OCR Text |
Show T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 27, 2006 Early LDS Church practiced racial tolerance Escaped slave Elijah Abel was an influential church leader "T1 "V TTe've all % A / heard V V stories about slaves escaping to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Obviously this "railroad" to freedom was not literally subterranean, but rather a path of underground resistance to the institution of slavery. Organized by free-born blacks, former slaves, abolitionists and American Indians, the Underground Railroad funneled possibly 100,000 slaves into free states, Canada and Mexico. Among these escapees was a man named Elijah Abel. Born into slavery in Maryland in 1810, Abel escaped a life of slavery through the Underground Railroad and entered Canada. Shortly thereafter, in 1832, Elijah was baptized into the LDS Church by Ezekiel Roberts. Abel was the first black person to be baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was also the first black man to receive the priesthood, ordained an elder in 1836 under the hands of the prophet Joseph Smith. Abel's journey was one of pain, suffering, liberation and spiritual redemption. A few years after receiving the priesthood, Abel was ordained as a seventy—a high position of leadership in the LDS faith. Abel served missions for the LDS Church in Ohio, New York and Canada. Abel changed the lives and softened the hearts of countless people. Shortly after his second mission, Abel was ordained into the Nauvoo Seventies Quorum, and when Joseph Smith was arrested in Quincy, 111., in 1841, Abel was among a group of seven elders who set out from Nauvoo to try to rescue him. Abel's life debunks the as- 15 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE sertion that black people did not hold the priesthood in the LDS Church until the racial ban was lifted in 1978. In fact, two of Elijah's descendants also held the priesthood. Some people, including a faction of conservative Southern Baptists, argue that the LDS Church is a racist institution that barred its black members from holding the priesthood until 1978. Yes, the LDS Church did once have a ban on black members holding the priesthood, but not at its inception and certainly not now. Abel's life stands as a testimony against such racist accusations. Certainly, there have been prejudiced members and leaders of the LDS Church, as there have been racists in every organization. Certainly, leaders are human before they are leaders. They have prejudices, just like anyone else. Today, the LDS Church has hundreds of thousands of members who are black, and their faith, spirit and testimonies stand as a beacon of strength in a divisive world. Strong Americans such as Abel should be a source of strength to all of us, not just members of the LDS Church. His example can help us live more fulfilling lives. Abel devoted his life to the church and remained a faithful member and holder of the priesthood until his death in 1884. He died directly after serving his third mission for the church. Abel is, and will be, an inspiration to millions of LDS Church members, as well as others, for years to come. letters@ chronicle.utah.edu Orthodox Baha'i Faith Free Conference and Fireside Sat. April 29 CwifcrwrK* io;i 5 »m - S;30 pan Eul Mil Crt*k Ubr*ry J2W EaM tnd t w i y w n Au», at m««t[n9 rvom Country Irui and $4Jrtw, M22 StHilh DtcktrLalM Df, W«tV«llty Store Your Gear Over Break! ' STUDENT SPECIAL! 50°* OFF st 1 Month's Rent! 'Certain resinctions apply. New rentals only. Must mention ad. UT2-0406-DUC 350 S. Redwood Rd. Salt Lake City, UT 84104 (801)973-8118 3528 S. 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (801)266-5861 Memorable moments from letters to the editor • "If Todd, who I now refer to as Toad, wants to transfer, then good riddance" ("If you don't support the MUSS, you're an idiot," Sept. 16). • "Guess you made a bit of an ass of yourself, huh? Sucks to be you" ("Ignorant people should not put down 'prudes,'" Sept. 27). • "I don't need some Satan-worshipping liberal lecturing me about moral values. It is because of people like you that I can't even let my pet dog loose in the yard out of fear that some perverted liberal will jump over the fence and rape him" ("Liberals rape dogs," Oct. 5). • "Your dear George W. wears a long black robe and a hood and takes part in black-magic rituals with bones and skulls and animal sacrifices...so you and all your homophobic, racist, bigoted, intolerant, pro-slavery, wacko Republican friends can go ahead and brag" ("Liberals may rape dogs, but 22). Which Chronicle employee won the personal hate-mail war? GORDON SWIFT'S FIRST LETTER OF THE YEAR AUGUST 2 3 , 2 0 0 5 Americans co-opt more than Cinco de Mayo Editor: I am writing in response to Maria Murguia's column ("Happy Sept. 16!: If you think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, you're mistaken," Sept. 19). So Murguia is "offended. God forbid anyone forget American Independence Day and say it is on July 5." Wait, Americans know more about American holidays than Mexican holidays? Shocking. I was also mortified to learn that Americans turn other cultures' holidays into transparent conservatives worship the devil," Oct. 14). • "And by the way—God hates homophobes" ("Jesus hates homophobes," Oct. 26). • "When you blatantly degrade something as sacred to you as a member of Christ's church, you not only piss me off, but you disrespect a much more important being in this universe" ("Patrick Muir is going to hell," Nov. excuses for drunken partying. I intend to ponder this further over a green beer on St. Patrick's Day. I also take exception to the comment, "Americans associate Mexican culture with nothing more than chips, salsa, guacamole dip and Coronas." Americans associate Mexican culture with many other things—such as bullfighting and over-the-counter steroids. Gordon Swift Patrick Muir TonyPoulson Eryn Green BenZalkind Jenni Koehler RuthAnne Frost EricVogeler Jay Richards Steve Gehrke Matthew Piper Jessie Fawson Christina Coloroso Clayton Norlen Chris Bellamy Matt Patton 13 5 4 1 2 2 •1 1 20 2 3 3 1 4 1 2 Junior, Chemistry 20% OFF* WITH VALID UNIVERSITY ID Good until 5 / 1 0 / 0 6 " Excludes Sale Items to tf)e •Extraordinary ' ]>erytkng we "girls" Men's Oatzhiing 5hDES CraFPiti/Newbraw A n t Baaks/Design N/linn — "TT—»_ir^ I D - 7 Fri - 5 a t I • - 3 SLJI-I I I -"7 5 I 3 M a i n S t r e s t Park t=ifcy wwwrhestersblacksmith.CDm Who says MUSS members have all the fun? WE DO! loin The HUSS! During football season, there's no question where the party is in Rice-Eccles Stadium. It's that sea of crimson better known as The MUSS, the Mighty Utah Student Section. And we want YOU to get in on the fun this fall; we want YOU to join The MUSS. For only $25 you get: • A reserved seat in the best area of the student section • A cool MUSS T-shirt • Pre-game tailgate parties for every home game FEATURES: Month-To-Month Leases No Security Deposit Video Surveillance 7-Day Electronic Gate Access 'at most locations U-STORE-IT We're the Self-Storage Professionals LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE! | 1-888-U-STORE-IT WWW.U-ST0RE-IT.COM If only everything on campus were such a sweet deal! Go to www.alumni.utah.edu to sign up; then get ready to take over Rice-Eccles again this fall. |