Shadow of a Pioneer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIHZxD4M8QbX0w44jYBL6ori6QWzltyNGzelMUr9m_GvK9oG7myx9QQM6Q_H8-PJ5Nbk-NmXx6crs_GmqBCqZ6w_O0ZBakvB1l-2O2N8V4-SHsqL6h_4aznXFea1Mq_l2f280Z9mwU-M/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIHZxD4M8QbX0w44jYBL6ori6QWzltyNGzelMUr9m_GvK9oG7myx9QQM6Q_H8-PJ5Nbk-NmXx6crs_GmqBCqZ6w_O0ZBakvB1l-2O2N8V4-SHsqL6h_4aznXFea1Mq_l2f280Z9mwU-M/s320/1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self Portrait of the Pioneer Me</td></tr></tbody></table>When I was told that a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stake_(Latter_Day_Saints)" target="_blank">stake</a> counselor wanted to meet with me, I had a nagging suspicion it wasn't going to be good. Why? Well, because stake presidency members never call you in just to offer you a piece of cake or a coupon for a tithing deduction. It's usually for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_calling#Latter-day_Saints" target="_blank">calling</a>, and not a regular calling like a ward library worker or Sacrament meeting greeter. If it was one of those kind of callings I'd just meet with the <a href="http://www.lds.org/study/topics/bishop?lang=eng" target="_blank">bishop</a> or his counselors. No, when a stake counselor calls you in it's something crazy like girl's camp director or you're being called to put together the stake <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0c0105481ae6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1" target="_blank">roadshow</a>. I thought, <i>Well Lord, you know me and my personality, so it can't be anything too off the wall.</i><br /><br />When the word "trek" came out of the counselors mouth I knew God was playing a joke on me. Let me just open my eyes and I'll see that I'm in my bed under the covers. Nope, I'm at church with a stake counselor who is smiling at me like he just handed me Willie Wonka's golden ticket. "Any questions," he asked. Ya'll I don't know why or what is wrong with me, but honest to goodness, it was the first thing that came to my head. "The clothes," I stammered. He explained that I would wear "pioneer clothes." I was paralyzed for a moment and then I said, "When you wear "pioneer clothes" you look like a pioneer, but if I wear "pioneer clothes" I'll look like a runaway slave."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>For those who may not know, a handcart trek is a shortened reenactment of the 1300 mile trek taken by Mormon pioneers to get to Utah's Salt Lake Valley. <span style="background-color: white;">I don't even know how the word "yes" came out of my mouth, but it did. Once you're going on a trek it seems like everybody you meet has been on one and they begin to give you tips (which I was very grateful for as I had no idea what I was doing) and share with you how deeply spiritual the experience was for them. That's where it got a little scary for me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7i4BVlzCkB17hyaILMmJmPoeofOP_-ZW0-C9FS72plYkKMr9ufU3CVTlxT-MUmCVDo4BloG0Sz2_2x9UIw4l9kXO7M4owAjG9HxP9ZDmz6K8m2f4OHFgMmcMVN6AEwg4Wxgm611yQ_A/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7i4BVlzCkB17hyaILMmJmPoeofOP_-ZW0-C9FS72plYkKMr9ufU3CVTlxT-MUmCVDo4BloG0Sz2_2x9UIw4l9kXO7M4owAjG9HxP9ZDmz6K8m2f4OHFgMmcMVN6AEwg4Wxgm611yQ_A/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sometimes I feel like something is wrong with me. I'll be sitting in church and someone is sharing the story of a pioneer ancestor, of their trials, their strength, their faith and the narrator is weeping and the tissue box is being passed around. Then when the tissue box gets to me I just pull one out because for some reason I feel bad not taking one and while everyone is dabbing their eyes, I'm making a Kleenex brand paper airplane. It's not like I never cry, cause I do. Certain music has a profound effect on me, it can stir my soul to tears and I'm not immune from the occasional testimony tear-up.<br /><br />When I was younger I thought that it was jealousy. There is such an emphasis on genealogy in the <a href="http://lds.org/" target="_blank">LDS</a> faith and it felt like everyone around me knew who they were, where they come from and had this great legacy to share. I was always lucky if I could get the first row of branches filled out on my family tree church projects. To this day my family acts like genealogy is a Mormon synonym for nosy. Over the years I've realized why we share the stories of pioneers and the lessons that they teach us. I learned the stories of black pioneers, that looked like me, that made the journey and endured to the end. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DKNDHe0Z1Zch519HeN4AXsubzUh50LRQJQM_79wcKvQRPTXtwV20hE6Z03KbYaM_t8BpwQu29pYVzGtpa_lBaVR8XleSwGLhXNuI0xCsqpln7CSIuNQ5whX33hHxpj3KJQ_zK4b7rC8/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DKNDHe0Z1Zch519HeN4AXsubzUh50LRQJQM_79wcKvQRPTXtwV20hE6Z03KbYaM_t8BpwQu29pYVzGtpa_lBaVR8XleSwGLhXNuI0xCsqpln7CSIuNQ5whX33hHxpj3KJQ_zK4b7rC8/s320/4.jpg" width="109" /></a></span>I really wasn't worried about the physical aspects of trek; pulling the wagon, walking in the dust, no electronics, no showers, all that I was fine with. It was this pressure that no one in particular had placed on me, but some how existed; that this experience was supposed to have a deep meaning and be a sort of spiritual awakening. I mean people were brought to tears when they shared their trek experiences and if that wasn't enough then the movie </span><i><a href="http://deseretbook.com/17-Miracles-T-C-Christensen/i/5063066?s_kwcid=TC|20236|17%20miracles||S|p|8390000532&gclid=CJaq6fmrtbECFQZ5hwodK1AAvA" target="_blank">17 Miracles</a></i><span style="background-color: white;"> came out. Now people were talking about treks like they were Mormon walks to Mecca.