Local Pages
The First Missionary from Georgetown, St. Vincent Island
Ronald Paris is a missionary from Georgetown on the windward side of the island of St. Vincent in the Grenadines. He’s currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Johannesburg South Africa Mission, speaking English, and is the first missionary from his branch to serve.
The Georgetown Branch started as a small group of baptized family and friends, not large enough even to be an official branch. Ronald’s dad, Brother Paris, was called to be the group leader. The membership grew until it was large enough to become a branch. Brother Paris was called as its first branch president. The small branch has continued to grow and is proud to have a missionary called to serve from its membership.
Ronald’s mother was baptized in 2001 and was the first of their family to join the Church. She was grateful her husband joined soon after they were married. Their children were born in the Church, and having them actively attend and participate in the Church helped shape them in the gospel. The Paris family was able to travel to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple with other family members to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity. This foundation prepared their son to serve a mission.
Elder Paris said he purposefully prepared himself to serve. Even as a young child of eight, he had a testimony of the gospel. As he continued progressing in the gospel during his teenage years, he prayed, read the scriptures, and asked himself why he wanted to serve a mission. He soon realized that he had his answer. When asked why he chose to serve, Ronald said, “I decided to go on a mission because it is a commandment given to us by the Lord to bring souls unto Him. It will also help to strengthen me in my life and help me gain more faith and a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ. . . . Lives can be changed and touched by the restored gospel.”
President Russell M. Nelson teaches: “The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come. A desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation” (“Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” Liahona, Nov. 2012, 18).
Ronald’s mother finds great joy in having her family grow in the gospel. “It’s a great blessing to know the Savior and Heavenly Father’s plan for our lives and how much He loves us. It is a blessing to serve one another.”