The Book is Better

The musical, “The Book of Mormon,” (which isn’t really about “The Book of Mormon”) has won numerous entertainment awards over the last decade. It’s a comical and irreverent Broadway hit about two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are attempting to teach the gospel to some people in a remote Ugandan village. Friends, not of my faith, say it is incredibly entertaining – satirical, humorous, with witty lyrics, catchy music, and fun choreography. Sadly, they also tell me, “You wouldn’t enjoy it. It mocks your faith, is blasphemous, and really makes fun of Africans.” I read the synopsis of the musical on Wikipedia and they are probably right. I thought the ads the Church took out in the musical’s playbill were awesome. Instead of taking offense, they matched wit with wit:

Despite the success of the musical show, I have to say, as a mission leader on the front line in Africa, I am having a much different experience than they portray on Broadway. How the Church’s missionary and humanitarian efforts are affecting so many people’s lives are incredible. The Church recently renovated and donated a lot of equipment for the neo-natal ICU and also the Eye Care center at Monrovia’s largest hospital. Other donations, including hundreds of computers for education and hundreds of wheelchairs for those in need, are given each year to assist the people. Schools are being built and water wells are being dug too. Yet the greatest success is in the forward progress of the people.

I have found that some westerners mistakenly think of Africa as a single country or singular race, but it is a massive continent of 54 countries and many peoples. The cultures of each country are unique, depending on their history, including colonization and geography. West Africa includes about 20 countries. Some are democratic, and others are under military regimes. Liberia falls in the former, but it is still recovering from the 17 years of civil war, the Ebola virus, and decades of corruption. Sadly, the corruption isn’t just in the government, but dishonesty is woven into the entire society, and I expect it will change only very slowly. 

When Nancy and I arrived in West Africa, we went through a grueling culture shock. I confess it took us many months of adjustment. Liberia is one of the poorest, dirtiest and most illiterate countries in the world. There are some quasi-civilized pockets in the city, some beautiful rainforest areas in the bush, and a whole lot of humanity struggling to survive in villages, towns and mud huts. There are many bright and intelligent people, but they are a small, select part of the populace. Population estimates of Liberia are over 5.6 million, but it is hard to know if this is accurate. The census they were supposed to conduct in 2022 was derailed, and the incredible number of new babies and untimely deaths every year are hard to estimate. This is a very young country. The median age is about 18 years old. I’ve never seen so many children and pregnant women in my life – way more than even Utah, which is the youngest state in the US. In Liberia 40% of the people are under age 15, 97% are under age 65, and only 3% are 65 or older.

Liberians are generally warm and friendly. This is one of the joys of living here. Yet some can quickly turn angry, and if enough are upset, mob-mentality can arise. Most Liberians are peaceful, but the lack of communication skills and literacy leaves ample room for misunderstanding, which can lead to contention. There is no way to adequately describe Liberia. One must live here to appreciate the uniqueness and the challenge. Liberia used to be the crown jewel of West Africa, but it now is a large step down from all the other West African countries I’ve seen. (Granted, I’ve not been to Burundi, Eastern DRC or South Sudan, where poverty and wars abound.)

From Nigeria to Liberia and Senegal to Sierra Leone, there currently are 25 missions of the Church in West Africa, and many more in Central and South Africa — roughly 450 missions throughout the world. In Liberia we have 175 missionaries, which is typical for a mission. Most of the young missionaries (ages 18 to 27) are focused on teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and doing service for people in the cities, towns, and villages.  Each week, the missionaries teach thousands of people the principles of the gospel and the doctrine of Christ. They extend invitations to people to put these principles into practice. Teaching principles of faith, honesty, service to others, humility, diligence, patience, forgiveness, charity, and many others, helps them improve and prosper individually and collectively. We are in awe every time we see our missionaries throughout the country, working each day. No one is making them get up early and study or go out in the hot sun and pouring rain. They aren’t getting paid. They simply are sharing what they believe and are trying to make the world better for others. In the process, they too grow in their patience, diligence, faith, and all those qualities they teach about. They become better followers of Christ and better individuals.

While the younger missionaries are engaged in proselytizing and serving, the senior missionaries are focused on leadership development, teaching literacy, carrying out large-scale humanitarian projects and small business support/grants, teaching elements of self-reliance and starting a small business, managing finances, and fulfilling many other roles. They are never bored!

I tell all of our missionaries, “We are growing the foundation of the Church in Liberia, and this is not about numbers. It is about serving people – helping them know their purpose, understand God’s plan, and helping them change their lives.” The impact of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His Church is having a significant impact on not only Liberia but all these African countries at a remarkable pace.  Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this dispensation, foretold early Church members almost 200 years ago, “You know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it. … This Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.” It is amazing to see this not only happening in my lifetime but it seems to be accelerating.

In Liberia, we currently have 150-200 people per month join the Church through baptism. Some lose the fire and drift away, but those that remain are stalwart and resolute. Their friends and family see the change in them and then follow them into the Church. Nancy and I have had many community leaders and government officials (of other faiths) tell us how grateful they are for the Church and how different it is. Not only for the humanitarian aid, donations and service, but they tell us it is obvious when Liberians join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They tell us these new members “stop loitering around the town and begin to work. They stop drinking alcohol. They stop beating their wife and are faithful to her. They stop beating their children and spend their time teaching them. They help them go to school. They teach their kids to stay off drugs. They begin to serve others in the community. Their intelligence increases. They are full of optimism and purpose in life! We are so grateful you are in our communities!” We hear this all the time.  While it is obvious to us, it is validating to hear this from others who have known these people for a long time and have a different perspective.

Seeing the results of what the Church is doing is one of the most compelling elements of my beliefs. I love how following true and correct principles in the end works – always. We’ve been here long enough to see the changes the Church is causing in peoples’ lives and in families. We are seeing it change towns and communities. As they say here, it happens “small, small,” but it is happening. As Liberians understand the gospel and act on its teachings, including those teachings in the real “Book of Mormon,” their lives really do begin to change. I love how the Book of Mormon was written, as Mormon said, with the intent that we would believe the Bible. How fortunate we are to have both!

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It transpires through sustained effort by enough people who, with the help of heaven, believe they can make change happen. We see the Lord’s hand in this effort daily. Oh, how we miss our family, yet it is a privilege to be engaged with our missionaries in this work – this strenuous but meaningful work. I am so grateful for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon (not the musical – the book, which is way better!) and for living prophets who receive revelation. All of these point me to the joy of knowing our loving Father in Heaven’s plan and the wonderful role of our Savior.