Tell Me the Stories

Amanda & Samuel D. Chambers/Black Mormon Pioneers

July 24th is Pioneer Day, an official holiday in the State of Utah. The holiday celebrates those who emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era. Today some Latter-day Saints will celebrate our pioneer heritage by telling stories of remembrance of our own pioneer ancestors or of pioneers whose stories have made an impact on us.

Outside of Utah, we too learn the stories of Mormon pioneers. Their stories are used in church lessons and talks as examples of faith, perseverance, service and so on.

Sometimes church members who are not of pioneer decent, or are new converts can feel intimidated and in awe of those members who have a rich pioneer history and are able to feel connected to the early saints. We all want to feel a connection to the history of our faith. It isn't always possible, but sometimes we are given that opportunity.

When we Sistas were growing up we often wondered were there any people who looked like us, saints of African decent, among the pioneers. We each learned of black pioneers at different times, and different life experiences brought us to the knowledge of these members. We don't share the stories of black Mormon pioneers because they are black and we are black, but because for us it was joyous to find diversity in the gospel, even in the early history of the church. Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a story and in every story there is value. We try to share stories that maybe you haven't heard before.

Samuel and Amanda Chambers

In 1844 LDS missionaries were having a hard time having their message received, but Samuel Davidson Chambers, a 13 year old slave was touched by what he heard. Samuel was born on May 21, 1831 in Alabama. After hearing and believing the missionaries message, without the permission of his master, he snuck away from the plantation at night and was baptized a member of the LDS faith.

After baptism Samuel was not able to interact with his religion for 21 years, but he remained faithful and steadfast. Brother Chambers stated that he had "known the gospel to be true ever since I was confirmed," that he "greatly longed" to be with the other Saints in Utah, but because he was a slave he "could never see how it would be brought about." After the civil war, Samuel and his family were freed from slavery and they began to save money to be able to join the LDS saints in Utah. In 1870 Samuel, his wife Amanda Leggroan Chambers, and his son Peter began the journey west. They traveled with Amanda's brother Edward Leggroan, his wife and their three children. Their party arrived in Salt Lake City on April 27, 1870. Chambers said, "I did not come to Utah to know the truth of the gospel, but I received it way back where the gospel found me."

In Utah the Chambers family cultivated 30 acres of land. Their property had two brick homes, Amanda and Samuel lived in one, Peter Chambers and his family lived in the other. Their farm did very well and Samuel, Peter and even sometimes Amanda would deliver goods by wagon. The Chambers were faithful in paying their tithing and contributed to the temple fund even though they were unable to partake of the temple blessings. (We have asked ourselves if we would have had the faith necessary to contribute to the building of a temple that we could not enter.)

Brother Chambers was known for bearing powerful testimony of the gospel and was a defender of his faith. He loved sharing his faith and giving copies of the Book of Mormon. Even though Samuel held no priesthood office the Chambers were very active in the church. The Chambers were well liked and in 1924 Amanda and Samuel celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary and had quite the turn out. Samuel died four years after Amanda on November 9, 1929. They died as faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and until the end they were as Samuel stated in his testimony, "active in doing what he could for the building up of the kingdom of God."

Until we meet again,
Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel