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. …

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58913/An-early-morning-start-for-seminary-students-in-Chicago.html

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)

On You Tube

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