What do you think?
Rate this book
Safe Journey: An African Adventure
Book by Pace, Glenn L.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Glenn L. Pace
5 booksGlenn Leroy Pacehas been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1985 having served as a member of the presiding bishopric and the First Quorum of Seventy.
Born in Provo, Utah to Latter-day Saint parents, Pace has been affiliated with the LDS Church all his life. He was baptized at the age of eight years old. He served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the New England States Mission. He served as a elders quorum president, counselor in a bishopric, and stake clerk early in his adulthood. He also served as the president of the Australia Sydney North Mission of the church. To date he was the last person to serve simutaneosly as mission president and general authority, though there are men who finished out tenures as mission president before taking on responsibilities as a general authority.
Pace became the second counselor to Presiding Bishop Robert D. Hales in 1985. In 1992, Pace was released from this position and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1997 and 1998, he was a member of the general presidency of the church's Sunday School and from 1998 to 2001 he was in the general presidency of the Young Men organization.
Born in Provo, Utah to Latter-day Saint parents, Pace has been affiliated with the LDS Church all his life. He was baptized at the age of eight years old. He served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the New England States Mission. He served as a elders quorum president, counselor in a bishopric, and stake clerk early in his adulthood. He also served as the president of the Australia Sydney North Mission of the church. To date he was the last person to serve simutaneosly as mission president and general authority, though there are men who finished out tenures as mission president before taking on responsibilities as a general authority.
Pace became the second counselor to Presiding Bishop Robert D. Hales in 1985. In 1992, Pace was released from this position and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1997 and 1998, he was a member of the general presidency of the church's Sunday School and from 1998 to 2001 he was in the general presidency of the Young Men organization.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 28, 2024
[In the tent city of Ethiopia in 1985:] An old man stumbled into the camp carrying a baby. He had a look of desperation…. we learned he had been walking for 50 to 75 miles to find refuge in the feeding camp. As he began his journey, he heard a baby crying and, upon investigating, found an infant beside his dead mother. She had been trying to reach the camp, but did not make it. He picked up the baby in his arms and carried him those many miles by himself. as he arrived, thirsty, hungry, and delirious, the first words he entered were, “ what can be done for this baby?” Can anyone doubt the love the Savior felt for this man? I have never loved a stranger more.
I loved reading Glenn L. Pace's experiences during his time in the Africa West Area presidency. I remember the special fast that the church organized in 1985 to help relieve the suffering from the Ethiopian famine. He and Elder M. Russell Ballard had miraculous experiences while learning the needs of the people and where to spend the 6 million dollars raised in one day by the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Below are a few favorites:
"…after various experiences on the continent of Africa, the plan of salvation has become more than just a comforting doctrine for my life. It has become a critical key to obtaining the mettle to live with the seemingly unfair, pain, and suffering of others. Considering war, civil, unrest, poverty, disease, famine, crime, and a host of other problems, every day is 9/11 for many in Africa."
I didn’t see blacks and whites, capitalists, and Marxists, or Catholics and Mormons. I saw children of our Father in Heaven, helping children of our Father in Heaven.
In a Primary in Ghana, the children sang a new verse to “Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree.” ‘I looked out the window and what did I see? Two Mormon missionaries looking at me!’
We met a sister missionary who received her call during the war… and walked more than 200 miles, including crossing the Congo River and the canoe, to get to Kinshasa to honor her mission call from a prophet.
Every time I raised that question [about building a temple in Nigeria], the objection was always that the country lacked stability. On this occasion, they asked me about the current status of Nigeria. I answered, “We just had riots in the north over the passing of Sharia law, and several hundred Christians were killed. In retaliation, several hundred Muslims were killed in the south, including many right in Aba where the temple site is located. In the Delta region, where the oil fields are located, many hundreds of people have been killed. Whole villages have been burned from explosions caused by sabotage of oil lines. Oil executives are being kidnapped and held for ransom. In Lagos there have been serious riots in the streets. Vigilante groups are springing up all over the country— and they are recognized, condoned, and even encouraged by the police and military. In summary, things are better than they have been in 30 years.”
