Road to the temple
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For 18 months Frederick Antwi and his wife, Victoria, from Yamoransa, Ghana, had been serving in the Accra Ghana Temple. They are among the first couples native to Ghana called to serve as full-time missionaries in the temple.
"Every second, every minute, every hour we have spent in the temple has been redefining in my life," said Sister Antwi.
The Antwis' road to the temple began in 1985 when Brother Antwi and a friend were talking with each other about their lives and their need to join a church. As they were talking, another friend stopped by and told them he knew of a good church. Although the friend didn't attend, he gave them directions to the LDS meetinghouse that was located about 20 minutes away from where they lived. After hearing about it, Brother Antwi decided he would attend.
"When we arrived, some of the brethren came out to receive us," Brother Antwi said. "They were so warm and cordial, and they made us feel welcome. We attended the investigators class, and we were allowed to ask questions. We were impressed."
Although at first she did not learn about or attend Church with her husband, Sister Antwi said that she noticed the changes taking place in her husband as he learned about the gospel. One Sunday in March of 1985, she decided she wanted to attend Church; her husband and son had already left, driving in their only car, so she walked — in a rainstorm. In April of that year, Brother Antwi and his son were baptized and three months later Sister Antwi was baptized.
Although it was difficult at first to change religions, Sister Antwi said "the gospel has continued to bless our lives everyday."
For Brother Antwi it is easy to choose the Lord's way when faced with a decision whether to participate in family traditions that don't coincide with the gospel. He is from Kumasi, Ghana, where the Ahanti tribes have a great influence and the Queen Mother chooses the next "king" or chief. He was driving some of his family to a funeral when they told him he had been selected to be the next village chief. He dropped his family off at the funeral, turned around and went home. "I would rather be a deacon in the Lord's Church than a king," he said.
— Sister Jo Bingham, public affairs missionary in the Africa West Area
