AFRICA WEST AREA LOCAL PAGES PAGES LOCAL AREA WEST AFRICA

AREA PRESIDENCY MESSAGE Pioneers—Anchored by Hope Part Two By Elder Marcus B. Nash First Counselor, Africa West Area Presidency Marcus B. Nash

n the first part of this article pub- My second and third suggestions reckless adventurers, nor were they I lished in last month’s issue of the follow: isolated families or groups of families. Liahona, I shared some wonderful, They were literally villages on the simple stories about pioneers in Remember their unity. march, villages of sobriety, solidarity, the early days of the Church and Second, we must remember that and discipline unheard of anywhere some who still live among us. After the pioneers in general were unified. else on the western trails. . . . Few sharing those stories, I wrote that Historians have observed that the [other] emigrants gave a thought to I have three suggestions for how western migration of the Latter-days people coming after them. . . . Not so those pioneers’ faith and hope can Saints was different from any of the the Mormons. The first thought of the help anchor us in today’s tumultu- other migrations of the American pioneer company was to note good ous world. My first suggestion was West. Quoting Wallace Stegner: campgrounds, wood, water, grass, to to remember their stories and pass “The Mormon migration . . . dif- measure distances and set up mile- them along to others, especially the fered profoundly from [others]. . . . posts. They and succeeding compa- rising generation. These were not groups of young and nies bent their backs to build bridges BY GLEN S. HOPKINSON MARY FIELDING AND JOSEPH F. SMITH CROSSING THE PLAINS, MARY FIELDING AND JOSEPH F.

February 2017 A1 and dig down the steep approaches of wife Laura, and their son Juan Amado did not realize that there are also pio- fords. They made rafts and ferry boats to learn about their lives in the Church. neers here in Otavalo, and they are my and left them[, all] for the use of later Brother Muñoz was one of the earliest parents! This fills me with joy.”6 companies. . . .”1 converts to the Church in Otavalo. Here in Africa, Brother Kenneth K. The reason for this difference was When he was a boy between 10 Andam grew up Christian but was that the members of the Church came and 13 years old, Brother Muñoz was unable to find answers to his ques- to build up Zion, and in practical given a copy of the Book of Mormon tions, especially about the nature of terms, Zion is “every man esteem[ing] written in Spanish. He did not speak God. He met and married his wife, and his brother as himself, and practic[ing] Spanish but felt a profound power although he started attending church virtue and holiness before [the Lord].”2 and spirit when he held the book in with her, he did not continue because Yes, Zion—a society with people of his hand. He hid it in his home, for he they did not teach truly about the one heart and one mind, dwelling in knew that his brothers would destroy nature of God. When his wife asked righteousness, with no poor among it. From time to time, he would take him why he stopped attending, he told them3—was and is to be the result of the book from its hiding place, just to her: “The day I find the true Church, “every man seeking the interest of his hold and feel its power. I shall never turn back.” By 1983, his neighbor, and doing all things with an Enduring significant adversity and search for truth had intensified, and eye single to the glory of God.”4 opposition from both family and his one of his co-workers gave him a This sense of community and mutu- community, he joined the Church and copy of a book titled Articles of Faith ally shared responsibility produced a became one of the first missionaries by Elder James E. Talmage of the unified effort to follow God’s prophet. called from the village of Otavalo. Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of That is a major reason they succeeded He returned from his mission and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- as they did and is an important part married a returned sister missionary, day Saints. As he read the book, he of the legacy they pass to us. They and together they raised a faithful, recognized it was Christian and that whisper that we too will prosper gospel-centered family. He helped to it clarified most of his questions. through the Lord’s power only to the translate the Book of Mormon into his He borrowed other books from his degree we act as one with a sense of native tongue, Quechua, and helped co-workers and read them all and was community and mutual responsibility translate the temple ordinances into convinced this was God’s true Church. in following the Lord’s prophet. Quechua. When he informed his wife, she told After listening to Brother Muñoz’s him that she had been baptized into Pass on the same spirit. story, I turned to his son, who was the Church in 1978 when she was a Third, we are responsible to “instill weeping. Once he collected himself, girl but had fallen away. After taking in our children and grandchildren the he said: the lessons from the missionaries, he same spirit that drove the footsteps of “I have always appreciated the early was baptized, and his wife was rebap- the pioneers.”5 A simple lesson of how pioneers who crossed the plains with tized a year and a half later. They this is done can be seen in the Muñoz their handcarts in North America. Their have taught the gospel to their four family of Otavalo, Ecuador, in South faith and devotion and dedication have children, and all of them have contin- America. In March of 2013, I met with inspired me and touched me deeply ued to be faithful to the Lord and His Brother Juan José Muñoz Otavalo, his throughout my life. But until today, I Church.

