Billy Johnson (Mormon): Difference between revisions
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'''Joseph William Billy Johnson''' ( |
'''Joseph William Billy Johnson''' (17 December 1934 – 27 March 2012) was one of the first converts to [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) in [[Ghana]], and was one of the first stake [[Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarchs]] in the country. Prior to his [[Baptism (Latter Day Saints)|baptism]], he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen. He was baptized six months after the [[1978 Revelation on Priesthood]] and among the first to be baptized in the church in Ghana. |
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==Church leadership prior to baptism== |
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Johnson was born in [[Lagos]], Nigeria. He grew up in the Roman Catholic faith. In 1964, Johnson learned about the [[Book of Mormon]] from Frank A. Mensah. Upon receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon, Johnson started "Latter day Saint" congregations in Ghana independent from any other Latter day Saint sect.<ref name="Kissi">{{Citation | last = Kissi | first = Emmanuel A. | authorlink=Emmanuel A. Kissi| editor-last = Heiss | editor-first = Matthew | publication-date = | year = 2004 | title = Walking in the Sand: A history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ghana | periodical = Studies in Latter-day Saint History Series | publisher = BYU Studies and the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History | publication-place = Provo, Utah | isbn = 0-8425-2544-0 | url = http://parkinfamily.org/typography/book/Kissi%20Book.pdf | accessdate =26 August 2011 | format = pdf }}</ref> |
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Johnson was born in [[Lagos]], Nigeria on 17 December 1934. He described his upbringing as Catholic and was a reverend in the [[Church of the Lord (Aladura)]]. He also worked as an import officer for metal industries.<ref name=Stevenson>{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Russell |title=Joseph William "Billy" Johnson (1934–2012)|url=https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/people-global-african-history/johnson-joseph-william-billy-1934-2012/ |website=Blackpast |access-date=15 June 2021 |date=2016-11-02}}</ref> In 1964, Johnson learned about the [[Book of Mormon]] from Frank A. Mensah. After receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon, Johnson and Mensah preached from the book and started "Latter-day Saint" congregations in Ghana, independent from any other Mormon sect. Mesnah delegated leadership of the Cape Coast congregation to Johnson, while he led the group in Accra and Rebecca Mould led a group in Sekondi-Takoradi. Their Brigham Young Educational Institute was a primary school in Bubiashie. Mesnah eventually left the congregations, leaving Johnson to lead them all.<ref name="Kissi">{{Citation | last = Kissi | first = Emmanuel A. | author-link=Emmanuel A. Kissi| editor-last = Heiss | editor-first = Matthew | year = 2004 | title = Walking in the Sand: A history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ghana | periodical = Studies in Latter-day Saint History Series | publisher = BYU Studies and the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History | location = Provo, Utah | isbn = 0-8425-2544-0 | url = http://parkinfamily.org/typography/book/Kissi%20Book.pdf <!--URL is only a sample of the book--> | access-date =26 August 2011}}</ref>{{rp|18–19}}<ref name=Stevenson/> Johnson wrote a letter to church headquarters in 1964, asking them to send missionaries. David O. McKay told him they would not send missionaries yet, but that Johnson should wait patiently for the right time.<ref name=Johnson>{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Joseph William |editor1-last=LeBaron |editor1-first=E. Dale |title=All Are Alike unto God |date=1990 |publisher=Bookcraft |location=Salt Lake City |isbn=0884947386 |chapter=We Felt the Spirit of the Pioneers}}</ref>{{rp|15}} Somewhere between 500 and 1,000 members attended Johnson's congregations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alford |first1=Kenneth L. |last2=Stewart |first2=JeanMarie |editor1-last=Alford |editor1-first=Kenneth L. |editor2-last=Bennet |editor2-first=Richard E. |title=An Eye of Faith: Essays in Honor of Richard R. Cowan |date=2014 |publisher=Religious Studies Center |chapter=Visions of Faith: Early Church Pioneers in Ghana}}</ref>{{rp|353}} Johnson and his family lived off of his farm, his retirement pension, and donations from followers, but they were poor.<ref name=LeBaron>{{cite web |last1=LeBaron |first1=E. Dale |title=Steadfast African Pioneer |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1999/12/steadfast-african-pioneer?lang=eng |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref> Johnson resigned from his job in 1969 and preached full-time until 1979. Johnson's wife left him after he started preaching full-time.<ref name=Johnson/>{{rp|15–16}}<!--LeBaron lds.org source says 1968; Johnson says 1969--> |
