Since we have arrived here in Ghana on our mission, we have shared a Family Home Evening with several families in the District. They have been wonderful and a bonding experience for Sister Dalton and me with these families. We have left some of these sharing times with tears of happiness and sometimes tears of sadness with the stories we have heard of family trials. But each and every time we are truly buoyed up with the Spirit testifying of the truthfulness of this inspired program. The Family Night program was introduced in September of 1961 but re-emphasized and designated as a Monday night Church wide program in the October General Conference 1964.

We see Satan’s determination, ever since, to pull the family down and destroy the family unit. It will be his influence that caused Monday Night Football on TV’s which began in 1969; even here in Ghana, Monday night is the night for most Football (soccer) matches local or national. This is by design I’m sure, and we have seen the devastated effects of this counterfeit. There is betting on these matches and Monday is the day for that practice. Though we do not have many TV’s here in the bush, there are a few at the Chop Bars and the liquor palaces.  We see a number of people gathered around a small set watching with intent the match that is playing; yelling when goals are scored and grumbling when there are missed goals. Gambled money is exchange at the end of these matches and we have witnessed some of our members involved with this practice. It hurts our hearts to see families suffer because of a counterfeit “gathering for Family Night”. Yet there are families who embrace the evening with their family and gather them close to be spiritually fed and cords of love tightly knit together. It is rewarding and of most important in this day and age of heightened effort of the deceiver and his host.

This week Sister Dalton and I shared a Family Home Evening with the Seth and Sandra Amoh family in Kwabeng. It was one of those Family Home Evenings we drove away with tears of gladness and thanksgiving for our experience. They have four sons,Manfred-14, Kingsley- 9, Kenneth-4, and Seth-2. We have always brought the lesson and the treats on each occasion. This was a time that Brother and Sister Amoh were especially excited to share a special review of a previously held Family Home Evening. At a Sacrament meeting in Kwabeng three weeks earlier, I had challenged the members to step up their referrals for the missionaries and witnessed of their importance to our missionary work. I had also mentioned that Sister Dalton and I had planned for 40 years to serve together on this mission. We even had a date set, and though changed a time or two over the 40 years, we were always true to our covenant with the Lord to serve a fulltime mission. I mentioned, that as a family during a Family Night setting, a prayerfully considered commitment from father and mother announced to the children and then a sign stating that set date to enter into the service, posted on the wall, would cement that fact to the whole family. Children would feel father and mother’s commitment to the Lord and would want to emulate their commitment in their own lives when 19 or 21. Sister Dalton and I were escorted into their small gathering room by the children who carried our bags and all of the treats. Carefully we were seated in plastic chairs across from the family picture wall. Kenneth and Seth were most interested in the treats we had brought as most young boys are, so Sister Dalton kept a tight hold on the Ghana Chocolate Cake. Brother Amoh conducted and Sister Amoh said the opening prayer. Kingsley led the singing and Manfred set next to Sister Dalton keeping a watchful eye on the treats. Brother Amoh then unveiled a special hand crafted picture to be placed on the family picture wall. It was a computer made statement on regular sized white paper surrounded by a handmade frame. It read, “Seth and Sandra Amoh will prepare and commit to serve a fulltime mission September 2031”. It was then carefully mounted above all the family pictures on the wall.   I was so overtaken with emotion I arose and hugged each of them for their faithfulness to the Lords call. Tears flowed freely and I don’t recall a time I tried so hard to compose myself. These humble folks were ready and willing to follow the Prophets counsel to prepare and serve a mission wherever called. They have very little, but what they do have they committed it all to the building of the kingdom of God. I have reflected upon that evening several times this week as we have visited other homes and recommitted less- actives to come back to the feast offered to us all.