A2 Liahona AFRICA WEST AREA LOCAL PAGES LOCAL AREA WEST AFRICA BY CLARK KELLEY PRICE

THE MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY RESCUED BY VOLUNTEERS, COMPANY HANDCART THE MARTIN

Brother and Sister Muñoz and Each of us can be such a pioneer. commandments. . . . Avoiding the Brother and Sister Andam teach us Elder M. Russell Ballard observed: temptations and evils of the world that we pass along a pioneer legacy “Packing a few belongings into requires the faith and fortitude of a real of faith by being a pioneer, that is, by wagons or handcarts and walking modern-day pioneer.”9 opening, showing, living the gospel 1,300 miles [2,090 km] isn’t the way President Thomas S. Monson, way for others to follow, including most of us will be asked to demon- recently asked: “Can we somehow our children and family. When we strate our faith and courage. We face muster the courage and steadfastness consistently exercise our faith in the different challenges today—different of purpose that characterized the pio- Lord and anchor our souls with hope mountains to climb, different rivers to neers of a former generation? Can you in Him, we become, as Moroni said, ford, different valleys to make blossom and I, in actual fact, be pioneers? I “sure and steadfast, always abounding as the rose.8 . . . Our struggle is found know we can be. Oh, how the world in good works, being lead to glorify in living in a world steeped in sin and needs pioneers today!”10 God.”7. Then, like Reddick Allred (and spiritual indifference, where self-in- May each of us resolve to be a Brother Acquah in jail), we will min- dulgence, dishonesty, and greed seem pioneer, to go before and open up ster to those who are lost on the trail to be present everywhere. Today’s the way for others who are buffeted of life, and they—including those in wilderness is one of confusion and by a world steeped in sin, confusion, future generations—will learn from us conflicting messages. . . . We must . . . and doubt. May we remember the the power and peace of such a life. not become casual in keeping God’s pioneers and their stories, remember

February 2017 A3 that they came to build Zion in a great! So let us remember that there are wonderful Latter-day Saints of West united effort, and then accept the no small things in great endeavors. Africa, and I love to be with you. That responsibility to instill such faith in I have visited the humble room each of us may be a pioneer for the all we meet—especially in the rising where Joseph William Billy Johnson thousands, even millions, who will generation—and to do so through first held meetings connected to the follow is my prayer and great desire. ◼ offering our own “living sacrifice”11 of Church in Ghana—and marveled a life moved by faith in the Lord Jesus that from that small beginning not so NOTES 1. Wallace Stegner, The Gathering of Zion— Christ and anchored by the hope of long ago we now have a temple. Our The Story of the Mormon Trail (1992), 11. good things to come through Him. story as the Lord’s covenant people in 2. Doctrine and Covenants 38:24. 3. See Moses 7:18. Remember, parents have the solemn West Africa has only begun! If we as 4. Doctrine and Covenants 82:19. obligation to teach their children to a people live the gospel, follow the 5. M. Russell Ballard, “Pioneer Faith and Fortitude—Then and Now”, Ensign, July understand faith in the Lord, even prophet, choose faith over doubt, and 2013, 24; or Liahona, July 2013, 16. before they are eight years old!12 do the little things that grow faith and 6. Personal Journal, Marcus B. Nash. 7. Ether 12:4. To be a pioneer means that we “be produce soul-anchoring hope, each 8. See Isaiah 35:1. 13 9. M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, July 2013, 24; not weary in well doing.” Weltha of us will be a pioneer, preparing the or Liahona, July 2013, 16. Hatch doubtless felt no special sig- way for our families and others around 10. Thomas S. Monson, “The World Needs Pioneers Today”, Ensign or Liahona, nificance in starting a cooking fire the world to follow. July 2013, 5. while her husband, Ira, prepared I love the Lord and I love His 11. Romans 12:1. 12. See Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–26. and loaded their buggy. Nor did Ira people. I have felt His love for the 13. Doctrine and Covenants 64:33. Hatch think it heroic to wake up, stiff from a fitful sleep on the hard ground, and prepare for the day’s journey. Nor did Isaac Nash think it CHURCH HISTORY COLUMN all that momentous to throw a chaw of tobacco to the ground. And for Reddick Allred, it was a simple matter Inspirational Way of doing what the Lord had said he of Collecting Records should do. Brother Acquah probably By Charles and Mercy Sono-Koree­ did not think is heroic to visit his friend Area and Assistant Area Church History Adviser in jail, and Brother and Sister Andam may not have thought that their day- n the day the Church was orga- for the good of the Church, and for to-day teaching of the gospel to their O nized, April 6, 1830, the Lord the rising generations” (D&C 69:7–8). children to be all that monumental. commanded that a record should Since that time, the Church has col- Brother Muñoz may not have sensed be kept (see D&C 21:1). In 1831, lected records from around the world, that holding the Book of Mormon He indicated that the Church histo- gathering and preserving information, would bring eternal blessings. rian “may . . . obtain knowledge . . . testimonies, and memories that might Yet from all of these small and [by] writing, copying, selecting, and otherwise be lost. Appropriately shar- simple things has come something obtaining all things which shall be ing this Church history helps bring

