By Marissa Young
Just over a year ago, the first novel of a trilogy depicting the journey of the black Mormon pioneers was released. The third and last novel of the 'Standing on the Promises' trilogy is due out this summer.
The novels, co-authored by Darius Gray, director of the LDS Genesis Group, and Margaret Young, associate professor of literature at BYU, trace the little-known journey of early black pioneers as well as contemporary ''pioneers, Young said.
Though the novel is fiction, 'all fictionalizations are sprung from historical fact,' Young said. It includes the stories of two black pioneers who converted to the church and were very close to the prophet Joseph Smith.
According to the novel, Jane Manning James lived with the Prophet and Emma Smith, and Elijah Abel was among the few African-Americans to be ordained with the priesthood.
Jane and Elijah''s stories are among several depicted in the trilogy.
'Much of the novel is based on James'' diary, which she wrote in hopes that her story would touch other African-American Mormons,' said Natalie Sheppard, who stars in a play based on the novel.
Black Mormons were among the first to travel to Utah with Brigham Young and the early Mormon pioneers. The Genesis Group, an official auxiliary organization of the church for black members, stated in its website that a convert slave named Green Flake led the Mormons into the Salt Lake Valley.
Brigham Young freed Flake, who is included in the novel, in 1854.
According to the church history website, Joseph Smith was a great advocate for the black people. He said that if one 'changed their situation' and educated them 'they would be like' the whites.
The prophet advocated the freedom, education, and the granting of 'equal rights' to blacks at a time when only a small minority of Abolitionists believed that blacks should be granted equal rights, according to the church history Web site.
According to the Genesis Group Web site, when he was once asked what advice he would give to a man who came into the church with 100 black slaves, the Prophet replied: 'I have advised them to bring their slaves into a free country and set them free -- educate them -- and give them equal rights.'
The church is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the priesthood revelation in 2003. Currently, the Washington D.C. Temple visitors'' center is displaying a large exhibit in tribute to African-American Mormon pioneers, Young said.
'Their stamina, their faith, their strength, inspire me,' said Young of the Black saints. 'We try to bring these forgotten people to life and give them a voice.'