We all have responsibility for the spiritual progress of our neighbor. We cannot shirk that duty or give it to someone else. In the Grand Council in Heaven, each of us embraced the privilege to be our brother’s keeper; yet through the cunning of Satan and his followers that honor and duty has dimmed our senses towards spiritual security for all of Fathers sons and daughters. At time we get a glimpse of that wonderful experience still resting on our shoulders today.
While visiting a branch in the bush, I witnessed the sweet power of the word of God. For months this older lady attended the entire branch meeting on Sunday and even some of the meetings held during the week. She has been faithful in paying her tithes and offerings and serving others less fortunate than her. She is a widow and had no children. Born and lived her life in this small village so her education was very limited. Yet she experienced the spiritual witness needed to be one of Fathers elect. She has worked hard on a small farm left to her by her husband and lives meagerly with what she can raise. I gazed into the woman’s eyes as she shook my hand and whispered “Ma chee”. (Good morning) They were clear with the light of Christ and I felt as if she loved me though we had only just met. Dressed in the traditional beautiful gown of a stately woman with a head wrap to match, I marveled at her striking beauty both outwardly and inwardly. It was at that brief moment in time that soul to soul bonded in the love for another son or daughter of Heavenly Father. She bowed her head as I stated “Ye be hwia” (we meet again). Somehow in a small branch in Ghana a spiritual witness of our pre-earthly life’s responsibility was opened to my eyes through the eyes of a woman who felt the same. We had met before and she knew that as she raised her head and answered “Ma hou ya, mi noebayin”. (I am fine, my brother) Her story is marvelous about her conversion and the testimony she shares with all. She has always worked on a farm and it consumes most of her waking hours. The work is long and hard even for men in the field. She attended no schooling during her life. She was abandoned while yet a young girl. Somehow she met and married a man who honored her womanhood and respected her as a daughter of God. He was a God fearing man who introduce his wife to the belief in a supreme being who all of us must love and follow. They worked side by side in carving out a life in the bush. Over the years she was shamed by other women of the village because she could not bear children for her husband. Together they prayed to almighty God for offspring but to no results. Time passed and one day a few years ago her husband who had loved her and cherished the helpmate he had, died from some unknown cause. This woman mourned to die with him for all she knew of goodness, revolved around this man she now held lifeless in her arms. Time passed and two missionaries approached this woman’s home. “Agu” (hello) was their greeting and “akwaaba” (welcome) was her response. The gospel enriches her life. Since that day some years ago, she is a spiritual witness of Father in Heavens tender mercies to the branch and all its members. She is a living testimony of the love Father has for all of his children. She comes to church with a copy of the Book of Mormon in English. Dog eared and dirty from callused hands of a working farmer, yet it is held close to her breast in reverent dignity. I asked through an interpreter if she had read the book she holds so dear. I was a bit taken back when I learned she could not read, and only caresses the book given to her years ago by those faithful missionaries. How could that be I thought? The words of that book are the foundation of our religion and if you have not read them how could you know them to be true? It was there in that setting, again the spirit entered my mind. I remembered the words of Nephi to his brothers “ …ye could not feel His words, wherefore, he has spoken unto you..” She feels the word of God in the Book of Mormon. I wondered of my feeling of the Word? Has it pierced the innermost part of my soul and caused me to bring souls unto Christ and to secure them with a spiritual witness and testimony? Or has my preexistence charge dimmed because of the distractions of the things of the world that block out the influence of the Holy Ghost? Elder Worthlin said, “Some are spiritually deadened and past feeling because of their choices to commit sin. Others simply hover in spiritual complacency with no desire to rise above themselves and commune with the Infinite. …they could know for themselves things of the Spirit that are choice, precious, and capable of enlarging the soul, expanding the mind, and filling the heart within expressible joy.” I testify this humble woman of the bush has taught me and others with her countenance and divine spiritual witness in testimony, in service and in love. That we all may be so blessed is my prayer.
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