My lesson went well with the family; Seth’s little fingers would occasionally creep under the tinfoil and bring out a morsel of cake; mother would try to keep the little ones quite or still most of the evening; Sister Dalton and I sang a duet of two Primary songs while Kenneth stood next to us with a songbook, upside down, singing along; and father setting as if all is well. Can we all relate to such an evening? Long after the Monday night roar of crowds and the spectacular physical feats witnessed during a football game, will be a humble lesson taught to Sister Dalton and I, when a sign was raised on a wall in a humble home in Kwabeng Ghana, committing their all to the Lord. We witness to the importance of this wonderful work and the blessings that come to those that covenant to serve with all of their might, mind and strength. May each of us be more committed in whatever part of the Lord’s vineyard we are assigned, is our prayer.     

...honored in laying the foundation...

Recently I was told a story that has caused me to ponder a principle of life that blesses us all. The story is of President Packer and a man named Daniel who was invited to Elder Packer’s office for a small council meeting. Daniel knew Elder Packer was busy and felt he would be as short as possible with his part of the meeting. Upon entering the room, graciously Elder Packer invited him to share something about his family. Daniel spoke of his wife and children and if not to take too much time, ended there. Elder Packer asked Daniel “is that all?” Daniel went a little deeper into his family tree with his father and mother and their names and condition at their age. Elder Packer asked again “is that all? This time Daniel gave him a deeper description of his family tree with grandfathers and grandmothers, even great grandfathers and great grandmothers from his family line. Daniel thought, how this could be the most important thing for the meeting when his part of the council agenda was just a very small portion, and President Packer’s time was so precious? Once again Elder Packer asked “is that all”. A bit confused, Daniel asked President Packer “what would you have me say more about my family?” President Packer loving smiled and looked squarely into Daniels eyes and said “I want to know whose shoulders you are standing on.” It was a profound moment for President Daniel Judd, our beloved Mission President, as he began to recount the rich Church heritage he was standing upon as he prepared for his future Church assignments.

                We all are “standing upon others shoulders”, aren’t we? Some have shoulders of pioneer saints who walked the plains moving west; some have rich heritage of Ireland or Germany, or Japanese or English or Lamanite or Spanish conquistadors from South America. We are supported by others testimonies sometimes, sometimes by the faith of family or loving parents, sometimes by heavenly angels and sometimes by our little ones encircled by fire. The world would not teach this truth, but we can trace our roots to men and women who paved the way for our eternal successes. In the Lord’s kingdom, we can feel the gentle promptings of our loving Heavenly Father and our most precious Heavenly Mother. We all have sure footings upon the shoulders of others if we would but ponder our stations in life. I truly feel the steady shoulders Sister Dalton and I are now standing upon, more and more each day here in the bush of Africa.

                Abomosu has had 4 previous missionary couples, the Johnsons from Canada, the Calls from Idaho, the Hales from Idaho, and the Terry’s from Nevada. The Hales were here only 6 months and then they were called to work in the area office. We are the fourth couple to serve in this wonderful district of Abomosu. We feel these hallowed shoulders we are standing on. The saints have introduced Sister Dalton and me, many times, as Elder and Sister Call or Elder and Sister Terry. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been asked to give my greeting to the wife, Sister Terry or Sister Call. Over the months you would think they would get it straight, but no, as they answer our telephone call “Hello Elder Terry”. One could be offended, I guess, yet I feel it an honor to be called by one of the previous missionaries’ name. I answer to all of their names and most times the member or community folks blush with some embarrassment when they try to get it right. I know of their love and respect for all of these previous missionaries. Are the hearts of the saints tied to only one missionary couple or the service of those who graciously raised them in their spiritual and temporal growth? I believe these dear people have a bit of both missionary work and spiritual growth etched upon their hearts. I too have a bit of each of these faithful couples etched upon my heart and soul.

                I look at the shoulders that still are used as the foundation for the Church in this bush area; the Abu’s, the Amoh’s, the Oppong’s the Asiedu’s, the Osie Owusu’s, the Amaning’s, and the list can go on. Yet, added to the shoulder of strength foundation, are the humble past servants who have with all of their might, mind and strength, put their shoulder to the wheel and moved the work along. We too, want to add our shoulders to the sure foundation of these strong shoulders that surround us. I beckon all to put your shoulder to the wheel and help the good work move along, for one day the question will be asked “whose shoulders do you stand on”; for all of us stand upon hallowed shoulders of royal heritage.