Pioneers of Africa
by E. Dale LeBaron

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the revelation extending the priesthood to all worthy males of the Church. And while this revelation had a profound impact on all parts of the world, it has perhaps had the greatest impact on the people of Africa. In 1978, I was presiding over the only mission on the continent of Africa—the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. Although there were no black members of the Church in South Africa at that time due to the rigid apartheid laws restricting blacks from attending public meetings with whites, there were some who had already converted to the gospel. Here is the unique and inspiring story of the gospel pioneers of Africa before and after the revelation.

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Tuning In
Joseph Johnson returned to his small modest home in Cape Coast, Ghana, Africa, late at night on June 9, 1978. Weary and frustrated, Joseph felt that his hard work and loyalty to the church he loved appeared wasted.

For fourteen years he had devoted himself to preaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. He had brought hundreds into the faith, and had organized a dozen branches of the Church in his native land. He had built chapels and established Sunday Schools and Primaries—all without being baptized. Joseph wrote letters to Church authorities asking for assistance and for missionaries to come and baptize him and many others, but Salt Lake City’s hands were tied, and the answer was to wait and be patient.

And so Joseph continued to preach among the people with great enthusiasm, hoping for assistance. It was a challenging and trying time. His wife left him; he lost his job; he was bitterly persecuted by police and other churches.

After fourteen long years, Joseph felt he was at the end of his strength and endurance.

On this evening, overcome with exhaustion and discouragement, Joseph collapsed into his chair. After several minutes, he felt impressed to turn on his short-wave radio and listen to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which he had not done for several years. After trying for more than an hour, he was finally able to tune in to the station at the top of the midnight news broadcast. One of the first items was a special report that electrified Joseph. He recalled, “I heard the message of President Kimball’s revelation . . . that all worthy male members could receive the priesthood. I burst into tears of joy because I knew the priesthood and the Church would now come to Africa and, if we did the right things, we would receive the priesthood.”

Finding the Gospel
Many of the early African pioneers learned about the Church through pamphlets, missionary tracts, or other literature they obtained as their friends and relatives traveled to Europe or America. Bassey Daniel Udoh of Nigeria learned about the Church when he received a Joseph Smith testimony pamphlet in 1947. He was deeply impressed with what he read and wrote to Church headquarters requesting more literature and someone to teach him the gospel. But the time was not yet. He waited patiently for over thirty years. When the missionaries arrived in Nigeria in 1978, Bassey Daniel Udoh was one of the first to be baptized.

Joseph Johnson, spoken of at the beginning of this article, was one of the most faithful and dedicated early pioneers in Africa. In 1964 he prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, which immediately changed his life. He felt so strongly about what he had read that he was compelled to preach about it in towns and villages within a seventy-mile radius of his home in Ghana. He organized several congregations and called them “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” He placed signs in front of the meeting places and printed stationary with this letterhead.

It was estimated that when the missionaries arrived fourteen years later, there were more than 1,200 people prepared for baptism as a result of Joseph’s valiant missionary efforts and leadership.

As more and more people in Nigeria and Ghana learned about the gospel, letters began pouring in to Salt Lake City from Africa asking for more information. What began as a comparative trickle of requests in the early 1950s became a flood by the 1960s. And for several decades, more letters requesting literature and missionaries were sent to Church headquarters from Africa than from all the rest of the world combined. Some correspondence from Africa even had the official name of the Church on the letterhead. One particular letter was sent from “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nigeria Branch.” The Church responded by sending literature. The demand was so great that some industrious Africans even established an LDS bookstore in Nigeria.

Fact-Finding Missions
The first official Church representative to visit central Africa was President Glen G. Fisher of the South Africa Mission. He was assigned by the First Presidency to visit Nigeria on his return home and investigate some of the groups located near Lagos.

In July 1960 he met with some of the leaders of the congregations that had taken the name of the Church. Four of these men had organized themselves into a presidency and were holding a “branch presidency” meeting as he arrived. They treated him like visiting royalty. President Fisher recorded:

“Never have I received a more sincere and enthusiastic welcome. . . . They were living in extreme poverty. In one church there were no seats, no musical instruments, and no pulpit. The preacher carried his supplies in a wooden box which he used as a pulpit. Supplies consisted of a few Bibles, some missionary pamphlets, Articles of Faith, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, and the Book of Mormon. I found similar literature in all the churches I visited. Using this literature they tried to organize a church patterned after the Mormon Church. . . . I was impressed with their sincerity and knowledge. Their only source of information was the literature received from Church headquarters.

