Elder Bednar Visits Liberia to Show Country is Safe for LDS Missionaries

After reports that Liberia is Ebola free, Elder David A. Bednar and his wife traveled to the country to prove that it is safe for Latter-day Saint missionaries.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pulled its missionaries from Liberia and Sierra Leone in August 2014 and made reassignments to other areas as a precaution to protect missionaries from the recent Ebola outbreak.

As of June 2015, Liberia has not had any reported Ebola cases and on September 3, The World Health Organization declared the country free of the virus. The Church began sending missionaries back to the West African nation in early September.

While visiting Liberia, Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, reassured members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that the missionaries are not in danger of the virus.

[pull_quote_center]We want people to know that we’re here. …We would not be calling young men and young women to serve in Liberia if there was great danger or concern.[/pull_quote_center]

Bednar addressed concerns some mothers may have in regards to their children serving in Liberia, explaining that “there’s wonderful work to be done here, and that a missionary can be happy and healthy and successful here.”

Currently, there are 53 young Mormon missionaries and four seniors serving in Liberia, according to Mormon Newsroom.