Billy Johnson

Who is Billy Johnson?

Joseph William Billy Johnson was one of the first converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana. Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen.

Johnson was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in the Roman Catholic faith. In 1964, Johnson learned about the Book of Mormon from Frank A. Mensah. Upon receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon, Johnson started "Latter day Saint" congregations in Ghana independent from any other Latter day Saint sect.

Although he was not able to be baptized at this time, Johnson did receive support and encouragement in sharing the faith with others from Latter day Saint expatriates who occasionally lived in or visited Ghana, such as Merrill J. Bateman.

In 1976, Johnson set out to contact "The Mormons" within Ghana and found the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However, no further contact was established with the RLDS Church. After sharing the message of Mormonism with many in Accra, Johnson moved to Cape Coast, Ghana, where he set up at least ten congregations there and in the surrounding areas. Some of the Cape Coast group of these independent Latter Day Saint congregations in Ghana schismed when ongoing contact was not established with the LDS or RLDS churches in 1976. Some of the individuals in this group formed the Apostolic Divine Church of Ghana, however, this sect only lasted a few months.