General Officers Minister to Children and Youth in West Africa

From the Africa Newsroom

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General Officers representing the Primary and Young Women General Presidencies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ministered in West Africa, enjoying opportunities to minister individually to children and testify to youth of God’s love for them.

On November 19, 2024, children visiting the Kathy Knowles Community Library in Accra, Ghana, were delighted by a special visit from Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, and Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency.

Established in 1992, the library provides opportunities and resources for local underprivileged children to engage in positive developmental activities, such as reading and interacting with each other. While the library employs full-time staff funded by a foundation, senior sister missionaries from the Africa West Area Office volunteer twice a week to help the children play games, do arts and crafts, sing songs, and, of course, read. These missionaries proposed the visit by Church leaders during their West Africa tour and coordinated efforts to make the visit instructive.

Emulating the Savior, who always made time for children, Sisters Browning and Runia, accompanied by the wives of the area presidency, took time from their busy schedules to spend some fun time with the children. That sacrifice was appreciated by the library helpers as well as by the children. Prepared by the volunteer sister missionaries for the visit of these Church leaders, the children performed a welcome song for their visitors upon their arrival. They then brought the visitors into their circle and engaged them in some local traditional dances, which the sisters participated in wholeheartedly.  Sisters Browning and Runia then joined in with their husbands and the other sisters to participate with the children in some of the kids favorite activities, such as blowing bubbles, playing “double double this this, double double that that” (like patty cake), coloring pictures and reading stories.

The visit was filled with laughter and fun, with children and visitors joyfully interacting. At the conclusion of the visit, the children, who are all of different denominations but who had been taught by the volunteer missionaries, all sang “I Am a Child of God,” to say goodbye to their visitors and to wish them well on the rest of their journey.

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Young Women and Young Men of the Africa West Area were blessed to participate in a devotional with Sister Runia on November 19, 2024. Held in Accra, Ghana, the devotional was broadcast to youth across the area.  Elder Isaac K. Morrison, Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, also addressed the youth.

The Accra Ghana Christiansborg Stake Center was filled with youth and leaders who came to hear Sister Runia speak about feeling God’s love for them, understanding their worth, and being good as well as smart.

Speaking to youth who sometimes feel inadequate, she emphasized their divine worth in an engaging and interactive way.  She acknowledged that sometimes we don’t do what we should, and we feel a bit discouraged for our shortcomings. To clarify the difference between obedience and worth, Sister Runia taught: “Sometimes we tie our worth to our obedience, and that is wrong. They are not the same. ... Your worth was given to you by God, and there’s nothing that you or anyone else can do to change it.”

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Showing the audience images of the universe, of stars and galaxies and of the infinite creations of God, she acknowledged that even when we are trying hard, we can still feel small and insignificant in comparison to everything around us. But then she asked: ”Do you want to know what the great secret of the universe is?  OK, this is it. ... We are His greatest creation, we are His work and his glory.” She explained that all worlds, all stars, and all galaxies will eventually pass away, but of His creations only we, His children, will live eternally. She reassured them that “just because we don’t remember our Heavenly Father, it doesn’t mean that He has forgotten us.”

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Regarding mistakes we make and the need to repent, she referenced President Russell M. Nelson, who has taught that everyone needs to repent.  She counseled the youth not to feel discouraged when they try and make mistakes. She reassured them that “you are not alone. Christ is closer than you think, and the minute that you turn to Him, He is there.” She emphasized that “repentance doesn’t burden Jesus, it brightens Jesus.” She testified that the Atonement is an expression of God’s love for all of us.

Elder Morrison then spoke to the youth of one of the ways to feel God’s love for them. Referencing their entitlement to a patriarchal blessing, he told them, “It is good that you take your blessing early so that you can know of God’s will for your life. It will be your personal guide.” He admonished them: “I have only one invitation for you ... make an effort now to go for your patriarchal blessing.”

The meeting concluded with the congregation singing “Choose the Right” as a reminder to draw on the power of the Atonement and to allow the Spirit to help them make good and smart choices.

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