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Although he was not able to be |
Although he was not able to be baptized at the time, Johnson received support and encouragement in sharing the faith with others from [[Latter-day Saints]] who were [[expatriate]]s that occasionally lived in or visited Ghana. This began primarily with [[Virginia Cutler]], who was a visiting professor at the [[University of Ghana]] 1966–1969. [[Merrill J. Bateman]] also visited, along with M. Neff Smart, [[Edwin Q. "Ted" Cannon]] and [[Lynn M. Hilton]]. During these visits new literature was brought and members were encouraged to continue in faith. These visits all happened unofficially.<ref name="Kissi" />{{rp|22}} |
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In 1976, Johnson |
In 1976,<ref name="Kissi"/>{{rp|xxvi}} Johnson set out to contact Latter-day Saints in Monrovia, Liberia and found the [[Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]] (RLDS Church). Johnson preached to them and 35 people converted.<ref name=LeBaron/> They did not have further contact. After sharing the message of [[Mormonism]] with many in [[Accra]], Johnson moved to [[Cape Coast, Ghana]], where he set up at least ten congregations there and in the surrounding areas. Some of the Cape Coast group of these independent congregations in Ghana formed the Apostolic Divine Church of Ghana, but this sect only lasted a few months.<ref name="Kissi"/>{{rp|xxvi}} In 1977, four different denominations tried to persuade Johnson to have his congregations become part of their church, and offered him money to do so. Johnson declined their offers.<ref name="Kissi"/>{{rp|21}} The next year, LDS Church [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|president]] [[Spencer W. Kimball]] announced [[1978 Revelation on Priesthood|Official Declaration 2]] which extended the [[Priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood]] to all worthy male members of the church regardless of race or color. Johnson was overjoyed when he heard the news on a BBC radio broadcast.<ref name=LeBaron/> Kimball called missionaries [[Rendell N. Mabey]] and Rachel Mabey and sent them to Ghana. They joined Edwin Q. Cannon and [[Janath R. Cannon]].<ref name="Kissi" />{{rp|33–35}} |
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==Baptism and later religious service== |
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Johnson was finally baptized into the LDS Church on 9 December 1978 a few months after [[Spencer W. Kimball]] received his [[1978 Revelation on Priesthood|revelation]] that allowed [[black people]] of African descent to hold the [[Priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood]].<ref name="Kissi"/> |
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Johnson was finally baptized into the LDS Church in November 1978.<ref name="Kissi"/>{{rp|xxvi}} He was ordained as a [[Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priest]] and called to be the first branch president. He later served as the first [[District (LDS Church)|district president]].<ref name="Kissi" />{{rp|354}} Many of Johnson's congregants were officially baptized into the LDS church, but about a third left.<ref name=Johnson/>{{rp|23}} |
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In 1989, the Ghanaian government decided to suspend the activities of the church in the country.<ref name="Kissi" />{{rp|xxvii}} During this time, the church functioned very differently in Ghana. Foreign missionaries had to quickly withdraw from the country, including the acting mission president. Members held sacrament meetings in their homes on a family basis, instead of at formal meetinghouses. Johnson and his wife were called as the only missionaries at the time.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|title=The Worldwide Church: Mormonism as a Global Religion|last=Haws|first=J.B.|publisher=Religious Studies Center|year=2016|isbn=9780842529730|editor-last=Goodman|editor-first=Michael A.|location=Brigham Young University, Provo, UT|pages=21–41|chapter=The Freeze and The Thaw: The LDS Church and the State of Ghana in the 1980's|editor-last2=Properzi|editor-first2=Mauro}}</ref> |
