An Instrument in His Hands

Priscilla Sampson-Davis was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on 4 May 1927 to a polygamist family of seventeen children. She completed elementary and high school and then graduated from the college of Technology with qualifications to teach school as an arts and crafts specialist. She taught school for forty years. On 30 December 1956 Priscilla married J.E. Sampson-Davis, they have three living children. Sister Sampson-Davis was introduced to the teachings of the Church in 1964 in Holland when missionaries called on her, but she later joined the church in Ghana. She has served as a Sunday school teacher and in a Relief Society presidency.

Here is Priscilla's story in her own words:

"My first contact with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was in Holland. In 1963 John [her husband] and I went to Holland, where John worked for the Phillips Corporation. One day I was alone in the house, when I heard the doorbell ring. I ran downstairs and opened the door and to my surprise I saw two young, well-dressed gentlemen standing at the door. They told me they had good news to share with me, and they asked if I would allow them to come in. I said, 'Why not? I am a Christian. Please do come in'…At that time I everything sounded strange to me because I didn't understand it properly…When they came back again the landlady was not friendly at all towards them, so they didn't come anymore-we were just tenants, so we couldn't say much…When I came back to Ghana I met Brother Johnson[see section on William Joseph Billy Johnson], who had the Book of Mormon and other Church literature…In a conversation I had with him, mentioned The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I said, 'Ah! I have heard about that church, in Holland.' I said I would come to his church meetings…After Brother Johnson taught me from the scriptures, I started appreciating the teachings of the Book of Mormon and got to know that it was true. The Holy Spirit made me know it was true.

It was in 1978 that missionaries of the Church first came to Ghana. I was among the first to be baptized, along with all my living children.

About two years after my baptism, I had a vision…I wasn't asleep. I saw that I was at a sacrament meeting, and somebody in white apparel came and stood in front of the stand and called me. I came forward and stood by him, and then he asked me to turn around and look at the faces of the people, to see if they were all enjoying the service. I looked, and I said I couldn't see any difference in their faces. Then the man in white asked me to look carefully. I saw that some of those in the congregation had bent down their heads. The man asked me why those people were not joining in the singing. I told him that they couldn't read English, and so they couldn't sing, so they bend down their heads. He asked me if I wouldn't like to help my sisters and brothers who were illiterate or couldn't read English, so that they too could join in singing praises to our Heavenly Father. Though I could speak Fante, I couldn't write well, But I didn't say no; I said that I would try, that I would do my best. Then the vision passed away."

[Following her vision, Priscilla Sampson-Davies translated many church books and materials into Fante, including the Book of Mormon, hymns, the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and other missionary pamphlets, Gospel Principles, and Book of Mormon Stories. She is currently working on translations for the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.]

"The translations have helped members of the Church," Priscilla said. "I now know for sure that by translating I am giving the Lord the handkerchief that he asked me to give him to wipe from his face the sweat and blood dripping from the pricks along his head. The work I do in translating these things gives my brothers and sisters who can't understand English the opportunity to see and read the true gospel for themselves. I see a relationship between giving a handkerchief to Jesus so he could see and translating so that the people of Ghana can see. He has said, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me [Matthew 25:40].'I don't need any thanks or praise from anybody; all praise and thanks should go to our Heavenly Father. I am just an instrument in his hands. May His name be blessed and praised."

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