Comments on As Sistas in Zion: Elijah Abel: Black Mormon Pioneer

I love reading all these comments. I'm white ...

2012-02-14T22:24:48.864-07:00

I love reading all these comments. I'm white (you might be able to tell from the picture :) ) but it makes me emotional whenever I hear stories of faithful black members of the Church. I think it is because I have felt the truth of the Gospel deep within my soul, but I recognize that I have had an easy time accepting it compared to many (being white, born in the church, etc). People who are willing to look past offensive teachings about their race from the past and are still able to see the beauty and truth of the Restoration truly amaze me, because I know how hard it has been for me to keep my faith with only the secular-media world to deal with. It is really in the same way that I am amazed by stories of the Willy and Martin hand cart companies, many of whom died in their desire to make it to Zion. To me, you all are practically on the same level. God bless :)

I served a mission to Venezuela from 1971-73, five...

2012-01-28T11:32:58.124-07:00

I served a mission to Venezuela from 1971-73, five years before the change in policy where all worthy men could hold the priesthood. We spent 3 days at the mission home in Salt Lake City before leaving for the language training mission training in Provo. While at Salt Lake City we had the priviledge of listening to many general authorities. We would then cross the street and eat our meals at the former Hotel Utah. It was there that a black gentleman got on top of a table and while we were eating bore his testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and that someday he knew that he would be able to hold the priesthood. The Spirit was as strong with this good brother as when the general authorities spoke. I remember well when I first heard of the announcement that all worthy men could hold the priesthood. Tears of joy came freely that day.

So the priesthood was taken away? why?

2011-09-02T14:27:18.983-06:00

So the priesthood was taken away? why?

Yeah, but the Lord didn't order the GA's t...

2011-08-15T10:10:40.393-06:00

Yeah, but the Lord didn't order the GA's to deny the Priesthood from African Americans...so, when the Angels come or the Lord speaks, then I follow, but I really wonder about items like this where there is no directive from the Lord....thank goodness we had a Prophet that understood the need to overcome this and one who would pray for the Lord to correct the Church, and have us follow HIS paths not our own.

June 8, 1978, was exactly one month before I was t...

2011-08-08T17:07:18.434-06:00

June 8, 1978, was exactly one month before I was to be married. My wife to be and I both heard the announcement on our car radios. Moments later we were both in front of my parent's house discussing the exciting news!

I served a mission from 1975 to 1977. On several occasions I was in a situation where I needed to try to explain the position of the Church as it related to the ban. Though I searched, I could never find a satisfactory answer. I struggled with teaching we were all children of a loving Heavenly Father, while at the same time some of His children were denied full Priesthood blessings. The only thing I knew for sure about the subject was that the day would sometime come. I thought it might not happen until the Second Coming. When I heard the great news, some of my first thoughts were that I was not ready for the Second Coming, and that I had better do more repenting.

Thank you for the article, and best wishes in all of your righteous endevors.

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, Ada...

2011-08-02T21:13:43.725-06:00

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, Adam made an altar and offered sacrifice. An angel came to Adam and asked him why he offered sacrifices and Adam replied, "I know not, save the Lord commanded me." Moses 5:6
Some call it blind obedience or feel like they have to explain or justify why they believe how they do. I call it absolute trust in the Lord, that he knows what is best and will not allow me or anyone who follows Him to be led astray.

Why were blacks allowed to have the priesthood in ...

2011-07-18T13:02:33.444-06:00

Why were blacks allowed to have the priesthood in the early days of the restoration only to have that privelege/right taken? Well, a parallel story might be: Why did women administer and give blessings to women until the 1950s? This was not uncommon--prophets condoned it and Wilford Woodruff (and other prominent church leaders )has several instances in his journal of he and his wife blessing their children. Why was this practice abolished as well? I have no answers to such difficult questions. Luckily, my testimony's foundation rests on Christ as my Savior. The rest is gravy.

This is wonderful!!Thank you for sharing this post...

2011-06-17T11:03:08.061-06:00

This is wonderful!!Thank you for sharing this post. Our church is not immune from hubris. This article was very well thought out and I enjoyed reading it.

We read all the comments and want to say thank you...

2011-06-16T12:38:23.972-06:00

We read all the comments and want to say thank you for talking the time to do so!!!!

My Parents were baptized in February of 1973. 5 ye...

