黑人先驅者和我們的共享遺產

黑人先驅者和我們的共享遺產

聖殿山

2022 年 2 月 2 日

教育, 家庭歷史

Michael D.King, 灣區舊金山創世紀團體領袖
以及諮理Thomas Cain和Nathaniel Whitfield

“對於許多人來說，先驅者這個詞會讓人聯想起被蓋起來的篷車，塵土飛揚的牛以及在美國西部尋求新家的衷心男女……實際上，先驅者可以是任何勇往直前進入未知世界的人——而這不是很好地描述了我們所有人的人生歷程嗎？”

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.

她的弟弟，Issac Lewis Manning, 也在1841年洗禮。 Isaac 寫道 “當先知和他的哥哥，Hyrum, 在卡太基監獄殉道時，我是群中伴隨著屍體回到納府的一員。我每半晚都會守衛墳墓，看守暴民。”

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.