“For years they had been preparing their congregations for baptism into [the Church]. They had two congregations, with a total membership of over 1,000 people. With some pride, the president said that not one of them smoked or used alcoholic beverages.”

President Fisher reported to the First Presidency that he found the people of Nigeria to be very sincere and devout in their convictions about the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the restoration of the gospel. He recommended that the Church send missionary couples to Africa to organize the Church and begin baptizing those who were ready.

In 1961 President McKay assigned Elder LaMar Williams, secretary to the Church Missionary Department, to go to Nigeria on a monthlong fact-finding mission to determine if the people were sincere and willing to accept membership in the Church while not yet holding the priesthood. Although Elder Williams had been responding to the flood of letters from Africa, he was not prepared for what he found there. He was met at the airport in Nigeria by ten pastors with whom he had been corresponding. He was surprised to discover that not only did each pastor operate independently, but they were not even aware of each other.

The first official Church meeting in black Africa was held in October, 1961, in a small mud hut in Nigeria where Elder Williams met with a pastor and 110 followers. No one came by car. Many, including eight mothers with small children, had begun their day before 4 a.m. and walked twenty-five miles or more to be there. After teaching them for two hours, Elder Williams prepared to end the meeting. He recorded:

“It was hot as blazes. . . . My suit was wringing wet. . . . When I turned the meeting back to [the pastor] I heard a murmur all through the congregation . . . and [the pastor] said to me, “They don’t want to go home. They have something to say.” Then for three hours these people were standing up bearing testimonies to the truthfulness of the Church and how they believed in the prophets. I could not believe what I was hearing.

“One elderly gentleman stood and spoke emphatically: ‘I am an old man. I am sick. But when I heard you were going to be here, I walked sixteen miles this morning to see you and to hear what you have to say. I still have to walk sixteen miles to get back home, and I am not well. I want you to know that I am sincere or I would not be here. I have not seen President McKay. I have not seen God. But I have seen you, and I will hold you personally accountable to tell President McKay that I am sincere.’”

By 1964 it was estimated that there were over 8,400 Africans in 135 congregations in Nigeria, and about 200 members of several congregations in Ghana, adhering to the teachings of the Church and bearing its name.

Elder Williams made two additional trips to Nigeria. In 1966 President McKay called Elder and Sister Williams and two other couples to serve as the first missionaries in Nigeria. However, the Nigerian government refused to issue the needed visas, and very soon after his third trip the Biafra War, the most destructive civil war in recorded African history, erupted in Nigeria. The most vicious fighting occurred in the same area as these faithful congregations and the Church was compelled to abandon the effort. It would be many long years before they were allowed to return.

Patiently Waiting
During this dark and troubling time, Anthony Obinna was one of the hundreds who waited for the Church to be officially established in his beloved Nigeria. He was a lifelong seeker of truth and one of the faithful and persistent early pioneers of Africa. In the late 1960s, Anthony had a dream about a beautiful building he had never seen before. Then, in 1970, he stumbled across the September 1958 issue of Reader’s Digest.

He recalled, “There was an article entitled ‘The March of the Mormons’ with a picture of the Salt Lake Temple. It was exactly the same building I had seen in my dreams.” When the missionaries arrived in Nigeria in 1978, they found many prepared for the gospel through the teaching and leadership of Anthony Obinna. Anthony was the first to be baptized. His wife was the fi rst Relief Society president called in black Africa. Some years later, with help from former missionaries who knew and loved them, Brother and Sister Obinna were sealed in the temple.

The Revelation
There were many touching moments the people of Africa experienced when they received word of the revelation. One such moment was one I shared with Moses Mahlangu, a valiant pioneer from South Africa. Moses first found an old, beat-up copy of the Book of Mormon in 1964, read it, and knew it was true. But since the title page had been torn out, he didn’t know the source of the book. For two years Moses preached from the Book of Mormon and shared it with pastors of other faiths before finally discovering that this new book of scripture was published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He made contact with Church authorities and had met with all of the mission presidents since 1966.

Soon after I arrived in South Africa as the new mission president in 1976, Moses came to meet me at the mission office in Johannesburg. His conviction, knowledge, and dedicated efforts to share the gospel message with others were deeply impressive. He regularly came to the mission office to get a new supply of pamphlets, tracts, and copies of the Book of Mormon. Fluent in nine languages, he was an articulate and inspiring teacher, yet a humble man of simple faith.

