History & Unity: Black History & the Restoration (Episode #155)

Helping of Happiness

”Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can unite and bring peace to people of all races and nationalities. We who believe in that gospel- whatever our origins- must unite in love of each other and of our Savior Jesus Christ.” - Dallin H. Oaks

On the podcast Taylor and I talked about her account “To Cheer and To Bless” as well as the YouTubes she airs every week: “Mix it Up:Black History and the Restoration.” She gives us a sneak peek of one of the stories she’s been researching about Susan Gray Reed Leggroon. More about her below:

Susan Gray Reed Leggroon

Susan was a slave from Mississippi until the Emancipation.

She married Mr. Reed (we don’t know his first name) and they had 2 sons. He died and she was a widow. Even though the slaves were now considered “free”, a lot of people still lived like slaved as they worked on the plantations.

Susan married again to a widower named Ned. He had a son from his previous marriage.

Susan had a sister named Amanda. Amanda and her husband had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were headed West and invited Ned and Susan to go with them. Ned and Susan joined them and crossed the plains to Utah with their 3 little boys.

After 3 years in Utah, Ned and Susan were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Susan was a mother to 13 children. Only 8 of those children lived to adulthood. (She was so brave to keep going after she had lost 5 of her sweet kids!)

Sept 3, 1875 Susan was able to go to the temple (at that time it was still under construction, so they used the Endowment House). At the temple she was able to make covenants with God and do proxy work for her mother Margaret, Ned’s first wife, and her first mother in law. Ned did the work for her first husband. (Soon after, black sisters were note allowed to receive their endowment. - Just so sad!!)

Susan and Ned moved to Idaho and farmed. They planted trees that are still there! Ned died 2 years before Susan. At their funerals, their lives were celebrated by both black and white people who all said they were “well known, well loved, and were always held in the highest regard to all who knew them”.

Make sure you watch the video below! It is all about Ned, Susan’s husband. https://youtu.be/kOgES7z-8EA

Where you can find more from Taylor Ricks:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCr5tjXg7v7xYDRZAVVr42_w

Instagram: @tocheerandtobless

Facebook: To Cheer and to Bless

Spoonful Of Spirit

(Segment With Lindy Shock)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints Website

WHERE YOU CAN FIND LINDY SHOCK:

Website: enochstudies.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enochstudies/

Coupon Code For 30% At Enoch Studies:

HAPPY30!

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