2011-06-15T19:18:13.584-06:00

My Parents were baptized in February of 1973. 5 years before my father could receive the priesthood. I guess my family is looked at as Pioneers. There were not many black members of the church world wide let alone in Michigan. (In Michigan there were 12 and 6 of them were my family.) It takes a very special kind of people to realize the truth, not matter the hurdles that stand around it, and to walk in it anyway trusting that GOD WILL BLESS YOU AND YOURS for the obedience and faith. My father and Mother who both walked in that faith stood silently watching as other served our family by baptizing myself and my siblings when it was time and for being readily available when a blessing was needed. We were served with willing hands and full hearts. This church has loved our family into it. And faith has kept us here.
I understand people feeling why they shouldn't associate with the church because of it's "racist" passed. My question to you would be... How can you live in the South with its' Racist passed? Or in America with It's Racist passed? Most people fail to realize most religions held the same kind of social graces during that time: Notice there is a 2nd Baptist Church? It was created for 2nd class citizens. And AME stood for Africa, Methodist Episcopalian. We still do consider many churches "BLACK CHURCHES." Yet no one is speaking of them in terms of racism. One of the ONLY differences is that the LDS CHURCH made a PUBLIC PROCLAIMATION announcing the practices of the past are no more. It is not valid and it is wrong. Much Like slavery, Civil rights and what not. I can't find any such Proclamation from other churches even if they no longer practice the racist traditions of their passed. They didn't make a joyous announcement. They kept it under the table.
I believe the Lord has a timeline and sometimes we want something now when the World will just mess it up at that time. In order for the WORLD to treat Ethnic people as equals the world had to evolve to a worthiness of respecting all people as equals. This would include religiously as well.
I am proud to be a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm Proud to be from a family that accepted the truths before the world was ready to see us as equals.

Elijah Able was ordained a General Authority until the day he died. His Grandson and Great-Grandsons also held the priesthood. They stand as a witness of a restoration of how things should have been.
Our prophets are still men. Even the best of men make mistakes especially in regards to atmosphere of the world and the times. Even Moses made mistakes and didn't make it to the promised land but he no less a prophet then our Prophets of the passed. I say study the history of the church. Teach it to your children for generations so they KNOW the history and can be proud of how far we've come. And most of all don't be afraid of discussing the passed history of the church. Shying away from the truth will make your doomed of repeating the mistakes of it.

Armand Mauss in the book "Black and Mormon&qu...

2011-06-12T19:00:36.671-06:00

Armand Mauss in the book "Black and Mormon" discusses why these teachings of blacks are so hard to get rid of. (Brad actually mentioned one of them practically verbatim.) From page 106,

"To repudiate any of the cherished religious lore of their immediate ancestors seems to some Mormons, especially the older ones, almost like a repudiation of the grandparents themselves, to say nothing of their teachers, who might have walked with God."

He goes on to discuss the 1978 revelation on page 107,

"Thus, when the priesthood restriction policy was dropped in 1978, this change was not portrayed as an actual reversal, since several earlier church leaders had predicted it would happen. (Of course, several others, including Brigham Young predicted it would never happen.) Even with the earlier abolition of polygamy, the practice was only “suspended” and could be restored at any time, since the theological basis was left intact. This myth of continuity has the important function of validating the traditional claim of continuous revelation (which is canonical) and protecting the church against the charge of purely pragmatic and expedient change.

The second cherished organizational myth is related to the first: the myth of history as time-filtered–the organizational equivalent of the old adage that “time heals all wounds”–and similarly dubious ideas. This myth is typically accompanied by an organizational posture of benign and selective forgetfulness. Thus, if the church progresses in a continuous, linear path by divine guidance, then contemporary realities and understandings replace those from the past, which will eventually be forgotten. Obsolete ideas and practices simply don’t count any more, even if they originated as divine revelations. Where discrepancies appear between the present and the past, there is no point in reminding ourselves about the past. Especially if an event in the past is embarrassing, then recalling it and dwelling on it, even if only to repudiate it, merely confuses the matter. Such negative thinking has no place in the Lord’s kingdom. If harm has resulted from earlier ways of thinking, then everyone involved should forgive everyone else and get on with construction a better future. Apologies or ringing declarations of disavowal should not be necessary, since few peoples or individuals have histories free of offenses against others, and thus few are in a position to demand apologies. With time, memories of these offenses will fade automatically, and we will all be better for it. Meanwhile, if we have not made the requisite changes, let’s not stir up useless and uncomfortable old memories."

I agree with Margaret. I do think Brad is "s...

2011-06-12T18:54:21.727-06:00

I agree with Margaret. I do think Brad is "spectactularly wrong." Many people have tried to use scriptures to justify the ban, but in the words of Alma Allred, "I don’t believe that LDS scripture allows for a restriction against blacks’ holding the priesthood...Too many scriptures collide with those ideas for them to be valid." Allred discusses popular scriptural justifications for the ban, and says why these justifications are incorrect. See http://www.mormonheretic.org/2011/04/11/using-scriptures-to-debunk-the-priesthood-ban/

Certainly God is not a racist.

Brad, please be quiet. In the name of Jesus Christ...

2011-06-11T11:03:46.061-06:00

Brad, please be quiet. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Please, please refrain from speculation on the WHY...

2011-06-10T18:36:29.710-06:00

Please, please refrain from speculation on the WHYs of the priesthood restriction. As Elder Oaks has said, such speculation has usually been "spectacularly wrong." There is a world of difference from assigning one group (or tribe) to priestly tasks and EXCLUDING one group from the most precious blessings of the gospel. We are not the restored church of Moses but the restored Church of Jesus Christ. The New Testament is so clear in instructing us to call no person whom "God hath cleansed" (baptized) common, and the mandate to go unto "all the world" was direct and unequivocal. We will be restrained from taking the gospel to people in some places because of political dangers (some Muslim countries), but we must not be restrained from offering the full gospel and its attendant blessings and power to ALL who answer the invitation to come unto Christ. Not only must we not be restrained, we must preach and accept others whole-heartedly if we are to answer the Lord's request. ("Lovest thou me?")

Great story, thanks. For those of you who take of...

2011-06-10T14:48:42.563-06:00

Great story, thanks.

For those of you who take offense at the church's policy prior to '78 and think it was racist, then you must think the Lord is racist.

The Lord only allowed the priesthood in the Old Testament to only a select tribe of people. Was that discriminatory? Yes, it was, as in selectively choosing. How about in the New Testament? God forbid even preaching the gospel to the gentiles, let alone give them the priesthood. What did it take? A vision to Peter, the prophet-president of the church, to open up missionary work to the gentiles. Hmnnn, sounds familiar.

What is my point? My point is--as has been pointed out by some others--is that the Lord has a purpose and His own timetable which is not understood by us mortal men.

Let's say that you are correct, that the church was racist. Well, the church "corrected" that policy. So why can't you accept that and go on with your life? You are ironically guilty of continually judging based on past actions like there is no such thing as repentance or corrective action. Would you like to be treated like that? Forever branded? So get over it already. Move on. All men can hold the priesthood. (*Gasp* women can't?) We don't practice polygamy anymore.

I really believe that some people actively look for excuses to hold grudges against the church. That comes from thinking you are smarter than the Lord and know better. I guarantee you that when you finally meet the Savior fact to face on Judgment Day, you will be schooled on His decisions that you, in your puny mortal intelligence, judged to be racist or ___________________ (fill in the blank).

The church is true. It is lead by a prophet of God. Hold to the iron rod.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard this n...

2011-06-10T14:00:08.204-06:00

I remember exactly where I was when I heard this news on our radio. I was folding clothes in an upstairs bedroom. I immediately fell to my knees and cried and thanked God. Due to my overwhelming gratitude it took a while for my tears to stop. It was most glorious news for me. At the time, I was 27, and was a life long Mormon, and southerner. I had long had issues with that policy, it seemed so unfair. I had heard the "Mormon Myth" reasons for it, but I didn't, couldn't accept them.

Since that announcement, I think I might have come up with a reason for that policy that makes more sense than the ideas I had heard as I was growing up and asked why? As I seminary teacher, I came across D&C 134:12. The reason for withholding the Priesthood would seem to have at first stemmed from this...and would have been an essential thing in keeping the Church from being destroyed. The Saints did not own slaves and actively preached against it. This is one of the major poiitical reasons for their being run out of Missouri and Illinois. They were a political force that could have ended that barbaric practice in those states if they had the opportunity to vote on the matter. Why then, did the Church wait so long to overturn that practice after the Civil War...again, I think it was the Lord's wisdom. If you didn't live in the South in those years you wouldn't know that it wasn't only blacks who were persecuted...it was any white who dared "associate" with blacks. Any white church allowing blacks could be burned. Many churches were burned. It wasn't til the mid seventies that the Civil Rights movement was well enough established that the LDS policy was changed.

