Joseph Freeman
Encyclopedia
Joseph Freeman, Jr. was the first man of black
African descent to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and be ordained an elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) after the announcement of the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood
, which allowed “all worthy male members of the Church” to “be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.”
to Rose Lee Smith Freeman and Joseph Freeman Sr. His paternal great-grandparents, William and Ellen Freeman, were slaves in Craven County, North Carolina
who gained their freedom by escaping to Brushton, North Carolina, during the American Civil War
, where they received help from Union soldiers until finding land to settle.
At the age of ten, Freeman was baptized and became a member of the Holiness Church
, the faith his father's family had supported for at least three generations. After graduating from high school he obtain an evangelist’s license fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a lay minster in the faith.
In 1972, at age 19, Freeman enlisted in the United States Army
and was stationed in Hawaii
. While in Hawaii he became dissatisfied with the Holiness congregations he attend and began to study other Christian
denominations. During this time he met several people who were Latter-day Saints including a sergeant in his unit. After several months of studying with Mormon missionaries, reading the Book of Mormon
, and being fully informed of the restriction of priesthood ordination for men of African descent, Freeman stepped down from his role in the Holiness faith and was baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church on September 30, 1973. During the period of investigation prior to his baptism he met Toe Isapela Leituala, a Samoan
convert to the faith of six years. The two were married on June 15, 1974. In 1975 Freeman left the military and the couple eventually moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
.
On June 8, 1978 the First Presidency
of the LDS Church announced that church president Spencer W. Kimball
had received a revelation
and that the Lord “has heard our prayers, and ... has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows there from, including the blessings of the temple ... without regard for race or color".
On June 10, 1978, at a stake priesthood meeting, Freeman's name was presented and received unanimous approval for ordination to the Melchizedek priesthood. On June 11, 1978, three days after the announcement of the revelation, Freeman was ordained to the office of elder in the Melchizedek priesthood. The ordination was performed by Bishop Karl H. Glover.
Typically men are ordained to the office of a priest in the Aaronic priesthood approximately one year prior to ordination as an elder in the Melchizedek priesthood. Due to his years of faithfulness and spiritual aptitude, Freeman’s ecclesiastical leaders felt that it would be appropriate to ordain him to the office of elder without prior ordination to the Aaronic priesthood. Thus, unlike many men of black African descent who were ordained to the office of priest in the Aaronic priesthood that same day, Freeman is recognized as the first to be ordained an elder as a result of the revelation.
On July 23, 1978, Freeman was sealed
to his wife and their two sons, Alexander and Zechariah, in the Salt Lake Temple
and thereby became one of the first men of black African descent to receive this ordinance. Thomas S. Monson
, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, officiated at the ceremony.
In 1986, Freeman moved to Denver, Colorado
, where he was employed as the overseer of maintenance of the LDS Church's Denver Colorado Temple
for 15 years. He moved back to Salt Lake City in 2001.
In 1993 he adopted his daughters son J.J. Freeman. He lived with them for the next 7 years.
After 2001 Freeman moved to the Salt Lake Valley where he served for a time as an LDS bishop.
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
African descent to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and be ordained an elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) after the announcement of the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood
1978 Revelation on Priesthood
The 1978 Revelation on Priesthood was a revelation to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which reversed a long-standing policy excluding men of black African descent from the priesthood.-Background:...
, which allowed “all worthy male members of the Church” to “be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.”
Biography
Freeman was born in Vanceboro, North CarolinaVanceboro, North Carolina
Vanceboro is a town in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 849 at the 2008 census. Originally called Swift Creek, residents renamed the town for Zebulon B. Vance after he made a visit during his 1876 campaign for Governor...
to Rose Lee Smith Freeman and Joseph Freeman Sr. His paternal great-grandparents, William and Ellen Freeman, were slaves in Craven County, North Carolina
Craven County, North Carolina
Craven County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The estimated population in 2006 was 94,875. Its county seat is New Bern.Craven County is part of the New Bern, North Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
who gained their freedom by escaping to Brushton, North Carolina, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, where they received help from Union soldiers until finding land to settle.
At the age of ten, Freeman was baptized and became a member of the Holiness Church
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
, the faith his father's family had supported for at least three generations. After graduating from high school he obtain an evangelist’s license fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a lay minster in the faith.
In 1972, at age 19, Freeman enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was stationed in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. While in Hawaii he became dissatisfied with the Holiness congregations he attend and began to study other Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denominations. During this time he met several people who were Latter-day Saints including a sergeant in his unit. After several months of studying with Mormon missionaries, reading the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, and being fully informed of the restriction of priesthood ordination for men of African descent, Freeman stepped down from his role in the Holiness faith and was baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church on September 30, 1973. During the period of investigation prior to his baptism he met Toe Isapela Leituala, a Samoan
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
convert to the faith of six years. The two were married on June 15, 1974. In 1975 Freeman left the military and the couple eventually moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
On June 8, 1978 the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of the LDS Church announced that church president Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
had received a revelation
Revelation (Latter Day Saints)
Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a Revelation from God . They also teach that revelation is the foundation of the church established by Jesus Christ and that it remains an essential element of His true church today...
and that the Lord “has heard our prayers, and ... has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows there from, including the blessings of the temple ... without regard for race or color".
On June 10, 1978, at a stake priesthood meeting, Freeman's name was presented and received unanimous approval for ordination to the Melchizedek priesthood. On June 11, 1978, three days after the announcement of the revelation, Freeman was ordained to the office of elder in the Melchizedek priesthood. The ordination was performed by Bishop Karl H. Glover.
Typically men are ordained to the office of a priest in the Aaronic priesthood approximately one year prior to ordination as an elder in the Melchizedek priesthood. Due to his years of faithfulness and spiritual aptitude, Freeman’s ecclesiastical leaders felt that it would be appropriate to ordain him to the office of elder without prior ordination to the Aaronic priesthood. Thus, unlike many men of black African descent who were ordained to the office of priest in the Aaronic priesthood that same day, Freeman is recognized as the first to be ordained an elder as a result of the revelation.
On July 23, 1978, Freeman was sealed
Celestial marriage
Celestial marriage is a doctrine of Mormonism, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and branches of Mormon fundamentalism.Within Mormonism, celestial marriage is an ordinance associated with a covenant that always...
to his wife and their two sons, Alexander and Zechariah, in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
and thereby became one of the first men of black African descent to receive this ordinance. Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, officiated at the ceremony.
In 1986, Freeman moved to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, where he was employed as the overseer of maintenance of the LDS Church's Denver Colorado Temple
Denver Colorado Temple
The Denver Colorado Temple is the 40th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The LDS Church announced its plans to build a temple in Colorado on March 31, 1982. Almost two years later, Gordon B. Hinckley presided over the site dedication and groundbreaking...
for 15 years. He moved back to Salt Lake City in 2001.
In 1993 he adopted his daughters son J.J. Freeman. He lived with them for the next 7 years.
After 2001 Freeman moved to the Salt Lake Valley where he served for a time as an LDS bishop.
See also
- Elijah AbelElijah AbelElijah Abel was the first black elder and seventy in the Latter Day Saint movement, and one of the few black members in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to receive the priesthood.-Life:...
- Blacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBlacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsFrom 1849 to 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a policy against ordaining black men of African descent to the priesthood. Whereas other churches usually have full-time salaried clergy of whom individual members are often the chief minister to several families, in the LDS...
- Official Declaration—2Official Declaration—2"Official Declaration—2" is the formal 1978 announcement by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the church's priesthood would no longer be subject to restrictions based on race or skin color...