<br /><br />I panicked, I thought, <i>Lord, you're sending me up in the wilderness with all these church people and now everyone is going to know I have a stone-cold heart, cause I won't even really care when the doll that is supposed to represent my baby, succumbs to typhoid fever! </i>In the months leading to up to trek I began a quest to find my inner-pioneer. I read my scriptures, I googled, I prayed and even asked if I could swap the pioneer I had been assigned, for <a href="http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/archivenews/jane.html" target="_blank">Jane Manning James</a>, a black pioneer woman whose story I know well and is dear to my heart. I just knew that if I walked for Jane I would find the meaning in my trek experience.<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM9gXWaXlvny9gvyVasz6du0fx-316RiK6AW5CO-_8ToxSMAUb0b6oyTkFO9Mbw5aJhDlUKKIf0scWoTHHBkldPoPTQ8AF-oI-DIEn2WmZ0kDqiXrwWfYM6UH1OKHgn4wTVa7H2_JYVA/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM9gXWaXlvny9gvyVasz6du0fx-316RiK6AW5CO-_8ToxSMAUb0b6oyTkFO9Mbw5aJhDlUKKIf0scWoTHHBkldPoPTQ8AF-oI-DIEn2WmZ0kDqiXrwWfYM6UH1OKHgn4wTVa7H2_JYVA/s320/2.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"> When the day arrived I transformed from modern-day woman to...well, you see the picture. We got to the wilderness, lost cell coverage, pitched tents, it was hot, pushed carts, sang as we walked and walked and walked and walked. I didn't feel different. I just felt like me. We forged a river and I felt cold. The men went off to war and the women pulled the carts by ourselves up a steep hill, and I just pushed along thinking; <i>Is this the part where I cry? </i> The trail of trials...nothing and ya'll already know what happened when my baby got kidnapped...nothing.<br /><br />I didn't need to cry, maybe God could make me struggle at least a little. I didn't break a nail, twist my ankle, get dehydrated, I don't even remember getting a mosquito bite. I had fun. I had a good time, like I have a good time camping with the fam. At the journey's end a testimony meeting was held, I listened as person after person shared beautiful testimonies and it seemed apparent in their countenances the effect the trek had on them.<br /><br />When I got home and people eagerly asked how it was and all I could describe my experience as was <i>fun</i>, I felt like a spot at trek had been wasted on me. I mean, what kind of pioneer would I have made. While the woman in the wagon in front of me poured her soul into her journal telling of struggling to feed her children and watching her sons go to war, you would open my Journal and read; today was <i>fun. </i><br /><br />There's a song in the LDS Children's Songbook <span style="background-color: white;">called "Every Star is Different." I don't remember ever singing it when I was in primary, it's not one I hear sung very often and I think I just came across it when looking through the songbook once, but I like it. I told ya music has a way with me. The words are:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywQSsIA8O7iaKuMzlcsCTt3mBVmPZ7ozSiqfgUsVuzl8UQJ1rGxIguaT4n66Ms4zULlkTgJwoTQc36VTwWJSIeuUBqlp9wj0mUkaYTPIPXn3bR0_LjVxvklah1fflz6DFx3_AwWI57pQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywQSsIA8O7iaKuMzlcsCTt3mBVmPZ7ozSiqfgUsVuzl8UQJ1rGxIguaT4n66Ms4zULlkTgJwoTQc36VTwWJSIeuUBqlp9wj0mUkaYTPIPXn3bR0_LjVxvklah1fflz6DFx3_AwWI57pQ/s320/3.jpg" width="228" /></a></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Every star is different</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">And so is every child.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some are bright and happy</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some are meek and mild.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Every one is needed</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">For just what he can do</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">You’re the only person</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Who ever can be you!</span></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Trek happened a while ago and I've never written about it because, well, as you can see there really isn't anything to write. In fact this was supposed to be yesterday's post, but I didn't feel like it was worthy of being put up on the actual Pioneer Day holiday, so I waited. I wish that I had something more to give you all, I wish I would have just shared a real pioneer's story. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">If you're looking for a deeper meaning or a moral, I got nothing, except...I guess I'm just different, and I gotta be ok with that. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Oh yeah, and no one asked me to pick cotton!</span><br /><div></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div>God Made Me This Way,</div><div>Sista Laurel</div>

