In 1965, Darius Gray was one of two black students attending BYU in a studentbody of more than 20,000. Forty years later, Gray returned to campus to share the stories of earlier black pioneers.“We were not the first,” Gray said.
Gray and co-author Margaret Young wrote the award-winning historical fiction trilogy, Standing on the Promises, that chronicles the experiences of black Latter-day Saint pioneers.Gray shared the story of Len Hope, who shared his testimony of the gospel when the Ku Klux Klan threatened to kill him.
“It’s a part of your history whether you are black or white,” Gray said.
Hope was born in Magnolia, Ala., in 1893, the same year the Salt Lake City Temple was dedicated, Gray said.
“Something in him told him he needed the gift of the Holy Ghost,” Gray said.
During his process of finding religion, he was baptized into a local Baptist church, but later had a dream where the Lord said he needed to be baptized over again, Gray said.
One night, Hope prayed and cried for the Holy Ghost.
“Is this man dedicated?” Gray asked the audience. “Are we that dedicated?”
Upon reading a tract from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he contacted local missionaries. Before Hope could be baptized, World War I began and he was sent to France. He was baptized soon after returning home, but soon became the target of the Ku Klux Klan.“They have heard this black man has joined a white church,” Gray said. “They were not amused.”
The Klansmen said that just because he had gone to France didn’t mean he could come back and join a white church.
Gray said the hooded Klansmen stood with lit torches, rifles, shotguns and pistols in hand and threatened the lives of Hope and his family. In front of all of the Klansmen, Hope shared his testimony of the LDS Church and of Joseph Smith.
Gray said people must endure their own persecution and learn from the examples of the pioneers.
“It’s not color-coded, but spirit-coded.”
Students said they learned and gained appreciation for black pioneers.
“This information is important to share,” said Robert Hatch, a communications studies major.
Pictures of Hope and other black pioneers were on display during the forum.
“These faces [in the pictures] bring to me a sense of greater light and knowledge,” Young said.
Young shared insights into one of the faces on display—black pioneer Elijah Abel. Abel’s wife was seriously ill and, despite his requests, he could not be sealed to his wife.Abel, a priesthood holder remained faithful and left on his third mission soon after his wife’s death. Young said Abel become very ill during his mission and died three weeks after coming home.
Young expressed her appreciation for the faith of the early black pioneers and encouraged students to gain a relationship with the faces they saw.
“For us to become the people, we are meant to become—there can be no borders,” Young said.
For more information about the trilogy, visit www.blackpioneerswest.com.