A4 Liahona AFRICA WEST AREA LOCAL PAGES LOCAL AREA WEST AFRICA

Charles and Mercy Sono-Koree­

people closer to Christ, strengthens public. Such records, however, may A donation agreement form their resolve to live the gospel, and still have historical value and are worth would be signed between you, the can provide them with patterns for collecting and preserving. donor, and the Church to indicate overcoming adversity. We call upon every faithful member that the Church would now have In the broadest sense, a record of the Church who has such records— authority to use your record when- is information in a fixed form that be it a photograph, historic document, ever it is needful. documents a person’s experiences or testimonies, faith-promoting story or We bear witness of the miracle recounts the history of a given locality, stories, and journals—to donate to the that occurs in collecting records of Church unit, or event. Records can be Church for the benefit of the rising gen- the Church. We know the Lord has physical items or electronic files. eration. If you are not capable of writ- His hands in this project to collect Some records may contain sacred, ing your stories, you can call or invite records from members of the Church. confidential, or private information your Church history adviser to conduct We know it to be a commandment that is inappropriate to release to the an oral history interview with you. from the Lord. ◼

February 2017 A5 LATTER-­DAY VOICES

understand the covenant. I just went Studying Church Literature Helps like that, you know. Now I am so con- Me Understand the Gospel versant with the procedure and every- thing. However, I came to realization An interview with Brother Etubom Eniang Essien that it is not an easy thing.” By Edem Edem Calabar Nigeria South Stake Public Affairs Director, Calabar Nigeria South Stake President, President Ephraim Ebong and other members of the stake visited rother Etubom Eniang Essien, a “The Church is very interesting; Brother Essien to give the sacrament B 96-year-old member of The Church you rarely know everything about it. in his home. He bore his testimony to of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and It is just like a school: you go from them saying: “I was smoking seriously, a title holder in Efik land, has said one step to the other; you advance and when I read Church literatures and that reading of The Church of Jesus from one level to the other, from one scriptures, I realized that smoking was Christ of Latter Day Saints literature stage to the other. But after I have not good. I tried to stop, and you know, has expanded his knowledge of the read the Church literature and scrip- I stopped smoking for some time and gospel. As he read and studied, he tures, embedded myself in them, I afterwards, I started again. In one of the discovered the answers to questions came to realize the importance of fast and testimony Sundays, I fasted and and explanations of things he did not baptism. . . . And then when we went prayed, and it looks like it worked out understand. to the temple, even there I did not well and I stopped smoking.” Etubom Essien also bore testimony about paying tithing: “From my previ- ous church, the issue of paying tithe had never been told. We were not educated about tithes payment. It is when I came into this Church, I started hearing about and paying tithe. I had never paid tithe in my former church, and I only put my offering on Sunday and left, but ever since I was told about payment of tithes, I had seen wonderful things happening in my life. At times, things are hard, but suddenly something comes in.” Brother Essien is a living example of the increased knowledge and under- standing that comes through dedicated study of the doctrine and the goodness it brings into our lives. ◼

A6 Liahona AFRICA WEST AREA LOCAL PAGES LOCAL AREA WEST AFRICA

MISSIONARY MOMENTS

weeks after he finished his mission. Overcoming Trials to Get to the MTC He was a very special person to me.” By James and Carolyn Ritchie Another elder wrote, “I don’t have This article was originally published in Meridian Magazine (www.ldsmag.com) either of my parents. I lost them both and is used by permission. All rights reserved. — 5/6/2013 some years back. [I know] that one day, one time, I will meet each of them