Shadow of a Pioneer

Self Portrait of the Pioneer Me When I was told that a stake counselor wanted to meet with me, I had a nagging suspicion it wasn't goin...

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Sistas in Zion Radio! - Mariama Kallon + Voices of Courage with BYU's Carly Ostler

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQicTrO-w4XdpxxD6-zbI8IYg57rKa16M-KJyoj9WlD4qSqIr89rmu8MviWvyZ2bofQuEIz58wQUgAxZaVRfyT40IHGoKxXzitwmHHSCcRb1gY41HPeYNkrop67g1gsbmziUTNbnzgpcE/s1600/Mariama+Kallon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQicTrO-w4XdpxxD6-zbI8IYg57rKa16M-KJyoj9WlD4qSqIr89rmu8MviWvyZ2bofQuEIz58wQUgAxZaVRfyT40IHGoKxXzitwmHHSCcRb1gY41HPeYNkrop67g1gsbmziUTNbnzgpcE/s320/Mariama+Kallon.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo & Bio from Mariama's Deseret Book<br />DVD, Delivered By Hope</td></tr></tbody></table>Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen live <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2012/06/24/mariama-kallon-carly-ostler-with-byus-voices-of-courage" target="_blank">here</a> or below! Call in at (646) 478-3671. <br /><br />Special Guests: Mirama Kallon & BYU Women's Services, Carly Ostler re: Voices of Courage<br /><br /><b>Marima Kallon:</b><br /><br />Raised in a country ravaged by civil war, <a href="http://deseretbook.com/Delivered-Hope-Deseret-Book-Company/i/5054180" target="_blank">Mariama Kallon</a> narrowly escaped torture by murderous rebel forces. After losing her entire family and everything she owned, she was guided to safety as she found refuge with a Latter-day Saint family in her native Sierra Leone. Touched by the teachings of the Restoration, and full of gratitude for all the Lord had done for her, Mariama wanted to wear her own missionary nametag. With barely a single change of clothes and a Church-sent hygiene kit as her only worldly possessions, she made the trek to the United States and began a full-time mission on Temple Square.<br />  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="239" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kZL3mlQZ4Kk?rel=0" width="425"></iframe><br />The Sistas will be talking with Mariama about why she has chosen to share her story and where her life is today. For Mariama Kallon's speaking schedule, click <a href="http://deseretbook.com/timeout/presenter/20088" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>Voices of Courage: </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-RL2sflPi7_5_g9CAZnpQDgl18O-7wViDZBDTdBikQDMsjckgDpcQ3OzSrHIAiyiRF6QcgNbHgMIUzADuQo5Qlae0jryYJehc8zUXKihyY5HU1h8VFOCht5OddjaGL2KXlcLWBK0kUQ/s1600/DSC_0364b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-RL2sflPi7_5_g9CAZnpQDgl18O-7wViDZBDTdBikQDMsjckgDpcQ3OzSrHIAiyiRF6QcgNbHgMIUzADuQo5Qlae0jryYJehc8zUXKihyY5HU1h8VFOCht5OddjaGL2KXlcLWBK0kUQ/s320/DSC_0364b.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carly Ostler, BYU Women's Services</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://voicesofcourage.byu.edu/" target="_blank">Voices of Courage</a> is a prevention campaign built upon the premise that each of us can have an impact on the amount of violence in our culture. Each of us can make small behavioral choices that contribute to a more responsive environment that would ultimately and measurably reduce violence.<br /><br />Carly Ostler of BYU Women's Services will be schooling the Sistas and listeners on Voices of Courage, the campaign, it's mission and how we all can get involved.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZhYQiArBpF79-qEUm4Dm294gagM2HmkHgjDFpk0UL9XcicEn1O0mG9DtjNr1ZqEG9ltjFylYmNSl0jXrWJpyo_K2L9_LBBOIjCmqw7uqv1Ly8eu86h9MX_RUtVdfLB4Hbu87Casl4ng/s1600/logo_0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZhYQiArBpF79-qEUm4Dm294gagM2HmkHgjDFpk0UL9XcicEn1O0mG9DtjNr1ZqEG9ltjFylYmNSl0jXrWJpyo_K2L9_LBBOIjCmqw7uqv1Ly8eu86h9MX_RUtVdfLB4Hbu87Casl4ng/s1600/logo_0.png" /></a></div><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="270" id="87282" name="87282" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fsistasinzion%2Fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="menu" value="false" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2fsistasinzion%2fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=270&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="270" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="87282" id="87282" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion">Sistas in Zion</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div>

