Very moving book. excellent integration of historical and history led insertions. Very spiritual, ( )

Many outside the LDS church, and more than a few within, know very little about the stories of the Black LDS pioneers who joined the church in the early days and crossed the plains to start lives in the land of Zion. Unfortunately, their lives were made more difficult by the racial stereotypes they faced even among their new brothers and sisters in the gospel. This is a retelling of some real historical figures, most notably Elijah Abel, freed slave and first black member of the church, and Jane Manning, a free woman who traveled 400 miles on foot to join the Saints in Missouri and became a personal servant in the Smith household. Both were intimately acquainted with the Joseph Smith and his family.

Their stories are interesting and reasonably well told. Each chapter concludes with a few notes on the real historical facts. However, these accounts are not really woven together and it remains several different stories instead of one. I would like to read the next book in the series, but it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped. 3.5 stars ( )

An interesting and important story, carefully told. ( )

.THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IN A TRILOGY OF BLACK MORMON PIONEER HISTORY. IT COVERS 1831-1847 INTRODUCING CHARACTERS WHO ARE THE ANCESTORS OF DARIUS AIDEN GRAY, ONE OF THE TWO AUTHORS. WE MEET THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN FOLLOW THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AS THEY MAKE AMAZING COMMITMENTS TO WALK ACROSS AMERICA TO FOLLOW THEIR HEARTS AND FAITH. THE STORY BEGINS AS FAR EAST IN THE COUNTRY AS CONNECTICUT AND MARYLAND AND CARRIES THE READER ACROSS THE AMERICAN PLAINS TO FINALLY ARRIVE IN THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH AND SALT LAKE VALLEY.

TWO STORIES THAT READ SIDE BY SIDE DEMONSTRATE THE CHARACTERS AS VERY HUMAN AND BELIEVABLE. THE STORIES ARE ABOUT REAL PEOPLE, THE ANCESTORS OF THE AUTHOR, DARIUS AIDEN GRAY. THE HISTORY IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND RESEARCHED. THE READER LEARNS ABOUT ABOLITIONIST AND SLAVE CONFLICT AS WELL AS LDS HISTORY. ALL CHARACTERS WERE PRESENTED WITH WARMTH AND COMPASSION. ANY RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE WAS FOR SUPPORT OF THE STORIES AND NOT AN IMPOSITION. IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED. NOTES AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER CLARIFY FACTS AND ENRICH THE HISTORY. I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN AND I WILL BE PICKING UP AND STARTING VOLUME TWO OF THIS TRILOGY TOMORROW. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO HISTORY BUFFS, LDS MEMBERS, BLACK LDS MEMBERS AND THOSE WHO ENJOY A GOOD STORY,...EVERYONE.

CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE WRITER OF THIS BOOK,MARGARET BLAIR YOUNG, WHO HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF BLENDING FACTS WITH IMAGINATION IN CREATING SUCH AN ENTHRALLING AMERICAN SAGA. ( )

Very good book. Good feeling of how Black LDS members joined the church. What thier trials were, and the many blessings they recieved. ( )