibeau, ambassador of Belgium, at a conference room table in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles meet with Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Belgian ambassador to the United States, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson sits in a high-backed black chair with his fingers interlocked and smiles while listening to Ambassador Jean-Arthur Régibeau of Belgium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
President Russell M. Nelson listens in a meeting with Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Belgian ambassador to the United States, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson leans forward in a high-backed black chair at a conference table while speaking with Ambassador Jean-Arthur Régibeau of Belgium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. A third man on the left listens as well.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks with Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Belgian ambassador to the United States, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Finland

Finland Consul General Okko-Pekka Salmimies stands in the Humanitarian Center while learning about the Church’s humanitarian efforts from Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services, who stands in front of a glass case.
Finland Consul General Okko-Pekka Salmimies learns about the Church’s humanitarian efforts from Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services, during a tour of the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Okko Pekka Salmimies, the Finland consul general in Los Angeles and former Ambassador to France, waves to employees and volunteers in a hallway at the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Sharon Eubank stands to his left and five other people stand to his right.
Okko Pekka Salmimies, the Finland consul general in Los Angeles and former Ambassador to France, waves to employees and volunteers at the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Ghana

President Russell M. Nelsons sits in a high-backed black chair and smiles while speaking with the Ga Mantse in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks with the Ga Mantse in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, is given a colorful, traditional scarf by the Ga Mantse as President Russell M. Nelson, also wearing a traditional scarf, looks on at Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.The Ga Mantse is wearing all white, including a white cap.
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, is given a traditional scarf by the Ga Mantse as President Russell M. Nelson looks on at Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, right, stands with the Ga Mantse and his entourage at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, right, greets the Ga Mantse and his entourage at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Gerritt W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets the Ga Mantse and his entourage with a bow at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
Elder Gerritt W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets the Ga Mantse and his entourage at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, April 2, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Three BYU students from Ghana talk with the Ga Mantse at a meet-and-greet at Brigham Young University on Monday, April 3, 2023.
BYU students from Ghana talk with the Ga Mantse at a meet-and-greet at Brigham Young University on Monday, April 3, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, General Authority Seventy and president of the Africa West Area, introduces the Ga Mantse to many of his children and grandchildren in the Hinckley Center at Brigham Young University on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, General Authority Seventy and president of the Africa West Area, introduces the Ga Mantse to many of his children and grandchildren in the Hinckley Center at Brigham Young University on Monday, April 3, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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