Church History Column

New Church History Couple in Africa West Area: Elder McCullough and Sister Christensen

The Africa West Area now has a full-time senior couple working as Church history missionaries. This is the first time missionaries have served in this capacity in this area. Just a little background on this couple: Elder Robert McCullough and Sister Laura Christensen. Elder McCullough is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, has traveled extensively as a U.S. government employee, and retired from full-time employment in June 2017. Sister Christensen is a native of North Carolina, but lived in Atlanta, Georgia, most of her adult life. She was a stay-at-home mother. In June 2014, Elder McCullough and Sister Christensen (following the death of their first spouses) were married. Their combined family consists of 9 children and 27 grandchildren (with another grandchild on the way). Elder McCullough served as a young Elder in the Canada Halifax Mission and Sister Christensen served in the Salt Lake Family & Church History Mission in 2011. The couple arrived in Accra, Ghana, in May 2018 to begin their 18-month mission. They will assist Kwame Twum Ampaw, the area Church history advisor.

Just what is Church history, not to be confused with family history?

As recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord commanded that the Church keep a record and a history continually of all important things that transpire in Zion, including the manner of life, faith, and works of the Latter-day Saints (see Doctrine and Covenants 47:3; 69:3; 85:1–2). Since 1830, the Church has worked to collect, preserve, and share its history.

Church history work brings members closer to Christ by helping them remember “what great things the Lord hath done” (title page of the Book of Mormon). Hope and confidence are increased as a result of learning about others who have faced challenges and, with the Lord’s help, overcome them. Learning from history helps us avoid repeating mistakes and provides a sense of identity and heritage. In this way, Church history blesses current and future generations.

This work is under the direction of the Area Presidency. An area Church history advisor, Kwame Twum Ampaw, works with country and regional advisors. There are several parts to this work:

First, collecting annual Church histories from the many units in the area.

Second, conducting oral interviews to gather important history of the Church in West Africa to be preserved for future generations.

Third, collecting records from individuals of importance to Church history.

Fourth, sharing this history that has been collected.

Africa West is a very large area with a rich Church heritage. It takes many people joining together to accomplish this important work of collecting, preserving and sharing our history. The Church History Department is always looking for contributions to their collection. If you have any documents pertaining to the Church history in our area (journals, photographs, letters, etc.) that could be donated or digitally scanned and returned, please contact the area office: [e-mail].