Sistas in Zion Radio! - Mariama Kallon + Voices of Courage with BYU's Carly Ostler

Photo & Bio from Mariama's Deseret Book DVD, Delivered By Hope Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Ti...

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Black Mormon Legacy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_h697zr6MrpFWZ4dDlD0rzZn9xBHLaWjgeR9L1schqQbIOT7t01UY8QIitrPLQrsZ3uX5ber8w5WeykP5r3vOOng7mitxQ_jde76yWQRRFmSVIyyqy7beS_Z2BfXdFmGUMBcBddoP0o/s1600/IMG_4216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_h697zr6MrpFWZ4dDlD0rzZn9xBHLaWjgeR9L1schqQbIOT7t01UY8QIitrPLQrsZ3uX5ber8w5WeykP5r3vOOng7mitxQ_jde76yWQRRFmSVIyyqy7beS_Z2BfXdFmGUMBcBddoP0o/s320/IMG_4216.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Here are some behind the scene pics from our "Lord, I Pray" music video. (More Pics on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!) We were inspired by "<a href="http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/62083/All-are-alike-unto-God.html" target="_blank">All Are Alike Unto God</a>" an official statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to put together this piece of music, which we explained in <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/06/all-are-alike-unto-god.html" target="_blank">Saturday's post</a>.<br /><br />When we first read the statement we talked about what Jane Manning James, <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2011/06/elijah-abel-black-mormon-pioneer.html" target="_blank">Elijah Abel</a>, Green Flake, <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2011/07/invisable-pioneers.html" target="_blank">Samuel and Amanda Chambers</a> and all the other black Mormon pioneers might feel it. In that moment we wished we could read it to them, that we could tell them that the torches they had lit had not fallen, but that their light was moving forward.<br /><br />We thought of Cathy Stokes, <a href="http://blackmormonfilm.com/bios.html" target="_blank">Darius Gray</a>, Eugene Orr, <a href="http://blackmormonfilm.com/bios.html" target="_blank">Margret Young</a> and the many others we personally know that have been busy building the Kingdom and blazing trails so that our journeys might be a little smoother. We thought of Ruffin Bridgeforth, Helena Bridgeforth, his first wife who proceeded him in death and Betty Bridgeforth his second wife, known lovingly by many as the Father and Mothers of the <a href="http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/" target="_blank">LDS Genesis group</a>, and the legacy they left.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpRzzGzKWJ2GxRn5d_z1UdvJK8dUmFEmREDWB0XcTMgn-yIPnNibgv29Y_WCcsEM0SWTTQn4LZ_faHmpji8uYjtVrklc6ZkWrY_CHjhfl1-ex300FxBeFmbnZm1GfW3rxChLvS8yqxsk/s1600/IMG_8620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpRzzGzKWJ2GxRn5d_z1UdvJK8dUmFEmREDWB0XcTMgn-yIPnNibgv29Y_WCcsEM0SWTTQn4LZ_faHmpji8uYjtVrklc6ZkWrY_CHjhfl1-ex300FxBeFmbnZm1GfW3rxChLvS8yqxsk/s320/IMG_8620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We thought of all of the leaders of our faith both past and present; Joseph Smith, Spencer W. Kimball, Hugh B. Brown, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, to name a few, of their prayers for the world, of their commitment to the Gospel and of their faith in the Lord.