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Local Jamaican leader served as Mission President in Jamaica Kingston Mission

"Spirit of Volunteerism" A Jamaican Mission President Story

The voluntary assignment issued by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which falls directly below the presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was given to President and Sister Brown to preside over the entire Jamaica region as well as Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. Their call or responsibility was to serve voluntarily for 3 years in this capacity.

At the time the call was issued, President Brown was the Church Education System Coordinator for Jamaica and Sister Brown, a homemaker, as well as a Counselor in the Primary District Presidency, overseeing children spirituality for over 8 congregations. They had four children at the time. 

Was it easy to accept this assignment:

“Our family grew up on a culture of volunteerism – we prepare ourselves to go on missions and accept callings to serve regardless of convenience”

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints a calling is a service assignment. The entire period of service is dedicated to this assignment.

Process of a Mission President’s calling:

A Mission President is called by a member [NB1] of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. You are invited to an interview by the Apostle to determine the mission president’s eligibility. Your finances have to be in order to sustain you for the period.

Brown, a local Jamaican leader at the time, stated that “If we had outside dependents it would have been hard to say yes”. The interview is done to see if you meet the requirements and ensure that the family can adapt to the rigors of a mission. Upon satisfying these criteria and through revelation, the calling is extended to you. This process is based heavily on divine revelation given to the Apostle.

 [NB1] Find out in the next issue: The roles of an LDS Mission President and adjustments for a mission!!

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