Drawing of Elijah Abel

Elijah Abel (July 25, 1810 - December 25, 1884) was the first black Elder and Seventy in The Latter Day Saint movement, and one of the few black members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to receive the priesthood before the church began a policy of racial discrimination, a policy that was ended in 1978. Drawing of Elijah Abel The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Drawing of Elijah Abel The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 6 days remaining. ... 1884 is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar). ... In Mormonism, an Elder is a priesthood and leadership position in many denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Quorums of the Seventy are area and General Authorities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a superset of Mormonism, the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches, the majority of which call... The Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... In Mormonism, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority to act in the name of God, including the performance of sacred rites and ordinances, and the performance of miracles. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ...

Abel was born in Maryland as a slave, and is believed to have escaped slavery on the Underground Railroad into Canada. He was baptized in September 1832 by Ezekiel Roberts, and he married Mary Ann Adams, another African American. State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Official languages None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R) Senators Paul Sarbanes (D) Barbara Mikulski (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 21 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165/km² (5th) Admission into... Map of some Underground Railroad routes This page is about the slave escape route. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

He was ordained an Elder in March 1836 in Kirtland, Ohio, probably by Joseph Smith, Jr.. In December 1836, he was ordained a Seventy by Zebedee Coltrin and became a "duly licensed minister of the Gospel" for missionary work in Ohio. He also served missions in New York and Canada. In 1839, he was made a member of the Nauvoo Seventies Quorum. In Nauvoo, he worked as a mortician, at the request of Joseph Smith. He was a carpenter by profession, and assisted in the construction of temples in Kirtland, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Kirtland is a city located in Lake County, Ohio, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,670. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Template:DecemberCalendar2006 December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: The Buckeye State Official languages None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Governor Bob Taft (R) Senators Mike DeWine (R) George V. Voinovich (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 34th 116,096 km² 8. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Salt Lake Citys top tourist draw. ...

In 1841, when Joseph Smith was arrested in Quincy, Illinois, Elijah Abel was among a group of seven elders including Hosea Stout who set out from Nauvoo to try and rescue him, although by the time they reached Quincy, Smith had been taken back to Nauvoo (History of the Church, 4:365). take you to calendar). ... Quincy, known as the Gem City, is a city located in Adams County, Illinois. ... Photograph of Hosea Stout, taken in the 1850s. ...

In 1843, he served a mission in New York. 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1847, he accompanied Brigham Young to Utah, where he managed a hotel. As a carpenter, he assisted in constructing the Salt Lake Temple; however, in 1853 he was barred by Brigham Young from entering the temple to receive his own Endowment. 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism). ... Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by: Idaho (at 42°N) and Wyoming (at 41°N and 111°W) in the north, by Colorado (at 109°W) in the east, at a single point by New Mexico to the southeast (at the Four Corners Monument... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism). ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a special gift of heavenly priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ...

In Utah, Abel remained a Seventy, and in 1884 he served a final mission in Canada, during which he became ill. He died upon his return home to Utah. 1884 is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar). ...

At least two of Abel's descendents were ordained to the priesthood, his grandson being ordained an Elder on September 29, 1935. September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 2002, a monument was erected in Salt Lake City over his grave site to memorialize Abel and his wife. The monument was dedicated by LDS Apostle Elder M. Russell Ballard. Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr. ...

Related article

• Blacks and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Like many predominantly white Christian churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormon) has held controversial positions on the issue of race, and the LDS Church had a general policy of racial exclusion from their priesthood from 1849 to 1978, long after most... The early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shared by the larger Latter Day Saint movement, which originated in upstate New York under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

External references

• "Elijah Abel and the Changing Status of Blacks Within Mormonism", 12(2) Dialogue 22-36.