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Johnson was the first [[branch president]] of the LDS Church in Ghana. Later he served as a [[District (LDS Church)|district president]]. In 1990, when the Ghanaian government decided to suspend the activities of the LDS Church in the country, Johnson and his wife were serving as [[Mormon missionary|missionaries]]. They were the only missionaries who served from then until mid-1991, a period known in the church as "the freeze". |
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After the end of the freeze, [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stakes]] were organized in Accra and Cape Coast |
After the end of the freeze in November 1990, [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stakes]] were organized in Accra and Cape Coast. Johnson was called as the first stake [[Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarch]] in Ghana In 2004, the [[Accra Ghana Temple]] was completed, the LDS Church's second [[Temple (LDS Church)|temple]] to be built in Africa.<ref name=Stevenson/><ref name="Kissi" />{{rp|xxviii}} He died on 27 March 2012.<ref name=Stevenson/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Wikipedia books |
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|1=List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement |
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}} |
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*[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana]] |
*[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
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*Johnson, Joseph William Billy, "We Felt the Spirit of the Pioneers", in [[E. Dale LeBaron]] (ed.) ''"All are Alike unto God": Fascinating conversion stories of African Saints'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: [[Bookcraft]], 1990) pp. 13–23. |
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*[[Emmanuel A. Kissi|Kissi, Emmanuel Abu]]. ''Walking in the Sand: A History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana'' (Provo, Utah: [[Brigham Young University Press]], 2004). |
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*[[E. Dale LeBaron|LeBaron, E. Dale]] "Joseph W. B. Johnson" in [[Arnold K. Garr|Garr, Arnold K.]], [[Donald Q. Cannon]] and [[Richard O. Cowan]], ed. ''Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: [[Deseret Book]], 2000) pp. 577–578. |
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*[[Alexander B. Morrison|Morrison, Alexander B.]], ''The Dawning of a Brighter Day: The Church in Black Africa'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: [[Deseret Book]], 1990) pp. 104–118. |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*{{cite speech | |
*{{cite speech |author-link= E. Dale LeBaron |first= E. Dale |last= LeBaron |url= https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/e-dale-lebaron_african-converts-without-baptism/ |title= African Converts Without Baptism |event= BYU Devotional |date= 3 November 1998 |location= [[Marriott Center]], [[Brigham Young University]] }} |
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==External links== |
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* [https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/ghana/ LDS Newsroom: Country Profile: Ghana] |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kCXTrbIgSY The Documentary of Patriarch Joseph William Billy Johnson of Ghana] |
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{{LDS-Africa|show}} |
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{{Ghana topics}} |
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{{Christianity in Ghana}} |
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[[Category:1934 births]] |
[[Category:1934 births]] |
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[[Category:Converts to Mormonism from Roman Catholicism]] |
[[Category:Converts to Mormonism from Roman Catholicism]] |
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[[Category:Ghanaian Mormon missionaries]] |
[[Category:Ghanaian Mormon missionaries]] |
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[[Category:Mormon missionaries in Ghana]] |
[[Category:Mormon missionaries in Ghana]] |
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[[Category:Patriarchs (LDS Church)]] |
[[Category:Patriarchs (LDS Church)]] |
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[[Category:People from Lagos]] |
Latest revision as of 00:21, 29 November 2024
Joseph William Billy Johnson (17 December 1934 – 27 March 2012) was one of the first converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Ghana, and was one of the first stake patriarchs in the country. Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen. He was baptized six months after the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood and among the first to be baptized in the church in Ghana.
