The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would not be what it is without the strength, patience and faith of the early church members. Among the faithful saints were several Black members who paved the way for people in many parts of the world to hear about the church.
Jessica Nelson, a historian for the Church History Department, has done extensive research on Black member's roles in the history of the Church. She shared several examples of people across the world who helped shape the future of the Church.
The first Black member of the Church was Elijah Abel. He joined the Church in Ohio in 1832. He was ordained to the priesthood, called to the Quorum of the Seventy, and served three missions for the Church. He died two weeks after serving his third mission.
“When he died, the obituary and newspaper accounts commemorating him after his death say that he died in full faith of the Church,” Nelson said.
Other prominent figures in the history of the Church were Victor and Verna Nugent. They joined the Church in 1974 and were the first converts in Jamaica. At the time of their conversion to the Church, there was a ban for Black members of the Church to receive the priesthood. Four years later, in 1978, the ban was lifted and Nugent became the first Black man since the time the ban was initiated to receive the priesthood. The Nugent family was sealed in the temple that year as well.
Helvécio Martins is another member who helped the Church grow outside of the United States. A native of Brazil, Martins helped move the work along for the building of the temple in São Paulo. He also became the first Black man to be called as a general authority for the Church.
There are many examples of members of the Church of Jesus Christ who helped grow the Church. Elijah Abel, the Nugent family and Helvécio Martins will always be remembered for their faith and hard work in the building up of the Church.