In 1844 Sam Chambers was a 13-year-old slave living in Mississippi, and upon hearing the message of the Mormon missionaries, he was baptized late one night in secrecy.
Unable to move West with the first migrations of saints, Sam was forced to wait until 1870 when, as a free man, he and his wife Amanda began their journey towards the Salt Lake Valley.
Upon arrival in Utah, Sam quickly became a wealthy farmer of currant berries, and as a member of the Eighth Ward, was an example of service and testimony.
A New Era article by Bill Hartley, a BYU history professor who Young relied on for research, included a piece of Sam’s recorded testimony.
“[The gospel] is not only to the Gentiles but also to the Africans, for I am one of that race. The knowledge I received is from my God. It is a high and holy calling. Without the testimony of God we are nothing,” said Sam, in his testimony.
(For the full article, click here)
