흑인 개척자와 우리의 공동 유산

흑인 개척자와 우리의 공동 유산

템플 힐

2022년 2월 2일

교육, 가족 역사

Michael D. King, San Francisco Bay Area Genesis Group의 리더,
카운슬러 Thomas Cain 및 Nathaniel Whitfield와 함께

“많은 사람들에게 개척자라는 단어는 미국 서부에서 새 집을 찾고있는 마차, 먼지 투성이의 황소, 성실한 남녀의 이미지를 떠올리게합니다. 실제로 개척자는 미지의 세계로 용감하게 전진하는 사람이 될 수 있습니다. 인생의 여정에있는 우리 모두를 잘 묘사하고 있습니까?”

Let’s look at several Black converts who were pioneers in history. These early Saints—even some who were still enslaved—were searching for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jane Manning (1822–1908) lived with the prophet Joseph Smith and his family for several years. As an overland pioneer to Utah, she recorded “[w]e walked until our shoes were worn out, and our feet became sore and cracked open and bled until you could see the whole print of our feet with blood on the ground. We stopped and united in prayer to the Lord; we asked God the Eternal Father to heal our feet. Our prayers were answered and our feet were healed forthwith.” Jane Manning was baptized by Charles Wandell in 1841. President Joseph F. Smith spoke at her funeral in 1908.

그녀의 형제 인 Isaac Lewis-Manning도 1841 년에 침례를 받았습니다. Isaac은 이렇게 말했습니다.“선지자와 그의 형제 인 Hyrum이 카르타고 감옥에서 순교했을 때 나는 나부로 돌아가는 시신을 동반 한 파티의 일원이었습니다. 나는 매일 밤 반 동안 무덤 위에 서서 폭도들을 지켜 보았습니다.”

Another Black member of the Church was Walker Lewis, baptized by Parley P. Pratt in 1844 and ordained to the priesthood by William Smith. He was a founder, in 1826, of the first civil rights abolitionist group in the United States, the Massachusetts General Colored Association. He was acquainted personally with apostles Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Parley Pratt, and William Smith.

In addition to the historical pioneers, there are present-day pioneers all around us, in our neighborhood and church houses. A pioneer might look like an old man in plaid pants who arrives late to church meetings, or a single mother of young children who stands in the back unnoticed. No matter their appearance, they are pioneers in unfamiliar terrain, who are “bravely moving forth into the unknown.” They each have unique gifts to offer their fellow Church members and community.

As we learn to recognize pioneers, we need not ignore our differences, but we should find our common values, dreams, and hopes, so we can learn from each other. We can do this with the help of our Savior, for He also was a pioneer. His love for His fellow men can be our example as we honor the pioneers both in the past and present.