We discovered that each of their arrivals was not only and enjoy having them again for my a miracle but also that it was a piece of a foreordained parents.” plan to build the Kingdom of God in Africa. Another told me: “I have no mother and no father; they are both dead. So I take Jesus Christ as everything in my life. There are no other members of the Church in my entire family. I am the only one. It is so hard.” Another elder explained: “My parents are both dead, and my adop- tive mother, whom I greatly love, also died. These losses led me to a preoc- cupation with the doctrine of baptism for the dead. The priests in my former church never could explain what it meant. My adoptive mother came to me repeatedly in many dreams insist- ing that I should be baptized for her. y wife and I were delighted to dad as he died four days before I was She told me that she had received M preside over the missionary train- born. I loved my mom; she brought the promise that I would do it for her ing center in Accra, Ghana, West Africa, us the gospel, but she died before salvation. She told me that I would from 2004 to 2006. Every three weeks a we could prove to her how much shortly find the true Church where I new group of missionaries arrived from we loved her for bringing us such a could do it. While visiting my sister, various countries in Africa to begin precious gift as the gospel. Two of I found the Church and recognized their training. I wanted to share with my sisters and one brother are now it by this one teaching of baptism you some interesting comments from returned missionaries and outstanding for the dead. I knew it was true the one such group that was typical of the people in the Church. I was taught to moment that they taught me that one many groups that arrived to prepare change every difficult situation into a principle. I pray for my mother, my for several weeks before departing for good one, but one of my more diffi- father, and my adoptive mother, and their various mission assignments. cult moments came when my brother, I know that they are all members of One missionary wrote me the who had just completed his mission, the Church in heaven, for I have had following: “I didn’t get to know my died from a car accident only two all their work done for them in the

February 2017 A7 VISIT AREA WEBSITES! temple. I have also brought several and now their daddy was not coming friends into the Church.” home either. I will share just one more inspiring Six years later this 20-year-old mis- example. It is about Elder Alaka of sionary enrolled his now 14-year-old Nairobi. Shortly after arriving at the sister a in a boarding school with the MTC, he gave his first four-minute talk money he had received from some in his first sacrament meeting in the insurance provided by the U.S. gov- MTC. He told the congregation that ernment, gave her a big hug, and then six years before, during the terrorist boarded a plane for his flight across bombings of the U.S. Embassy in Africa, from Kenya to Accra, Ghana, Africa West Area Websites: Kenya, Elder Alaka was then a young where he began his mission. He is the English: africawest.lds.org boy, age 14. He was holding his eight- first missionary from his newly con- French: afriquedelouest.lds.org year-old sister’s hand and anxiously verted family. He is convinced that dialing a cell telephone number pray- his father and mother are very much ing that it would answer. It did. aware of his mission and watching The cell phone that was ringing carefully how he represents them and belonged to his father—a Kenyan his sister and the Church. I could tell accountant employed at the U.S. he was going to be a great missionary. Embassy. He was a good man trying His mom and dad will be very proud to raise his two young children after of him. his wife had died just three years This group of new missionaries before. He had recently found the and their trials and struggles to arrive gospel and had many good friends in the MTC are representative of the in the Church who were anxious to hundreds of missionaries who came Mormon Newsroom Ghana: help him with his two motherless through the MTC during our tenure www.mormonnewsroom.​ com.​ gh​ children. in that special and sacred place. With great momentary relief, the cell Everyone came with an amazing phone was answered, but a strange story. It always seemed like a mira- voice responded. After he asked for his cle to discover how they had found father, this stranger told this 14-year-old themselves at the missionary training that he had heard the phone ringing center arriving from some village or and had taken it out the pocket of his hamlet from all over Africa preparing father who had just been killed in the to change their lives forever and lots bombing at the embassy. of others along the way. We discovered Stunned and heartbroken, Alaka that each of their arrivals was not only looked down at his eight-year-­ old­ a miracle but also that it was a piece of sister and wondered how he could tell a foreordained plan to build the king- Mormon Newsroom Nigeria: her that her that mommy was gone dom of God in Africa. ◼ www.mormonnewsroom.​ org.​ ng​ ◼ ENGLISH—AFRICA WEST

A8 Liahona