As soon as news of the revelation reached the mission in June 1978, I thought of Moses, but didn’t know how to contact him. He lived in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg, and did not have a telephone. But within a few days he surprised me with a phone call from a nearby chapel. The custodian there had told him about the revelation and he wanted to know if it was true. “Yes, Moses,” I said. “It is true! Wait right there, I want to visit with you.”

I rushed to meet him, and as I ran up the steps to the meetinghouse, Moses ran to meet me. We embraced and wept. “Does this mean that I can now have the priesthood?” he said. “Would you like to receive the priesthood, Moses?” I asked. He beamed from ear to ear, and with tears in his eyes said softly, “I have waited for fourteen years.”

In speaking of the revelation, President Spencer W. Kimball noted, “Now has come one of the greatest changes and blessings that has ever been known.” Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who was present when the revelation was received, said, “It was a revelation of such tremendous signifi cance and import; one which would affect the living and the dead; one which would affect the total relationship that we have with the world.”

Continued Growth
During the first few years following the revelation of June 1978, thousands of valiant Africans were baptized, received the priesthood, participated in the saving ordinances of the temple, and formed a strong foundation for explosive growth of the Church in Africa. One of these early pioneers is Emmanuel Kissi.

As a child growing up in Ghana, Emmanuel had two burning desires: he wanted to practice medicine, and he wanted to fi nd the true religion. By the time he finished medical school, Dr. Kissi had read the Bible three times and concluded that the church he was seeking did not exist in Ghana. In 1977 he took his family to England to continue his medical studies. Dr. Kissi was confident that if the true religion existed it could be found in England, which he felt was the center of civilization.

One day while he was at work, two missionaries came to his home. They introduced themselves as servants of God. Dr. Kissi’s wife, who had been very ill for many weeks, asked them to bless her. When they did, she was healed immediately. Dr. Kissi was greatly surprised when his wife phoned to say that servants of God had healed her and were now prepared to teach them about God’s true religion. After he read the Book of Mormon, Gospel Principles, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, and Jesus the Christ, Dr. Kissi was ready for baptism.

Regarding Joseph Smith’s search for the true church, Dr. Kissi observed, “I realized that Joseph Smith had the same problem that I had. His story was so close and similar to my situation. I put myself in his place and I found myself enjoying every bit of his experience.” The Church has seen spectacular growth in Africa because of the faith of the people and their dedication to spreading the gospel message.

One example of this kind of conviction and missionary zeal is Reuben Okuchukwu Onuoha of the Aba Nigeria Stake. All his life, Reuben had felt spiritual yearnings and restlessness. He readily accepted the gospel when he was introduced to it. However, he and his large family lived about twenty miles from the nearest branch and it was not possible for them to travel that distance to attend Church meetings each week. So the same week he was baptized, Reuben shared the gospel with three other families who joined the Church, and a branch was then organized in the Onuoha home with Reuben called as the branch president. Four months later, there was no longer space in his home for the eighty people he had brought into the Church, so they rented a larger facility.

It is impressive and inspiring to see many in Africa accepting the gospel and adding great strength to the Church. Another humble pioneer of the Church in Ghana is Lily Andoh-Kesson. Lily grew up in poverty and received only part of one year of formal schooling. Common to her culture, she did not meet her husband until the day they married. She bore sixteen children and raised thirteen to maturity.

She could not speak or understand English. She could not read the Book of Mormon or any other Church literature since none had been translated into her native language, Fante.

Lily prayerfully considered the teachings as they were explained to her, and she felt deeply that they were true. She was one of the fi rst to be baptized when the missionaries arrived in 1978. Because the missionary couples from America did not speak Fante, Church meetings were held in English, and some of the early converts who could not understand English returned to their former churches where their native languages were spoken. When asked why she did not leave also, Lily responded, “I stayed because I had the feeling that in everything we have to exercise faith in God.” The infl uence of her great example and love for her family has brought twelve of her married children and their families into the Church.

Priscilla Sampson-Davis, also of Cape Coast, Ghana, joined the Church in 1979. Through her faith and encouragement, her oldest son gave up a lifelong dream and a four-year scholarship to an Anglican theological school so he could be baptized. Twenty months later, he was one of the first full-time missionaries from West Africa.