Then I added, on a serious note “ Brother , if we wait for Nigeria to be stable before we build a temple, we might as well forget it… however, if I remember right, there was a lot of instability in Nauvoo when we built that temple.”
I loved reading Glenn L. Pace's experiences during his time in the Africa West Area presidency. I remember the special fast that the church organized in 1985 to help relieve the suffering from the Ethiopian famine. He and Elder M. Russell Ballard had miraculous experiences while learning the needs of the people and where to spend the 6 million dollars raised in one day by the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Below are a few favorites:
"…after various experiences on the continent of Africa, the plan of salvation has become more than just a comforting doctrine for my life. It has become a critical key to obtaining the mettle to live with the seemingly unfair, pain, and suffering of others. Considering war, civil, unrest, poverty, disease, famine, crime, and a host of other problems, every day is 9/11 for many in Africa."
I didn’t see blacks and whites, capitalists, and Marxists, or Catholics and Mormons. I saw children of our Father in Heaven, helping children of our Father in Heaven.
In a Primary in Ghana, the children sang a new verse to “Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree.” ‘I looked out the window and what did I see? Two Mormon missionaries looking at me!’
We met a sister missionary who received her call during the war… and walked more than 200 miles, including crossing the Congo River and the canoe, to get to Kinshasa to honor her mission call from a prophet.
Every time I raised that question [about building a temple in Nigeria], the objection was always that the country lacked stability. On this occasion, they asked me about the current status of Nigeria. I answered, “We just had riots in the north over the passing of Sharia law, and several hundred Christians were killed. In retaliation, several hundred Muslims were killed in the south, including many right in Aba where the temple site is located. In the Delta region, where the oil fields are located, many hundreds of people have been killed. Whole villages have been burned from explosions caused by sabotage of oil lines. Oil executives are being kidnapped and held for ransom. In Lagos there have been serious riots in the streets. Vigilante groups are springing up all over the country— and they are recognized, condoned, and even encouraged by the police and military. In summary, things are better than they have been in 30 years.”
Then I added, on a serious note “ Brother , if we wait for Nigeria to be stable before we build a temple, we might as well forget it… however, if I remember right, there was a lot of instability in Nauvoo when we built that temple.”
November 10, 2020
I was almost turned off by the very doctrinally intense and quote-heavy first chapter, but I’m glad I waded through it to read this account of the first 3 years of the Africa West Area of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by the Area President at the time. It was an interesting overview of the experience of ministering to Church members in West Africa and I enjoyed reading it. The insights into the faith and struggles of these early west African saints was illuminating and faith promoting.
However, I picked up the book because I was interested in learning about the ins and outs and miracles of the temple approval and building process of the Accra, Ghana and Aba, Nigeria temples and while these topics are covered extensively in thought and intention, the actions of this process are not discussed extensively- in part to protect privacy, and in part because the author’s time in the Africa West Area ended just as the Accra temple had been approved and while the Aba temple was still seeking bids for contractors.
In addition, the chronology was occasionally a little difficult to follow and I felt past/present tense were used too interchangeably, even when Elder Pace was not quoting from his journal or an address given.
I would love to read a full account of the temple proceedings from Georges Bonnet, who was the man on the ground for much of the process!
However, I picked up the book because I was interested in learning about the ins and outs and miracles of the temple approval and building process of the Accra, Ghana and Aba, Nigeria temples and while these topics are covered extensively in thought and intention, the actions of this process are not discussed extensively- in part to protect privacy, and in part because the author’s time in the Africa West Area ended just as the Accra temple had been approved and while the Aba temple was still seeking bids for contractors.
In addition, the chronology was occasionally a little difficult to follow and I felt past/present tense were used too interchangeably, even when Elder Pace was not quoting from his journal or an address given.
I would love to read a full account of the temple proceedings from Georges Bonnet, who was the man on the ground for much of the process!
