Bound for Canaan is the second volume of the "Standing on the Promises" trilogy from Young and Gray. It continues the dramatic stories, so ably begun in the first volume of this series, of the black pioneers of the Mormon religion. These are stories little known because little told. But they form an important part of the Mormon identity. We are fortunate to have this series coming into our hands at this time.

Bound for Canaan continues the inspiring, and tragic, stories of Elijah Abel and his wife Mary Ann, Isaac and Jane Manning James, and the Flakes, among others. Taking such characters through Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley, we follow their lives through the days of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil War, and the end of slavery. Babies are born and die; crops are planted, some fail; loves are lost and found; religion succeeds and fails. Young and Gray take us into the lives of these noble people, sparing us nothing of their tears and shed blood.

But while this book is "their" story in essence, it is, in fact, our story in so many ways. It is the story of a nation, born in its desire for liberty, losing sight of that most elemental liberty -- the right to live a life free to pursue happiness in an equal and open society. It is the story of a Church that claims to be the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, welcoming the powers of the priesthood back to the earth after a long absence, but denying these powers and privileges to some because of their skin color.

The most compelling character, to me, was Elijah Abel. I will spare you a long review by focusing on Abel, leaving you to discover the others in your own reading of the book.

Readers will remember that Joseph Smith, Jr., ordained Abel to the priesthood, despite his skin color. In Vol. 1 of "Standing on the Promises," we were given a foretaste of what Elijah would be facing -- several brethren visiting him after the death of Joseph, announcing that his "priesthood" would, to put it mildly, be coming under review.

In one extraordinary encounter, Elijah Abel reaches Salt Lake City and requests an audience with Pres. Young. Knowing that Brigham Young would not agree to see him to discuss his priesthood, Abel asks to see the President to discuss how he, Elijah, could contribute to the building of the Salt Lake Temple. And indeed, he intends to help in this building project, regardless of how Pres. Young responds to his request for further blessings.

Abel has heard that there were more blessings in store for him as a priesthood holder, but they were being denied to him because of his race. He wanted to appeal to Brigham to open up the Temple blessings to him. What he finds is a recalcitrant leader, unwilling to fully discuss the issue (he keeps changing the subject), and finally handing Abel a copy of the Pearl of Great Price, assuring him he would understand why he couldn't partake of these ordinances after reading the booklet.

One cannot help but be appalled at Brigham Young's apparent lack of sensitivity. The authors are careful to note that Brigham Young was a product of his times. His views on race, while considered severe (some can be found in the Journal of Discourses), were not unusual for his time. But Elijah Abel wonders why the heavenly view can't rise above the prejudices of an earthly society:

Brigham sat straighter and spoke loud. "I regret that most of your race have known ill treatment. Shame on those who have rendered it. They will be judged by a just God." His voice became sadder. "But, Elijah," he said, leaning across his desk, "you know the burden your race carries by divine decree. That burden is the very sin of Cain. I cannot undo the mandates or the curses of the Eternal I Am. You understand that, don't you? You always understood that the Negro has his separate place on this earth?"

Elijah was not about to give up on this. "I know it be separate on this earth, be we talkin' about heaven things." (149-150)

Let it not be said that the authors are overly critical of Brigham Young. In fact, it is made plain that, in light of his times, he was more kindly disposed toward people of color than many of his contemporaries. But on the matter of priesthood, he was unmovable.

But there are troubling questions. Can a mortal, even the President of the Church, project a misguided view of earthly racial relations into a heavenly mandate? And so doing, how does he reconcile this to Joseph Smith's contrary actions? We may never know the answers to these questions.

Elijah Abel would go to his grave a loyal member of the Church, in fact serving his very last days on a mission for the Church. But we never get the sense that he ever came to terms with how the Church, after Joseph's death, dealt with those who shared his race. He toys with the idea that his lot in life is, in fact, a larger mission. I hope he finally discarded this idea, although we are not told.

When we read of the passing of Elijah's wife, Mary Ann, we are gripped with an almost uncontrollable fury. The words of the book tell it best:

A recently returned missionary spoke at Mary Ann's funeral. Elijah would hear only a sentence or two before his mind would meander into melancholy paths. For the rest of his life, he could never recall the speaker's name.

"Sister Mary Ann was of the African descendancy," said the man.

Elijah wondered why that should matter and if the speaker didn't think they all knew about Mary Ann's lineage.

"Stanley the traveler has furnished the world with a complete map of the course of that mighty river, the Congo, down in Africa." (315)

And the speaker continues to relate how the gospel is being brought to the "benighted tribes of the wilds of Africa." And all the while Elijah's thoughts are elsewhere, just barely hearing the speaker, and wondering why this white speaker thinks this is the time and place to let all the "negroes" know how lucky they are to have white people saving their souls on the Dark Continent. But Abel will have none of it. His thoughts:

She is my wife, the beginning of my days and the comfort of my nights. She is all the anguish this world has known and all the joy it might find. Her eyes saw me so clear. She could see me despite the clownin', minstrel paint on my face, despite my need to buy a place in a world that won't take me as a man. Her nose smelled the rankness of our son's disease, and she held his pain. She ministered to him like the angel I kept waitin' for. Why didn't I see her then as full as I'm seein' her now. Her breasts that fed our babies and made my slumber soft. Her hands, her legs, her private self. All, all, all of her. Say her name. Acknowledge my wife: Mary Ann Adams Abel. (317)

Can anyone read these words and not feel shame, anger, sadness? I had to put the book down and suppress a deep shudder. Even in death, the righteous Mary Ann, wife of righteous Elijah Abel, was, in the eyes of the returned missionary, a non-person.

The story of Elijah Abel's life stands as an example of righteousness and loyalty in the face of struggle and disappointment.

I'll leave the reader to explore the lives of the others, whose trials and triumphs are recorded in this fine book.

Over the years, I've used many words to describe the books I've reviewed. I've called books "very good," "a wonderful read," and have been, at times, less flattering. Bound for Canaan merits a word I use sparingly -- "important." It matters on so many levels:

1. To the extent that the story of the contributions, and trials, of the black pioneers of Mormonism remains untold, I believe that the modern Church will continue to struggle with the vestiges of racism. The Church continues to be a reflection of its times. Anecdotal evidence is abundant that pre-OD2 thinking has not entirely dissipated. This is not to imply that institutional racism continues. But while the Church continues to struggle with its past, I am optimistic about the future.

2. Church history has been largely sanitized when it comes to the place of the black man and woman in the building up of the kingdom. But then, the tellers of American history are no different. Efforts are being made in the American historical community to correct this situation. Young and Gray are leading the charge in effecting a similar correction within the Mormon Church.

Who should read this book? I say, with no hesitation, every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should own this volume, indeed, the entire series. Here is a story that will fill you with sorrow and anger, but ultimately with hope. Because the story of race relations in Mormonism is not yet ended. Is it possible that this generation will write the final chapter?

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Jeff Needle
jeff.needle@general.com