Born into slavery, Elijah Abel was destined to become one of the few Saints of African descent to receive the priesthood before the policy concerning Negroes was in place. In fact, Elijah was ordained to the priesthood by Joseph Smith himself. He served three missions for the Church and remained an active member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy until his death.

Jane Manning James was born free but was still subject to mistreatment at the hands of a white minister in her youth before converting to the Church under miraculous circumstances. It became her privilege to live among prophets. She resided with Joseph and Emma Smith and later with Brigham Young. When she died, Joseph F. Smith delivered a stirring tribute at her funeral.

These and other remarkable stories, until now lost to history, are brought forth in this sweeping saga--Standing on the Promises. From marvelous beginnings, through nearly unendurable hardships, to the bursting forth of more light with the revelation on the priesthood in 1978, the story of African-American Latter-day Saints is deeply affecting, one that will resonate with members of the Church everywhere.

A dream come true! Keeping alive the stories of our black pioneers was the deep desire of Ruffin Bridgeforth, first president of the Genesis Group of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

-- Betty Bridgeforth, widow of Ruffin Bridgeforth

In a way that pure history cannot do, this story attaches us to black Saints who deserve to be known and appreciated by our generation.

-- William G. Hartley, Associate Professor of History, Brigham Young University

Published: July 2000
Pages: 337