I have only my opinion to suggest this idea...it isn't something I have ever heard expounded at conference or read in a Doctrinal Commentary. But I wanted to offer it in celebration of one of the most important revelations ever given, to my mind. The only similar one would be the one given to Peter in Acts 10:15:"What God has cleansed that call thou not common." For Peter as head of the Church had been taught by Jewish tradition that Gentiles were unclean, so he only wanted to have the Jews in Christ's Church. This revelation showed him otherwise.

I have another opinion. It is that in these last days we will see many of African descent rise in profile and power both in the world and in the Church. These are some of those the Lord said who were last who will be last. The rise of the Church in Africa is the beginning of that, again, in my opinion.

What I said elsewhere, but need to re-state: I bel...

2011-06-10T11:44:30.476-06:00

What I said elsewhere, but need to re-state:
I believe in my religion, and I love it. The race issue is not a stumbling block for me; it is simply interesting history. It becomes a stumbling block for many, however, if someone perpetuates racist stereotypes in the present day in order to support Church policies of the past. It becomes a stumbling block if any Black person is told they are “cursed” because a well-intentioned Mormon simply doesn’t know better. It becomes a stumbling block if any LDS missionary sees the Lord’s children as divided into castes rather than as co-inheritors with Christ of all that the Father has–or if any member of a congregation to which a Black investigator is brought has similar notions.
The center of the gospel is not this particular point of history. The center is the atonement of Jesus Christ. But if 19th century attitudes keep us from living the FULL and restored gospel in 2011, we must speak boldly, and then testify, as did Pres. Gordon B. HInckley in April 2006: “I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color, is ineligible?”

Anonymous (there are too many of you.) I'm so...

2011-06-10T00:13:11.387-06:00

Anonymous (there are too many of you.) I'm so glad to hear you are learning about the church. Don't be too hard on the missionaries. When I served my mission in Georgia and South Carolina, I had never heard of Elijah Abel--I'm sure these missionaries haven't heard of him either. Elijah Abel is one of my heroes, and I would like to make his story better known. Joseph T Ball is another hero of mine, and that's why I want people to know he was the first black leader of an LDS congregation.

Another early black Mormon of note was Walker Lewis. He joined the LDS church in the summer of 1843. He was probably baptized by Parley P Pratt in the fall of 1843. He was ordained and Elder by William Smith, Joseph’s younger brother.

Lewis has a very interesting history. He was the son of slaves, and sued for his own freedom. His case is cited as the case which liberated slaves in 1783 in Massachusetts. Winning the court case resulted is his family being able to purchase property. He voted, was educated, and became upper class of black Massachusetts society. In 1826 he helped found Massachusetts General Colored Association which was the first civil rights abolitionist group in the world. In 1823, he because a freemason, and master mason. In 1829 he signed the form declaring independence from the mother lodge in London, making his lodge Black Lodge #1.

He was well acquainted with 6 of the 12 apostles who had served missions in Massachusetts, including Wilford Woodruff, Brigham Young, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Parley Pratt, and William Smith. Woodruff wrote in his journal that “He was an example for his more whiter brethren to follow.” Lowell Branch where he lived was saved because of his service. It is known that he traveled to Salt Lake City in Oct 1851.

If you tell the missionaries this information about these early black Mormons, I expect they will be stunned. While a few church members know of Elijah Abel, almost nobody knows of Joseph Ball or Walker Lewis.

I love Jesus, and I love our church. I wish we had a better record on race. We are improving, but we still have a long way to go. Armaund Mauss gives an interesting assessment of racial relations in a book titled "Black and Mormon." I reviewed it at http://www.mormonheretic.org/2011/04/14/current-race-relations-within-the-lds-church/

Don't rush into baptism. It's a big commitment, but I think it is a worthwhile one. Only become baptized when you feel the time is right. I'm sure the missionaries will be anxious to see you baptized, but trust in God. God will let you know when the time is right for you.

I'd like to share a story from my mission. We taught a nice family (mother and 2 daughters) near Augusta, Georgia. I wanted dearly for them to be baptized before I returned home from my mission in June. (In fact, I just realized that I returned home 22 years ago today!) Mary said she would be baptized in September. I don't know what her reasons were, but September meant something very important to her. I was able to return to my mission for her baptism, and it was a wonderful experience. I still keep in contact with her and her children (who both have masters degrees from Georgia Tech now!) You'll know when the time is right.

