Joseph Johnson and the Midnight BBC Broadcast (Cape Coast, Ghana, June 9, 1978)

Joseph Johnson was a faithful Ghanaian who for fourteen years had preached the restored gospel, organized a dozen congregations, built chapels, and brought hundreds into the faith—all without being baptized, for the Lord's time had not yet come. He had written letters pleading for missionaries; he was persecuted, lost his job, and was left by his wife. On the evening of June 9, 1978, overcome with exhaustion and discouragement, he collapsed into his chair and felt impressed to turn on his short-wave radio to the BBC—something he had not done for several years. After more than an hour of trying, he finally tuned in at the top of the midnight news broadcast, and one of the first things he heard was a special report of President Spencer W. Kimball's revelation that all worthy male members could receive the priesthood. 'I burst into tears of joy,' he said, 'because I knew the priesthood and the Church would now come to Africa.' This remarkable impression to turn on a radio he had not used in years, at the very moment of the broadcast, is a faith-promoting witness that the Lord, by the Holy Ghost, remembers and comforts those who have waited long in faithfulness.

Fuller account of this event (from E. Dale LeBaron, "How Saints in Africa Prepared for the Priesthood Revelation Years Before It Happened," LDS Living, June 8, 2018):

Joseph Johnson returned to his small, modest home in Cape Coast, Ghana, Africa, late at night on June 9, 1978. Weary and frustrated, Johnson felt that his hard work and loyalty to the church he loved appeared wasted. For 14 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. Johnson wrote letters to Church authorities asking for assistance and for missionaries to come to baptize him and many others, but Salt Lake City's hands were tied, and their answer to Johnson was to wait and be patient.

So Johnson 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 14 long years, Johnson felt he was at the end of his strength and endurance.

On this evening, overcome with exhaustion and discouragement, Johnson 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), something he had not done for several years. After trying for more than an hour, he was finally able to tune in to the BBC station at the top of its midnight news broadcast. One of the first items Johnson heard was a special report that electrified him. 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."