Minutes of the Salt Lake Stake Deacon's Quorum note: "Bro. Chambers said he received the gospel when he was quite a youth while slavery was, and he saved a little money, and came to the valley. He was glad to meet with the Saints, he desired to live with them while he lives, knows the Church is true and the Saints are the people of God. He knew it from the time the Elders laid their hands on him. He feels to be active in doing what he can do for the building up of the kingdom of God. The race he comes of fall away. He feels it is right, the servants of God should keep the Priesthood pure. He feels glad to have the privilege to pay tithing and donations." Samuel D. Chambers, was a former African-American slave had worked for four years after the end of slavery in Mississippi in order to make the trek to Utah.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
Samuel D. Chambers (May 21, 1831 - Nov.9, 1929), baptized 1844 in Mississippi, and his ex-slave wife, Amanda Leggroan (Jan.1, 1844 - Died 1925), whom he married on May 4, 1858, arrived in Salt Lake City by ox-drawn wagon on Apr.27, 1870. See New Era, June 1974, article by William G. Hartley, which describes Samuel as "tall."
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