Elder Simeon Lovell says, "Bye, y'all"

Elder Simeon Lovell left today for the MTC in Provo in final preparation for missionary service in the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  He and twin brother Selwin first met the missionaries at age 14 in their hometown of Georgetown, Guyana, South America. In the United States only since mid-September and in St. George since Halloween “the twins” always knew the next great adventure in their lives would be a mission. 

His call to the "other Dixie" was met with enthusiasm.  “I just want to serve the Lord.  I am happy for this opportunity to serve in Georgia although I am sorry Selwin and I won’t be in the MTC together.  Could be the MTC just wasn’t prepared for two Lovells at the same time.”

As his "surrogate mother / grandmother" for the past four months, I will miss having him around.  Simeon is always quick to offer his help, jump when I ask him to do something and makes me laugh.  I am concerned about him serving in the "deep South" because he has no concept of prejudice.  I pray his pleasant personality, wit and love of the gospel of Jesus Christ will carry him through the difficult times.  

Missionaries first arrived in Georgia in 1843 but after Joseph Smith was martyred one year later, the growth of the Church slowed.  Missionary activity resumed in the late 1870s when the Southern States Mission was headquartered in Rome, Georgia. One early convert to the Church donated land and built a chapel at Mormon Springs in Haralson County before missionaries left the state for more than a decade following the murder of one missionary in July 1879. 

By 1908, Church membership in Georgia was approximately 6,800 but in 1930 membership had dropped to 4,311. 

Today there are 80,500+ members, 151 wards and branches, 2 missions, 42 family history centers and a temple - the first in the southern states - which was completed in 1983. The church in Georgia increased its profile when Latter-day Saints were very visible with disaster relief after Hurricane Andrew destroyed homes and families in Albany.  In 1994, more than 6000 LDS volunteers stepped up again to help homeowners rebuild and recover after serious flooding in the state.