Hundreds of enthusiastic genealogists with African or African American roots from across the state gathered Feb. 20 as part of the ninth annual Black Family History Month Symposium. This year’s Community Service Award recipient was Martin Luther King III — son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr for his desire to carry out his father’s work.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-413565

Atlanta’s LDS public affairs presents Martin Luther King III this year’s Community Service Award

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58827/Atlantas-LDS-public-affairs-presents-Martin-Luther-King-III-this-years-Community-Service-Award.html

See also Eternal Families Worldwide  exhibit at DC Temple including artwork from Uganda

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58824/Washington-DC-Visitors-Center-hosts-international-families-exhibit.html

See what a new member of Pagedale branch in St. Louis did for a family in need:

http://knowyourneighbor.typepad.com/knowyourneighbor/2009/12/facebook-santa-team.html

“… Mel Hamilton was one of 14 Wyoming football players thrown off the team in 1969 for deciding to wear black armbands in a game against BYU to protest The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

…  Hamilton is also part of a story about understanding. He is adamant in his position but holds no animosity. He counts Mormons among his friends. His oldest son is now a member of the LDS Church. …

http://www.mormontimes.com/people_news/sports/?id=11320

Gladys Knight Tells Floridians, “This is the Light”
By Geoffrey Biddulph (on or before Sept 30, 2009)

Gladys Knight and her 60-person choir of Latter-day Saints gave four performances for more than 5,000 people in southern Florida last week.

“This is the way, this is the light,” she said in teary testimony regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/070115light.html

http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/knightflorida.html

God’s children on the earth today have the opportunity to understand His plan of happiness for them more fully than at any other time.

A few weeks ago Elder Melvin R. Perkins, who is an Area Seventy serving in Alaska, and I stood at the pulpit in front of the congregation of the Vancouver British Columbia Stake in Canada. In a moving voice he invited the Saints to consider the image before them: a descendant of Mormon handcart pioneers and a pioneer convert of the Church from a faraway African nation serving the Lord side by side. …

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-33,00.html
(October 2009 General Conference talk by Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy)

During a historic 16-day tour of Africa on Aug. 16-31, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated Cameroon and Rwanda for the preaching of the gospel. In so doing, he became the first known apostle to ever set foot in either nation.
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/gallery/57850/Dedication-blesses-two-African-nations.html

Silas 1st African-American to hold position (in Hattiesburg MS)
Hattiesburg American
August 29, 2009

Randall Silas is the new bishop of a Hattiesburg congregation of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…

…Silas said he hopes his new position will encourage other blacks to
explore the Mormon church, but “I would hope that no one would base
their spiritual …

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090829/LIFESTYLE/908290329

On July 20, 2009 when President Thomas S. Monson met with President Barack Obama, it marked only the fourteenth time when an LDS Church president had a meeting in the White House with the President. See …

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090607/NEWS01/906070372/0/FEATURES12

… At the age of 18, Electa followed her father to western New York, where he had remarried. Within a year, she married an older man who died before her their first child was born.

Mormon prophet Joseph Smith was one of several religious leaders competing for converts in New York at this time, and Electa heard of him, but did not become involved with the Mormons until later.

That would come at her next stop, in Michigan, where her half-sister introduced her to the religion.

“She’s going to meetings, but she’s not necessarily sold on it yet,” Doran said.

Joseph Smith was nearby visiting his cousin when Electa’s daughter took ill. Electa asked him to lay hands on the girl.

“He shows up and prays and does whatever prophets do,” Doran said. “The little girl becomes better the next day.”

When a “Mr. Williams” proposed marriage to her, Electa wrote she accepted on the condition he bring her to the Mormons.

…