By Margaret Blair Young and Darius Aidan Gray
We believe that there must and will be a significant future for those of African descent in the Church, and far greater prominence in the leadership than we see today. But it won’t come without full acknowledgment of the complexities that always attend race issues, and some bold approaches to the challenges before us. …
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Earthquake survivor Daniel Delva looks past his humble circumstances in Port-Au-Prince and instead chooses to dream about his future. Delva will be studying mechanical engineering this week at Weber State University in Ogden thanks to a foundation of anonymous California- and Utah-based donors who will cover his school expenses.
See http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700059604/LDS-Haitian-man-gets-a-2nd-chance-at-education.html
Londo P. Andrews has been called to serve as bishop of the Petersburg congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. …
http://www.mormontimes.com/article/15952/New-bishop-called-for-a-Virginia-ward
July 21, 2010 – Alex Boye was the featured guest at an institute graduation in London. See the Church’s official UK page:
SALT LAKE CITY — African-American Latter-day Saints are remembering an important anniversary in their faith and honoring the memory of pioneer Jane Manning James with an up-coming play about her life. …
The first member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to graduate from the University of Ghana Dental School / Korlebu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana, is David Ameyaw, age 33. He received his diploma on March 27, 2010 and was inducted into the dental profession by the Medical – Dental Council of Ghana on April 29, 2010. …
The following article shares the inspiring story of Joseph Freeman’s conversion to the church and his 1978 priesthood ordination and temple blessings. The article notes that he was ordained three days after the June 1978 revelation. Although reported as the first man of Black African descent to be ordained after the 1978 revelation, there are reports of other men in Brazil and Los Angeles who may have been ordained sooner. Please also see the Priesthood section of this website to note those who were ordained from 1836 to 1935. Notwithstanding, we are inspired by Brother Freeman’s faithfulness and quick response to the revelation.
http://www.mormontimes.com/studies_doctrine/church_history/?id=14506&preview=1
PROVO — An LDS chapel and institute of religion are the only buildings left on a street in Abuja, Nigeria.
Other churches and businesses once occupied the area, but were razed over a four-year span for not complying with zoning laws.
The land is now mostly a national park, but the two Mormon structures remain.
“Why? Because we had all of the papers,” said Elder Adesina J. Olukanni, Area Seventy and director of public affairs for the Africa West Area. “We went in through the front door.” …
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700022304/LDS-front-door-policy-in-Africa.html?pg=1
After arising at 4:50 each school-day morning, 16-year-old Sonia Brown leaves home at 5:25 to make her way by Chicago Transit Authority bus and train through the streets of the third-largest city in the U.S. Her destination: seminary class. …
