The Ancestor
Africans hold a great esteem for their ancestors. Those practicing
the native traditions would gather together annually with family to
sacrifice a cow or sheep to their ancestors, and petition them for
help, rain, protection, or whatever they felt they needed. The major
part of their religion focused on their ancestors. When Christians of other faiths came and proselyted Africans, they
told the people that their ancestors did not exist, that they had died,
and were gone forever. I don’t know if those Christians didn’t believe
in an afterlife, or if they just said it to reject African tradition.
Either way, they taught the people that their ancestors no longer
existed. What a joy it was to be able to tell these people that their
ancestors most certainly did exist, and that though we did not need to
call on them for help, they were in need of our help. They needed the
help of their living descendants to perform the essential ordinances of
the gospel in their behalf. Because of their strong feelings towards
their ancestors, most Africans received this news with great joy. Setswana is the native language of Botswana, and while serving in
that area, I made an interesting discovery about the Setswana word for
God. I had known throughout my mission that the word for God was
Modimo. Sometimes we would tell people we were barumua ba Modimo
(messengers of God). In Setswana, the word Motswana meant a Tswana person, or a person of
the Tswana tribe. To say Botswana would be the plural form of the same
word – “Tswana people” or “people of the Tswana tribe.” The prefix
“mo” was singular form, and the word “bo” or “ba” was plural. This fact became very interesting to me when I learned that the word
for ancestors is badimo. If I was understanding correctly, the word
for God, Modimo, and the word of ancestors, badimo, were simply
different prefixes for the same word – ancestor. What insight that
holds! I suspect that the word Modimo was adopted by Africans because
grasping the concept of worshiping someone besides an ancestor may have
been difficult to understand. But over time, this connection was
likely forgotten as Christianity became the dominant religion in South
Africa. I think the connection is significant. It would be hard to grasp
the idea of honoring a great and powerful being who has no real
relation to us. If we were merely a clay or wood project God is
working on, why should we want to emulate Him? A statue can never take
on the real characteristics of its model. But if we are God’s children, and I testify that we are, then we can
become like our Heavenly Father, if we will but follow the steps that
He teaches. Joseph Smith taught that “If men do not comprehend the character of
God, they do not comprehend themselves” (History of the Church, V. 3,
pg. 303). I believe that until we know and seek to fulfill our
potential to become like Him, we cannot become all that He wants us to
be. We are children of God, and as children, we are also heirs of all
that He has and is, if we will live according to His word and
commandments. President Boyd K. Packer has said: “You are a child of God. He is the father of your
spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King
of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many
generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you
represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line.
You are a child of God!” So I think the word Modimo is a very appropriate name for our Father
in Heaven. Truly, to each and every one of us, He is The Ancestor.
I served my mission in South Africa. I loved
learning about the people, the history, and the culture. I was also
fascinated by their religious views. The native African religion – the
one that was present before Christian missionaries ever came to South
Africa, and which is still quite popular, has a very strong focus on
one’s own ancestors.
Boyd K. Packer, “Your Test of Courage,” New Era, Mar 1990, 4