One Sunday after sacrament meeting, Pricilla says she had a vision in which she was shown some members of the congregation unable to join in singing the hymns. She felt she was being asked to help them by translating the English hymns into Fante. “Though I wasn’t very good in the language, I could speak,” she said. “It is my mother tongue, but I couldn’t write well. I didn’t say no. I said, ‘I will try. I will do my best.’ So I immediately got up. I took paper and pencil and started translating ‘Redeemer of Israel’ right away into Fante.”

The hymns were eagerly received by the Ghanaian Saints. After translating the hymn book, Sister Sampson-Davis translated missionary pamphlets and film strips, Gospel Principles, Stories of the Book of Mormon, and the Book of Mormon. By 1988 she was translating the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

The growth of the Church in Africa is unprecedented. Thirty years after the revelation of June 1978 there are more than a quarter of a million members in Africa. By the end of 2007 there were 45 stakes, 333 wards, 17 missions, and 3 temples. The marvelous revelation allowing all worthy male members of the Church to receive the priesthood opened the floodgates for those who had waited patiently for so many years.

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E. Dale LeBaron has been an instructor and administrator of seminary and institute programs, as well as a professor of Church history at Brigham Young University. While serving as a professor of Church history, he was able to travel to ten African countries and collect more than 400 oral histories, take hundreds of photographs, and gather other information to establish a foundation of history of black Latter-day Saints in Africa, from which a book titled All Are Alike Unto God was published.