<br /><br />We like many have lives marred with trials and tribulations and often it can be hard to to look beyond the pain and find our purpose. However, in that moment during that conversation we realized that we had so much to be grateful for, so many to be grateful to, and that as we were busy pondering our problems, we were failing to count our many blessings. As the Spirit stirred our souls music filled our hearts.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQiVaftanpKz5NruLdQc3imIWXIm9yCe3PMVuk706aXKDptrHN33T909j3qtr0ksm-t3PZe0K6yl0tBP7lDceKPrRaHCs027wRqpAgbezESqhwXmSFtxvXJQn6FM5SH2zjsekyTotUXU/s1600/IMG_2828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQiVaftanpKz5NruLdQc3imIWXIm9yCe3PMVuk706aXKDptrHN33T909j3qtr0ksm-t3PZe0K6yl0tBP7lDceKPrRaHCs027wRqpAgbezESqhwXmSFtxvXJQn6FM5SH2zjsekyTotUXU/s320/IMG_2828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The lyrical verses of "Lord, I Pray" are from a song called "I Pray", written by Mariah Carey and Kenneth Crouch. We Sistas wrote the rap verses and the music was produced by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/flexxrap" target="_blank">Flexx</a>. The song has been recorded for sometime now and we didn't know if, how or when to share it. A few days before June 8th, we were talking with each other and both felt impressed to share the song on June 8, 2012, the anniversary of the Priesthood restoration in the LDS church. In 48 hours with labor, love and help the video was created and shared.<br /><br />Yesterday on Sistas in Zion Radio! we were blessed to have Eugene Orr and Darius Gray on, (Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2012/06/10/34-yr-anniversary-for-black-mormons-mormon-politics" target="_blank">here</a> if you missed it.) they shared some of their stories of being Black and Mormon before 1978. Brother Orr being called "boy" by his bishop and being told that he was a descendant of Cain by his Patriarch and the brothas literally having to unshackle the chains that were trying to keep them from Priesthood Session.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfq3EfUlpJvyiUKkBVxRfpJx8ftHz73dpVvy_Fzx8FTaVywOzm1OBp9Qji8GbU-5cMFewl_HPXhyphenhyphenme4FU1bw4Il6if48WOPjOVP1L7ahf5esNNxtD4py-acjAb62VMIKehxm-1fCqW-0/s1600/IMG_1537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfq3EfUlpJvyiUKkBVxRfpJx8ftHz73dpVvy_Fzx8FTaVywOzm1OBp9Qji8GbU-5cMFewl_HPXhyphenhyphenme4FU1bw4Il6if48WOPjOVP1L7ahf5esNNxtD4py-acjAb62VMIKehxm-1fCqW-0/s320/IMG_1537.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We are blessed to know these brothas personally and to be able to call on them any day or hour that our spirits need to be lifted. We know well their stories and our lives and even if you don't realize it, your lives have been blessed because of their Church service and duty God. With this legacy of pioneers, trail blazers, Church leaders, friends and family before us we feel like our offering is less than the widow's mite. Nevertheless an offering we make and the glory we give to God.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K_X5vk5P2lc?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Your Sistas in the Gospel,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel<br /><br /><br /></div></div><span style="color: white;">Mormon, LDS, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Black Mormon, Black Mormon Pioneers, Mormon Curse of Cain, Black Mormons Cursed, Black Mormons and Priesthood, Racist Mormons</span>

Black Mormon Legacy

Here are some behind the scene pics from our "Lord, I Pray" music video. (More Pics on our Facebook !) We were inspired by " ...

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