I remember that special day...I had become less-ac...

2011-06-09T14:57:23.149-06:00

I remember that special day...I had become less-active because, deep in my heart I couldn't reconcile how my Loving Father as I knew him, could withhold the blessing of the Priesthood from the warm, loving, black brethren that I personally knew(I'm 'peach')...I knew I could return 'home' now...This revelation made the church true for me, what JOY!

While I was too young to remember...I do know that...

2011-06-09T10:46:41.124-06:00

While I was too young to remember...I do know that EVERY time I recollect on this change...I am overcome with emotion. Like someone else said...it wasn't just for the brothers...but for the sisters too...and for their children, their ancestors, their progenitors...that day in the SPIRIT WORLD was a Party!!!!! And for the unborn...there was much rejoicing as well!! And then everyone started getting back to work...there was/is still alot of work to be done in the kingdom.
--Julie from Detroit

I was in the living room of our apartment on 500 N...

2011-06-09T08:47:54.384-06:00

I was in the living room of our apartment on 500 North St. in Provo, UT, the radio was on, it was mid-morning. The news was reported with the straightforward, detached quality of all other newsstories. Moments into it I realized what they were saying, a thrill ran through me. An obstacle I had never understood very well was suddenly removed. I wanted to tell everybody. I couldn't get my wife on the phone. I called my mother, always a model of faith and LDS heritage. She had questions. What was I saying? Where had I heard this? It had seemed so obvious to me. Her faith would also bring her to appreciate this news. My association with LDS of African descent has brought into my life greater appreciation of the sacrifice and faith of my own pioneer ancestors of European descent. It has also made me aware of the insidious presence of racial prejudice in my community, that hinders professional advancement, that brings injustice into our justice system, that prevents richer social relations. This anniversary is a great reminder of the divine nature that we all share and the need of every worthy priesthood holder to bring us all to Christ. Thank you, sistas, for this important reminder. God bless your blog. With love from Kalamazoo.

Aahgh! I can't believe I gave the wrong websi...

2011-06-09T08:27:38.084-06:00

Aahgh! I can't believe I gave the wrong website for the "Nobody Knows" DVD. It's www.untoldstoryofblackmormons.com .

Thanks for honoring this history with this lovely blog post. There is a remarkable legacy that EVERYONE should know about.

Jocelyn Christensen Your comments may be a comfort...

2011-06-09T08:16:27.083-06:00

Jocelyn Christensen
Your comments may be a comforting thought for you and others with you mind frame, but they are hurtful me. To suggest that GOD wanted worthy black men to be discriminated against until 1978 is not a comfort to me. Why blame GOD and HIS TIMELINE for things that are wrong. There are things that happen whether GOD wants them to or not racism, murder, slavery. There is free agency, there are racist beliefs that get placed by MAN into GOD's kingdom. Your TIMELINE theory may keep YOUR testimony intact and if so, so be it, but I don't buy it one bit.

God has the whole world in his hands. He revealed...

2011-06-09T07:26:30.126-06:00

God has the whole world in his hands. He revealed the gospel in his good time. He gave the priesthood to all worthy males in his good time. He brought the Israelites out of Egypt in his good time. He gave me children...in all his great wisdom...according to HIS OWN TIMELINE...not mine. I hope to always trust in his timeline as he gathers his children even if it isn't "how I would do it." Father knows best.

Hi, my name is Samuel Dargan and I remember where ...

2011-06-09T07:15:29.605-06:00

Hi, my name is Samuel Dargan and I remember where I was the day the news was broadcast about blacks and the priesthood. I had just entered my senior year of high school, my great uncle and I were watching the evening news. At that time I had no idea who are what a Mormon was. I had never heard of them. That news cast came and went like so many others before it and after it. I graduated the following school year and enlisted in the Army. The Army sent me to Germany where I met a young returned missionary. We became friends. He invited me to church with him, where I met the missionaries. Two weeks after that first meeting I was baptized into the church. I've since served a mission. I've been a member since 1980 and I know that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is his church. This is the only church that has the fullness of the gospel as it was taught by Jesus Christ when He was upon the earth. This is my testimony that He lives and that He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I am African American, and I am a Mormon.