Great Day for the Church , for Africa

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently spent 10 days with Latter-day Saints in West Africa, observing incredible growth and activity in a relatively young area of the Church.

“Truly the Lord is hastening His work throughout the world,” Elder Bednar commented. “We saw evidence of that hastening in every country and city we visited in Africa. The devoted and faithful members of the Church on that continent are anxiously engaged in following the example of the Savior and establishing His gospel and Church. I am especially impressed by their diligent preparation to enter the house of the Lord worthily and receive the blessings to be had therein.”

During his visit, we were with him at the Mission President Seminar in Accra on January 28 - 29, where he also spoke in a member fireside that evening. (Church News, Feb 15, 2014)

Before & After - Presidents Weed and Robison

In June of 1970, President Robert Weed; Benin, Africa Mission President and President Robison, Ghana MTC President studied together in the Provo MTC (LTM) enroute to missions in Belgium and France.  Forty-four years later, they met up for the first time at the Mission President Seminar in Ghana.

In the LTM photo on top, President Weed is the 4th from the right.  President Robison is the 2nd from the right.  President Weed is the person on the right in the bottom photo.

First Glimpse - Ghana Temple

On Monday, January 27, the Robisons had their first glimpse of the Ghana Temple as they drove to the Mission President Seminar with Elder Bednar.

January 24 District Leaders and Sister Training Leaders

Before this year, the Ghana MTC had not had Sister Training Leaders.  Out of 73 missionaries in the MTC this group, 20 were sister missionaries.

MTC Presidency

Here is the MTC Presidency:

 From left to right are the Obengs, the Robisons and the Acquayes.  President Acuaye is the first counselor and President Obeng is the second counselor.  Their wives are the counselors to Sister Robison in the MTC Relief Society Presidency.

The Church in Ghana

COUNTRY PROFILE —  4 SEPTEMBER 2013

Members have been in Ghana since 1978. In the 1950s the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a companion scripture to the Bible, along with various pamphlets about the Church found their way to Ghana. These were read by many Ghanaians who were converted to the gospel and used them as a basis to start their own Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregations. In 1964 Joseph W. B. Johnson gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and provided leadership in organizing and directing congregations consisting of hundreds of followers. In 1978 two missionary couples entered Ghana from Nigeria and baptized many of Johnson's congregations. A building program began in 1979.

Within a year more than 400 people had been baptized and branches (small congregations) were organized. By 1981 seven branches were functioning in Ghana. All converts were taught the gospel in their own language and trained in leadership skills.

On June 14, 1989, Ghana's government expelled the missionaries and banned the Church. Members were permitted to hold services in the privacy of their homes, however. Eighteen months later the government expressed satisfaction that the Church teaches members to be obedient to government laws and promotes racial harmony, and on December 1, 1990, Ghana permitted Church activities to resume. By the end of 1990, membership was more than 9,000.

In 1998, Church President Gordon B. Hinckley met with Ghana's Head of State, Mr. Rawlings, who apologized for the action taken by the government in 1989. President Hinckley informed Mr. Rawlings that the Church would build its first temple in West Africa in the capital city of Accra. He also met with thousands of members in Accra and announced the plans to build the temple.

In the 1990s humanitarian efforts have focused on member self-reliance. A number of projects were undertaken through local initiative by members in districts and stakes (dioceses). Some 90 percent of LDS Church buildings in Ghana include some form of gardening activity.

The first missionary training center in Africa, located in Tema, Ghana, was dedicated on 17 May 2002.

Thursday Devotionals

Every other Thursday morning a General Authority or Area Seventy visits the MTC for a devotional.  Prior to that Devotional a photo is taken to commemorate the occasion as well as provide a historical record of each group who attends the MTC.  Here is the first MTC group to experience the MTC with President and Sister Robison:

In this photo, taken on January 23, 2014 the speaker seated next to the Robisons is Elder Ben Davis, an Area Seventy.