Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen.
David O. McKay told him they would not send missionaries yet, but that Johnson should wait patiently for the right time.
[4]: 353 Johnson and his family lived off of his farm, his retirement pension, and donations from followers, but they were poor.
[3]: 15–16 Although he was not able to be baptized at the time, Johnson received support and encouragement in sharing the faith with others from Latter-day Saints who were expatriates that occasionally lived in or visited Ghana.
This began primarily with Virginia Cutler, who was a visiting professor at the University of Ghana 1966–1969.
After sharing the message of Mormonism with many in Accra, Johnson moved to Cape Coast, Ghana, where he set up at least ten congregations there and in the surrounding areas.
[2]: xxvi In 1977, four different denominations tried to persuade Johnson to have his congregations become part of their church, and offered him money to do so.
Foreign missionaries had to quickly withdraw from the country, including the acting mission president.
Members held sacrament meetings in their homes on a family basis, instead of at formal meetinghouses.