Elder LeGrande R. Curtis Jr., the outgoing president of the Africa West Area of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, described the people of West Africa as “a people with great devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.” He was speaking at a farewell devotional held to honor him and his wife, Jane, held on 26 June 2016. After five years of service in West Africa Elder and Sister Curtis have been reassigned by the Church to serve in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States.
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
- Elder and Sister Curtis
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Elder Curtis said he was grateful the Lord called him to serve in West Africa. Referring to his observations and interactions with the members of the Church in West Africa, he said, “The Saints in West Africa show their devotion and dedication through meeting attendance, obedience to gospel principles, and service to God by serving others.”
Elder Curtis gave many examples of sacrifice and devotion by the saints, including how members in Liberia traveled by bus four days to spend five days at the Accra Temple and then another four days to return home. He cited the faith of youth who have put their lives on hold in order to serve two years as full-time missionaries for the Church.
Sister Jane Curtis also expressed gratitude for being able to serve in West Africa where she has observed many people who have strong faith in God. She said she was captivated by expressions of faith, hope and charity written on commuter buses and taxies (trotros) and even expressed in the names of businesses. “God’s time is the best,” “Fear not – God is in control” and “God’s time is best” are examples she mentioned. She also praised the members for the way they sing the hymns of God.
At the conclusion of the devotional Elder and Sister Curtis exemplified their close and sincere relationship with their brothers and sisters here in Africa by taking the time to greet and shake the hand of every person that wished to do so. Almost all of the over 1000 attendees came forward to join in this example of love and appreciation.
The devotional was attended by government and civic leaders in Ghana, including, Mrs. Dela Sowah, Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Superintendent of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service.