The First West African Meeting: Three Hours of Spontaneous Testimony (Opobo, Nigeria, October 22, 1961)

On October 22, 1961, LaMar Williams, secretary to the Church Missionary Department, held the first official Latter-day Saint meeting in black Africa in a small mud hut in Opobo District, Nigeria. One hundred and ten souls gathered—none came by car; many, including eight mothers with small children, had begun their day before 4:00 a.m. and walked twenty-five miles or more to be there. After two hours of teaching, Brother Williams prepared to end the meeting. He recorded that he heard a murmur through the congregation, and the pastor said to him that the people did not want to go home, for they had something to say. Then for three hours these people stood bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the Church and how they believed in the prophets. 'I could not believe what I was hearing,' he said. One elderly, sick man who had walked sixteen miles that morning declared, '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.' This meeting is a faith-promoting witness of a people whom the Lord had prepared in the wilderness, ready to receive the restored gospel with all their hearts.

Fuller account of this event (from E. Dale LeBaron, "African Converts Without Baptism," BYU devotional address, 3 November 1998):

The first official Church meeting in black Africa was held on October 22, 1961, in a small mud hut in Opobo District, Nigeria, where Brother 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 4:00 a.m. and walked 25 miles or more to be there. After teaching them for two hours, Brother 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 testimony to the truthfulness of the Church and how they believed in the prophets. I could not believe what I was hearing."

One elderly gentleman said: "I keep hearing you say, 'if we are sincere.' Elder Williams, I want you to know that I am sincere. I am an old man . . . I am sick. But when I heard you were going to be here, I walked 16 miles this morning to see you and to hear what you have to say. I still have to walk 16 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."