July 9, 2023
Very interesting account of the Church in Africa. Glenn Pace was the area President when they were trying to get temples started there. There’s a lot from his journals and the talks that he gave while there, too, which was ok. But the history of the church in Africa was really interesting, and how they finally got permission to build a temple.
May 21, 2008
Is it possible to give 3 and 1/2 stars? Sometimes this rating system is not my favorite.
I generally "liked" (AKA: 3 stars) the way this book was presented and the author's choice of writing style although some parts were confusing as far as chronological order of events, etc. However, I "really liked" (AKA: 4 stars) learning more about the growth of the LDS Church in Africa, as well as being able to get a better idea of the responsibilities of a General Authority serving in that type of calling. I thought the author did a great job of maintaining an optimistic view of the people and their progress in the Church without neglecting the necessary descriptions of all the challenges and setbacks.
I generally "liked" (AKA: 3 stars) the way this book was presented and the author's choice of writing style although some parts were confusing as far as chronological order of events, etc. However, I "really liked" (AKA: 4 stars) learning more about the growth of the LDS Church in Africa, as well as being able to get a better idea of the responsibilities of a General Authority serving in that type of calling. I thought the author did a great job of maintaining an optimistic view of the people and their progress in the Church without neglecting the necessary descriptions of all the challenges and setbacks.
March 14, 2008
I didn't realize until I went to Ghana that the title of this book is actually something Ghanaians say whenever you depart from them. Even just leaving the hotel.."Safe Journey." Very cool. Pace offers his insights into the Priesthood in Africa and he had some good thoughts about it. It is still hard for me to wrap my mind all the way around it. But I enjoyed reading this having and smiled at all the things that are so true about my friends in Ghana and their beautiful and sometimes unique culture.
March 23, 2008
Has some interesting information about the culture of various countries in Africa and it was nice to get solid facts, but not a favorite book.
Update...after reading the book, my husband no longer has such a great desire to serve in Africa....so I also recommend it to the men who want to serve there, not just their wives.
Update...after reading the book, my husband no longer has such a great desire to serve in Africa....so I also recommend it to the men who want to serve there, not just their wives.
May 17, 2010
This General Authority of the church is telling his experiences helping build the church in Africa. The experinences were quite interesting and made me glad I was reading them rather than living them. His frequent quoting of his church talks got a little old.
November 8, 2011
My friend's son was just called on a mission to Uganda. I remembered reading this book before & decided to open it up for hope & inspiration. I definitely read church books for the stories more than the talks.
April 27, 2015
I think Glenn Pace was able to put the true feelings of African people on the pages of this book. It brought back all of the feelings I have of my experience living in Africa. I loved it and will probably read it again.
July 9, 2015
Reading this after spending 6 months in Ghana made my heart ache to be back with the people. How lovely they are and how big an imprint they left on my soul. Every time you part with a Ghanaian they wish you "safe journey." I miss that. Goodbye just doesn't have the same effect.
Read
February 26, 2008I am still reading this book. It the story of the experiences of the author as the LDS church deals with the people and government in building a
temple in Africa.
temple in Africa.
June 25, 2008
Very interesting read about Elder Pace's experiences in trying to get a temple built in sub-saharan Africa.
October 13, 2008
I learned a lot and gained an appreciation for the African "pioneers" that have joined the LDS church. They have waited so long to have the blessings we enjoy and take for granted.
December 4, 2008
Glenn Pace's experience in Africa
July 21, 2010
I really enjoyed reading about the history of the church in Africa. The Lord's work rolls forth in His time & in miraculous ways.
May 11, 2010
When he wasn't quoting his lengthy "talks" (he must actually keep copies of them all!), his interactions with the people were really interesting.
December 30, 2010
I loved the insight to Africa, but the book read more like a journal.
August 20, 2010
Because of Yared I enjoyed reading another book about Africa and Ethiopia.
December 10, 2010
Pace's experiences opening Western Africa for the LDS church. 3.5
September 21, 2008
I loved this one about the growth of the church in Africa. Great stories and lots of fun pictures.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews