First black priesthood holder recalls historic day

First black priesthood holder recalls historic day



By Chris Peterson


Mormon Times


Published: 2010-04-23 00:16:29

Joseph Freeman's friend wondered what was wrong. He noticed that Freeman was visibly concerned -- a mystery since the man who is usually smiling had just received historic news that would positively change his and many others' lives.



Freeman -- who would become the first Mormon of black African descent to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood in the LDS Church after the 1978 priesthood revelation -- was asked by his friend what his worry was. "This means I have to go home teaching now," Freeman joked.


Freeman, 58, recently spoke of his conversion and his groundbreaking experience.


Long before the LDS Church appeared on his radar, Freeman was a devoted religious person. At 10 years old, he was baptized as a member of the Holiness Church.

Furthermore, it was his dream to become a lay minister in the faith, something he accomplished after earning an evangelist's license.

When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was introduced into his life, it was his future wife, Toe Isapela Leituala, who presented it. Freeman -- who was a 19-year-old Army enlistee stationed in Hawaii -- said that Leituala, a Samoan convert of six years, made an impactful impression on him.


As she explained the Word of Wisdom to Freeman, he realized he was already living some of it. "I didn't take drugs or drink alcohol, but I did like to drink tea and have a cup of coffee once in a while," he said. "But I thought, that if she can live closer to God by not partaking of those things, I decided that I can do that, too."


Freeman said that he was impressed with everyone he met in the Mormon faith, including Leituala's father, with whom he had lengthy talks. "You hit a barrel and it's hollow," Freeman said. "But with these Mormons," he reflected, "the barrel was full -- full of love."



Freeman decided to abandon his evangelist's license, and upon fully being aware that he could not receive the priesthood, Freeman was baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church on Sept. 30, 1973.



In 1974, Freeman and Leituala were married, and a year later, Freeman left the military and he and his wife eventually moved to Salt Lake City.



The First Presidency of the LDS Church announced on June 8, 1978, that President Spencer W. Kimball had received a revelation that said, in part,"every faithful, worthy man in the church may receive the holy priesthood ... and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple ... without regard for race or color."



Usually, those ordained to the office of a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood must wait about a year before being ordained to the office of an elder. But church leaders felt that Freeman's faithfulness to the gospel and his spiritual aptitude warranted his being elevated to an elder immediately.



Freeman was given the Melchizedek Priesthood three days after President Kimball received the revelation.



Freeman accepted the news that he was originally given: that he would have to wait a period of three to six months before he would be able to enter the temple, receive those blessings and be sealed to his family.



But church leaders again felt differently and ultimately Freeman was able to attend the Salt Lake Temple with his family, becoming one of the first men of black African descent to receive those ordinances. President Thomas S. Monson, who at the time was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, officiated at the ceremony.



Freeman credits divine intervention in the cases of priesthood leaders reconsidering by letting him receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and being able to attend the temple earlier.



"Those leaders had one thing in their minds, but God changed their minds," Freeman said. "God can micromanage our hearts and souls."



E-mail: cpeterson@desnews.com



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