The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830. The first members were close friends and family of Joseph Smith. However, the church began to grow. From 1830 to 1851, at least nineteen African Americans joined the church. One of the most prominent Black people and early Mormonism was a man named Elijah Able.
Elijah Able was born in Hancock, Maryland in 1810. Not much is known about the early years of Able’s life, but he may have been born enslaved. At some point, Able moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. While there, he encountered a missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ezekiel Roberts. Able was baptized by Roberts when he was 22 years old.
Able was very involved as a member of the church from his baptism to his death. On January 25, 1836, Elijah Able was ordained to the priesthood office of an Elder. The ministerial certificate was signed by Joseph Smith on March 30 of the same year. This shows that Smith knew about Able’s ordination and as the prophet, certified his eligibility to the ordination. In December of the same year of Able’s ordination, he was called to the Third Quorum of the Seventy. This Quorum no longer exists, but at the time, the Quorum served as a missionary force for the church. Able would go on to serve three missions for the church.
After the new Kirtland Temple was dedicated, Able received his washing and anointing ordinance. He would also participate in baptisms for the dead in the Nauvoo, Illinois Temple. After Joseph Smith Sr. was called as the patriarch of the church, Elijah Able received a patriarchal blessing from him.
Elijah Able married Mary Ann Adams in 1847. They traveled to the Salt Lake Valley with the Appleton M. Harmon overland wagon company. Able worked throughout his life as a carpenter, undertaker, and boarding house operator.
After Brigham Young voiced his opinion that the priesthood was not to be held by people of African descent, Elijah Able appealed to be sealed to his wife, Mary Ann. He sent at least one appeal but quite possibly many more. His appeal was never granted. Despite this, Able served his final mission late in his life in October 1883. He was 73 years old. Black people and Mormon priesthood would be an issue for many more decades.
By Todd Noall, Source Expert
Todd Noall is an author and religious scholar at Mormonism Explained with a focus on the history and theology of religion.
Fact Checked by Mr. Kevin Prince, Source Expert
Kevin Prince is a religious scholar and host of the Gospel Learning Youtube channel. His channel has garnered over 41,000 subscribers and accumulated over 4.5 million views. Mr. Prince also created the Gospel Learning App, a reliable platform where individuals seeking truth can access trustworthy answers to religious questions from top educators worldwide.
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