Elijah Abel
Early African-American LDS Church member / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Elijah Abel, or Able or Ables[1] (July 25, 1808– December 25, 1884)[2] was one of the earliest African-American members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and was the church's first African-American elder and Seventy.[3] Abel was predominantly of Scottish and English descent[4] and appears to have been the first, and one of the few, black members in the early history of the church to have received Priesthood ordination,[3][5] later becoming the faith's first black missionary.[3] Abel did not have his ordination revoked when the LDS Church officially announced its now-obsolete restrictions on Priesthood ordination, but was denied a chance to receive his temple endowment by third church president John Taylor.[6] As a skilled carpenter, Abel often committed his services to the building of LDS temples and chapels. He died in 1884 after serving a mission to Cincinnati, Ohio, his last of three total missions for the church.[7][8]
Elijah Abel | |
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Third Quorum of the Seventy | |
December 20, 1836 (1836-12-20) – December 25, 1884 (1884-12-25) | |
Called by | Joseph Smith |
Elder | |
January 25, 1836 (1836-01-25) – December 20, 1836 (1836-12-20) | |
Called by | Joseph Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | (1808-07-25)July 25, 1808 Frederick-Town, Maryland |
Died | December 25, 1884(1884-12-25) (aged 76) Salt Lake City, Utah Territory |
Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W |