First North American Sisters Called to the WIM

A Black Name Tag upon our chest
We are the ones, the Church's best.
Some may boast and some may brag,
But only a few wear the Black Name Tag.

Twenty-four months without a date,
But we are tough, we can wait.
Our girls at home, they ever brag. . .
Their brave men wear the Black Name Tag.

Back at home our girlfriends wait,
But not for long, she starts to date.
Her interest soon begins to lag,
She then "Dear Johns" the Black Name Tag.

On our return we resume life,
Start our search to find a wife.
But finds are few and efforts lag,
Such is life for the Black Name Tag.

You find a fox, she has her man,
You find a chick, she has a plan.
You find the one, but what a drag,
She wants to wear the Black Name Tag.

She may not yet know the significance of her decision to wear the Black Name Tag, but Sister Jami Butler of Brigham City, UT is a modern day pioneer making history in the West Indies Mission as the first North American sister called to labor here. And, she will soon be joined by seven more sister missionaries - Rachel Ann Brisson (Lorton, near Alexandria, VA); Alexis Grace Fish (Apache Junction, AZ); Elizabeth Sims (Riverton, UT); Kaisha Rae Weaver (Rexburg, ID); Heidi Kelsch (West Jordan, Utah); Deanna Steinmetz (Hempstead, Texas); and, Lindsey Stephenson (Idaho Falls, Idaho) - all expected to arrive from the MTC in the next few transfers.

These young sisters – pioneers in the effort to “bring souls unto Christ” in this part of His vineyard - will continue in the footsteps of many faithful young women who came before them from homes in the islands of the Caribbean and from the South American continent, including Bibi Girdharry, Marcia Alicia Gaspar, Christina Jaipaul, Chennell Marie Camejo, Ronetta Mentore, Freda Touissant, Natasha Phagwah, Naomi Fraser, Tracey DeFrietas, Munda Shrestha, and Weslande Olysse.

Elder Quentin L. Cook, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted in his April 2011 Conference address, “the faith of [pioneer] sisters in being willing to leave their homes to cross the plains for the unknown was inspiring. If one had to characterize their most significant attribute, it would be their unwavering faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The heroic accounts of what these pioneer women sacrificed and accomplished as they crossed the plains is a priceless legacy to the Church.”

The same can be said for all the young women who have - or will yet - wear the Black Name Tag as modern-day pioneers in the West Indies Mission.