Tell Me the Stories

Amanda & Samuel D. Chambers/Black Mormon Pioneers

July 24th is Pioneer Day, an official holiday in the State of Utah. The holiday celebrates those who emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era. Today some Latter-day Saints will celebrate our pioneer heritage by telling stories of remembrance of our own pioneer ancestors or of pioneers whose stories have made an impact on us.

Outside of Utah, we too learn the stories of Mormon pioneers. Their stories are used in church lessons and talks as examples of faith, perseverance, service and so on.

Sometimes church members who are not of pioneer descent, or are new converts can feel intimidated and in awe of those members who have a rich pioneer history and are able to feel connected to the early saints. We all want to feel a connection to the history of our faith. It isn't always possible, but sometimes we are given that opportunity.

When we Sistas were growing up we often wondered were there any people who looked like us, saints of African descent, among the pioneers. We each learned of black pioneers at different times, and different life experiences brought us to the knowledge of these members. We don't share the stories of black Mormon pioneers because they are black and we are black, but because for us it was joyous to find diversity in the gospel, even in the early history of the church. Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a story and in every story there is value. We try to share stories that maybe you haven't heard before.

Samuel and Amanda Chambers

In 1844 LDS missionaries were having a hard time having their message received, but Samuel Davidson Chambers, a 13 year old slave was touched by what he heard. Samuel was born on May 21, 1831 in Alabama. After hearing and believing the missionaries message, without the permission of his master, he snuck away from the plantation at night and was baptized a member of the LDS faith.

After baptism Samuel was not able to interact with his religion for 21 years, but he remained faithful and steadfast. Brother Chambers stated that he had "known the gospel to be true ever since I was confirmed," that he "greatly longed" to be with the other Saints in Utah, but because he was a slave he "could never see how it would be brought about." After the civil war, Samuel and his family were freed from slavery and they began to save money to be able to join the LDS saints in Utah. In 1870 Samuel, his wife Amanda Leggroan Chambers, and his son Peter began the journey west. They traveled with Amanda's brother Edward Leggroan, his wife and their three children. Their party arrived in Salt Lake City on April 27, 1870. Chambers said, "I did not come to Utah to know the truth of the gospel, but I received it way back where the gospel found me."

In Utah the Chambers family cultivated 30 acres of land. Their property had two brick homes, Amanda and Samuel lived in one, Peter Chambers and his family lived in the other. Their farm did very well and Samuel, Peter and even sometimes Amanda would deliver goods by wagon. The Chambers were faithful in paying their tithing and contributed to the temple fund even though they were unable to partake of the temple blessings. (We have asked ourselves if we would have had the faith necessary to contribute to the building of a temple that we could not enter.)

Brother Chambers was known for bearing powerful testimony of the gospel and was a defender of his faith. He loved sharing his faith and giving copies of the Book of Mormon. Even though Samuel held no priesthood office the Chambers were very active in the church. The Chambers were well liked and in 1924 Amanda and Samuel celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary and had quite the turn out. Samuel died four years after Amanda on November 9, 1929. They died as faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and until the end they were as Samuel stated in his testimony, "active in doing what he could for the building up of the kingdom of God."

Until we meet again,
Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

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Getting to Know the Sistas

We know it seems like we talk ALOT, and we do, but we actually are two pretty private gals.

Here's an opportunity to learn a little more about us personally.

We had a wonderful time participating in The Mormon Women Project. Check out our interview here.

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How Would You Introduce Jesus?

Reading Sista Laurel's post "The First Fish Fry" made me think of this video. Comedian Steve Harvey, was invited to provide some comic relief a few years ago at MegaFest (A Christian conference.) At the end of his comedy routine he bears his testimony and thanks God and his Savior for all of his success. He says that throughout his career he has been blessed to have had the opportunity to introduce some of the biggest names in show business, and then tells how, if given the chance, he would introduce Jesus.



This has changed the way I look at testimony meeting. What about ya'll Brothas and Sistas? If given the chance to introduce Jesus, how would you introduce him? Fast and Testimony meeting is fast approaching will you be introducing him this month or next?

God Is Love,
Sista Beehive

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The First Fish Fry

When I was younger we often attended our Sunday services at the LDS church and then went to church with my Granny, who was a member of a Baptist church. Although it made for a very long Sunday, I enjoyed attending church with my Granny. Even though she was not Mormon, Granny was always at our church because she attended whenever we asked her to. If there was a Primary program she was there, if there was a baptism she was there, ward activity there, pretty much if we sneezed and we wanted her at church with us, she was there.

Of course Granny loved us, but I think much of her willingness to attend church with us was because my parents allowed her grandchildren to attend church with her also. My Granny is no longer with us and I cannot express how grateful I am for those extra long Sundays, they are precious memories that I cherish, memories centered on Christ.

There were special Sundays at Granny's church where they had a dinner after the service. A fish fry! (A cookout or other meal at which fried fish is the main course.) On those Sundays we could clap our hands, stomp our feet, praise the Lord, and then get something to eat! On that Sunday you had better get there early if you wanted a seat, the Lord had a packed house that day. I would look around the chapel at all the people stuffed in the pews and think, "I hope the church ladies cooked enough, because I sure am hungry."

The choir was always good at Granny's church, but on fish fry Sunday, they were exceptional. The Preacher was of course a little long winded. He probably figured he needed to hit the Lord's message home for those in the congregation that wouldn't be coming back until next year's fish fry. As soon as the preacher said Amen, everyone would make a mad dash for outside. I would stand there in line with my plate thinking "Oh, I hope I make it up there before all of Granny's greens are gone."

When I finally reached the table, spread with a variety of wonderful foods, a church lady named something like Miss Mildred would take my plate and begin to serve me. Then I would have to tell her, "Miss Mildred, could I have the greens from that pot over there?" And she'd say, "They're all the same, greens are greens." And of course she knew that was lie, because we all knew about the pot of greens from the really nice church lady who couldn't cook, but always wanted to provide something. They kept it in the kitchen and everyone prayed that we didn't run out of greens and have to bring her pot out.

"Please," I'd say, "My Granny made the ones in that pot." She'd act like she was miffed about it, but then she'd give me a scoop of them. "Just a little more please, Miss Mildred," I'd say, after I saw how tiny the scoop was. "Look here, we've got a lot of people to serve," she'd tell me. Then somebody would pass by, maybe the Preacher, and he'd say, "Come on now Sister Mildred, if Jesus could feed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, then I'm sure we'll be all right...give the baby a little more greens." Then Miss Mildred would smile at the Preacher, and give me a good size helping. After the Preacher had left she would look at me and say, "Alright now, you got plenty of greens, I better not see you up here asking for seconds."

I'd take my plateful of food to the table my family was sitting at, and look around. Everyone was happy and smiling and everyone was fed, all those people and everyone got a plate. Then I would wonder if that was what it was like when Jesus feed the 5000. Maybe Jesus looked around and everyone was happy and smiling and well fed. As I would take a bite of that delicious, golden, crispy fish, and it melted in my mouth, I'd imagine that as good as this fish tasted, Jesus' must of been even more divine. Boy, I would have loved to have been at Jesus' fish fry!

Now that My Granny's gone, I don't see many fish fry Sundays, but I'm still well fed. You see, when you feast on the Savior's word, you are always full. Everyone can partake; there is plenty to go around at the Lord's table. It was an absolute miracle when Jesus fed 5000 with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and if we let him, he can feed us all too, the entire world. That's billions of people, oh what a fish fry that would be!

Peace and blessings,

Sista Laurel

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