LDS Living, May/June, 62-72

Comments on this article	ADD COMMENT
Africa Posted by Gaynor from South Africa Thank you so much for the article on the Saints in Africa, I am from South Africa and now living in Henderson NV. The article brought tears to my eyes and alot of memories, I was baptized in 1966 and can remember alot of what the article wrote about, thank you for one of the best I have read Gaynor Wells. Henderson. NV
Brother Johnson Posted by David from Rock Hill, SC In the article I see his name given as "Joseph Johnson", but it has always been my understanding that his name was "William (Billy) Johnson", also that he is now the Patriarch in Ghana. I should like clarification on this.
so interesting... Posted by carter from quebec, canada Our youngest son actually serves in the Ghana, Cape Coast mission. He greatly enjoys the culture and the people. We just love to hear from that part of the world!!!
Saints in Africa Posted by Penelope from Calgar, Alberta, Canada Great article. I was moved to tears. Penelope Calgary, Alberta Canada
The African experience Posted by Jonathan from Missouri (now) Like Dale LeBaron, I experienced the joy of seeing and participating in the growth of the Church amongst the African people of South Africa. While I served as Bishop of Pretoria Ward at one time we had a mass baptism of over 40 people, the result of one faithful man who had been searching for the truth for many years. When Brother Mogokolo walked by the church in Sunnyside, Pretoria he recognized the name of Jesus Christ on the sign and was drawn into conversation with the custodian, Pete Faber who was working at the front of the building. Bro Mogokolo had started his own church (one that had grown in size to two branches) because until the time he talked to Bro Faber he had not found the church he was looking for. He was soon baptized along with about half of the members of the congregations he had founded. That was rather the catalyst that started growth of the Church in the immediate area. Before long Pretoria Ward grew and serviced a huge geographical area with at one time six dependent branches. The distances were huge and that meant lots of traveling but it was worth it. I have fond memories of holding sacrament meetings in a small structure lovingly built by the members in one distant branch. It was built of dry brick and had mud floors. The roof of new iron gave some shade and protection from the noonday heat. Chickens walked between our feet during the meetings and simultaneous translation of talks was the norm. It was wonderful to see the growth of many humble and faithful people, many of whom lived in physically poor circumstances but who where spiritually enriched by the Gospel. I treasure my African experience, it was life changing and testimony building.
The church in Africa Posted by Heidi from Liberty Lake, Washington I loved this article. My parents are currently serving in the Niarobi, Kenya mission. They are on a temple trip this week taking members of the church to take out their endowments and be sealed to their families. They have worked for 16 months for this moment. They have been able to take one other group to the temple in Jan. 2008. They have worked 16 months for this moment as they are to come home the end of July. Nine of my siblings were able to travel there and see the church first hand and the work they are doing. The people there are so humble and loving. They love the gospel. It it a thrill to see the church spread through Africa and for them to enjoy the full blessings of holding the priesthood and being faithful members. Thank you for writing such an inspiring and wonderful article, reminding me of what a world wide church does for all of God's children. My parent's mission has been such a blessing in our family. They left 11 children, 36 grandchildren (2 whom they have not met) behind. We miss them, but wouldn't change a thing as their mission has blessed so many lives. If you have parents that can serve, encourage them. If you are able to serve yourself, DO IT!! I can't think of a better example you can set for your children and grandchildren than to serve the Lord. We have been tremendously blessed as they have been able to serve and bless the saints in Kenya!!!
The great faith of African Latter-day Saints Posted by Danette from Lakewood, CA I am impressed with the great faith of the African Latter-day Saints. It reminds of the Greek woman in the New Testament (Mark 7:24-30) who when told by Jesus that He was to come to House of Israel only and "it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs", she said, "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs". This woman's daughter was healed by the Lord because of the woman's great faith. We don't always know why the Lord does things in the way He does, but we know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of all people who come unto Him regardless of color.
Pioneers of Africa Posted by Brenda from Dallas, TX When I first saw the BYU production, "The Pioneers of Africa" I could feel a tremendous spirit coming from these African saints. I marvel and am in awe of the faith and dedication they showed not only to the Lord but to His living prophets on the earth. What a great example they are to me! What great missionaries-truly like the sons of Mosiah who went to serve all alone for 14 years. How I wish to be like them. Thank you for your great love for the Lord and His church. And thank you Elder LeBaron for letting us "experience" the stories of the pioneers of Africa.
Pioneers in Africa Posted by Carol from West Jordan, UT This is one of my favorite accounts, and I love to share it with friends and family. I have seen the video, and I would like to know if it is possible to order a DVD of this account.
Growing in Faith & Knowledge Posted by Searcy from GA What a tremendous story. No matter how many times I read about the Saints in Africa, I'm still touched as though I'm reading it for the first time. We all should be able to demonstrate the great faith of these Saints, who so patiently waited for blessings. Now they there are growing even more. A number of the Blacks in the Scriptures DVDs were donated to Saints in Africa. They are allowing the African Saints to bring in their family members and friends who would not come before. Thank you brothers Gray and Perkins for that wonderful work. One day every Latter day Saint will be able to teach the truths on these issues and bring many more souls unto Christ because of your efforts.
The African experience Posted by Jonathan from Missouri (now) Like Dale LeBaron whom I knew briefly, I experienced the joy of seeing and participating in the growth of the Church amongst the African people of South Africa. While I served as Bishop of Pretoria Ward at one time we had a mass baptism of over 40 people, the result of one faithful man who had been searching for the truth for many years. When Brother Mogokolo walked by the church in Sunnyside, Pretoria he recognized the name of Jesus Christ on the sign and was drawn into conversation with the custodian, Pete Faber who was working at the front of the building. Bro Mogokolo had started his own church (one that had grown in size to two branches) because until the time he talked to Bro Faber he had not found the church he was looking for. He was soon baptized along with about half of the members of the congregations he had founded. That was rather the catalyst that started growth of the Church in the immediate area. Before long Pretoria Ward grew and serviced a huge geographical area with at one time six dependent branches. The distances were huge and that meant lots of traveling but it was worth it. I have fond memories of holding sacrament meetings in a small structure lovingly built by the members in one distant branch. It was built of dry brick and had mud floors. The roof of new iron gave some shade and protection from the noonday heat. Chickens walked between our feet during the meeting and simultaneous translation of talks was the norm. It was wonderful to see the growth of many humble and faithful people, many of whom lived in physically poor circumstances but who where spiritually enriched by the Gospel. I treasure my African experience. It was life changing and testimony building.
Patience-a Christ-like virtue Posted by Gary from Illinois After reading this article, I no longer wonder why the Christ-like virtue of patience is typically listed as one of first virtues which we must acquire if we are to become like our Savior. Indeed, patience is embodied in the verse: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." I admit I have a very long way to go before I develop the same level of patience of these wonderful brothers and sisters in Africa.
Africa Saints Posted by Mike from San Bernardino Mountains I always tear up when I read the stories and hear the experiences of the early black pioneers of Africa - the most humble people I know of, in a collective manner. The saints in Africa just shine. I wish I had their simple faith. The Lord has a special place for them. What a unique and special people they are. The angels up above must rejoice with their faith and spirit. May they never take their faith for granted.