Church leadership prior to baptism
[edit]Johnson was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 17 December 1934. He described his upbringing as Catholic and was a reverend in the Church of the Lord (Aladura). He also worked as an import officer for metal industries.[1] In 1964, Johnson learned about the Book of Mormon from Frank A. Mensah. After receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon, Johnson and Mensah preached from the book and started "Latter-day Saint" congregations in Ghana, independent from any other Mormon sect. Mesnah delegated leadership of the Cape Coast congregation to Johnson, while he led the group in Accra and Rebecca Mould led a group in Sekondi-Takoradi. Their Brigham Young Educational Institute was a primary school in Bubiashie. Mesnah eventually left the congregations, leaving Johnson to lead them all.[2]: 18–19 [1] Johnson wrote a letter to church headquarters in 1964, asking them to send missionaries. David O. McKay told him they would not send missionaries yet, but that Johnson should wait patiently for the right time.[3]: 15 Somewhere between 500 and 1,000 members attended Johnson's congregations.[4]: 353 Johnson and his family lived off of his farm, his retirement pension, and donations from followers, but they were poor.[5] Johnson resigned from his job in 1969 and preached full-time until 1979. Johnson's wife left him after he started preaching full-time.[3]: 15–16
Although he was not able to be baptized at the time, Johnson received support and encouragement in sharing the faith with others from Latter-day Saints who were expatriates that occasionally lived in or visited Ghana. This began primarily with Virginia Cutler, who was a visiting professor at the University of Ghana 1966–1969. Merrill J. Bateman also visited, along with M. Neff Smart, Edwin Q. "Ted" Cannon and Lynn M. Hilton. During these visits new literature was brought and members were encouraged to continue in faith. These visits all happened unofficially.[2]: 22
In 1976,[2]: xxvi Johnson set out to contact Latter-day Saints in Monrovia, Liberia and found the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church). Johnson preached to them and 35 people converted.[5] They did not have further contact. After sharing the message of Mormonism with many in Accra, Johnson moved to Cape Coast, Ghana, where he set up at least ten congregations there and in the surrounding areas. Some of the Cape Coast group of these independent congregations in Ghana formed the Apostolic Divine Church of Ghana, but this sect only lasted a few months.[2]: xxvi In 1977, four different denominations tried to persuade Johnson to have his congregations become part of their church, and offered him money to do so. Johnson declined their offers.[2]: 21 The next year, LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced Official Declaration 2 which extended the priesthood to all worthy male members of the church regardless of race or color. Johnson was overjoyed when he heard the news on a BBC radio broadcast.[5] Kimball called missionaries Rendell N. Mabey and Rachel Mabey and sent them to Ghana. They joined Edwin Q. Cannon and Janath R. Cannon.[2]: 33–35
Baptism and later religious service
[edit]Johnson was finally baptized into the LDS Church in November 1978.[2]: xxvi He was ordained as a priest and called to be the first branch president. He later served as the first district president.[2]: 354 Many of Johnson's congregants were officially baptized into the LDS church, but about a third left.[3]: 23
In 1989, the Ghanaian government decided to suspend the activities of the church in the country.[2]: xxvii During this time, the church functioned very differently in Ghana. Foreign missionaries had to quickly withdraw from the country, including the acting mission president. Members held sacrament meetings in their homes on a family basis, instead of at formal meetinghouses. Johnson and his wife were called as the only missionaries at the time.[6]
After the end of the freeze in November 1990, stakes were organized in Accra and Cape Coast. Johnson was called as the first stake patriarch in Ghana In 2004, the Accra Ghana Temple was completed, the LDS Church's second temple to be built in Africa.[1][2]: xxviii He died on 27 March 2012.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Stevenson, Russell (2 November 2016). "Joseph William "Billy" Johnson (1934–2012)". Blackpast. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kissi, Emmanuel A. (2004), Heiss, Matthew (ed.), "Walking in the Sand: A history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ghana" (PDF), Studies in Latter-day Saint History Series, Provo, Utah: BYU Studies and the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History, ISBN 0-8425-2544-0, retrieved 26 August 2011
- ^ a b c Johnson, Joseph William (1990). "We Felt the Spirit of the Pioneers". In LeBaron, E. Dale (ed.). All Are Alike unto God. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft. ISBN 0884947386.
- ^ Alford, Kenneth L.; Stewart, JeanMarie (2014). "Visions of Faith: Early Church Pioneers in Ghana". In Alford, Kenneth L.; Bennet, Richard E. (eds.). An Eye of Faith: Essays in Honor of Richard R. Cowan. Religious Studies Center.
- ^ a b c LeBaron, E. Dale. "Steadfast African Pioneer". www.churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ Haws, J.B. (2016). "The Freeze and The Thaw: The LDS Church and the State of Ghana in the 1980's". In Goodman, Michael A.; Properzi, Mauro (eds.). The Worldwide Church: Mormonism as a Global Religion. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center. pp. 21–41. ISBN 9780842529730.
Further reading
[edit]- LeBaron, E. Dale (3 November 1998). African Converts Without Baptism (Speech). BYU Devotional. Marriott Center, Brigham Young University.