Joseph Freeman (Mormon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Freeman, Jr.
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| Born | July 24, 1952 (age 73) |
| Occupation | Religious leader, minister, author |
Joseph Freeman Jr., born on July 24, 1952, is an important leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the first Black man to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and become an elder in the Church. This happened after a special announcement in 1978. This announcement allowed all worthy men in the Church to receive the priesthood, no matter their race or color.
Contents
Joseph Freeman Jr.'s Life Story
Early Life and Family Roots
Joseph Freeman Jr. was born in Vanceboro, North Carolina. His parents were Rose Lee Smith and Joseph Freeman Sr. His family has a long history in North Carolina.
His great-grandparents, William and Ellen Freeman, were enslaved people. They became free during the American Civil War. They escaped to Brushton, North Carolina, and got help from Union soldiers. Later, they found land to settle and build a new life.
Finding His Faith
When Joseph was ten, he was baptized into the Holiness Church. His father's family had been part of this faith for many generations. Joseph dreamed of becoming a minister. After high school, he earned a license to be a lay minister in the Holiness Church. This meant he could preach and lead services.
Military Service and New Discoveries
In 1972, at age 19, Joseph joined the United States Army. He was stationed in Hawaii. While there, he started looking for a different church. He wanted to learn more about other Christian faiths.
He met several members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of them was a sergeant in his army unit. Joseph spent several months studying with missionaries from the Church. He read the Book of Mormon. He learned that at that time, men of African descent could not be ordained to the priesthood. Even with this knowledge, he felt good about the Church.
On September 30, 1973, Joseph was baptized and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He stepped down from his role in the Holiness Church.
Family Life
Before his baptism, Joseph met Toe Isapela Leituala. She was a Samoan woman who had been a member of the Church for six years. They were married on June 15, 1974.
In 1975, Joseph left the military. He and Toe eventually moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.
A Historic Revelation
On June 8, 1978, something very important happened for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church's leaders, called the First Presidency, announced a special message. Spencer W. Kimball, who was the Church president, had received a revelation from God.
This revelation said that God had heard their prayers. It confirmed that the time had come for all faithful, worthy men in the Church to receive the holy priesthood. This meant they could use its divine authority. They could also enjoy all the blessings that come with it, including blessings in the temple. This was now possible "without regard for race or color."
Receiving the Priesthood
Just two days after this announcement, on June 10, 1978, Joseph Freeman Jr. was approved to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. This happened at a priesthood meeting in his local Church area, called a stake. Everyone agreed to his ordination.
The very next day, June 11, 1978, Joseph was ordained an elder in the Melchizedek priesthood. His bishop, Jay Harold Swain, performed the ordination. This was a historic moment.
Usually, men receive a lower priesthood, called the Aaronic priesthood, about a year before becoming an elder. But Joseph had been very faithful for many years. His Church leaders felt he was ready to become an elder right away. Because of this, Joseph Freeman Jr. is known as the first Black man to be ordained an elder after the 1978 revelation.
Temple Blessings
On July 23, 1978, Joseph Freeman Jr. and his wife, Toe, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Their two sons, Alexander and Zechariah, were also sealed to them. This was another important event, as Joseph was one of the first Black men to receive this special temple ordinance. Thomas S. Monson, who was a leader in the Church at the time, performed the ceremony.
Later Church Service
In 1986, Joseph moved to Denver, Colorado. He worked there for 15 years, overseeing the maintenance of the Church's Denver Colorado Temple. He moved back to Salt Lake City in 2001.
In 1993, Joseph adopted his daughter's son, J.J. Freeman. J.J. lived with him for seven years.
After returning to Salt Lake City, Joseph served as a bishop in the Church for a time. In October 2020, he became a counselor in the presidency of the Salt Lake Granger North Stake. He continues to serve and lead in the Church.
See also
- Elijah Abel
- Black people and Mormonism
- Official Declaration 2
