Margaret Blair Young

Many outside the LDS church, and more than a few within, know very little about the stories of the Black LDS pioneers who joined the church in the early days and crossed the plains to start lives in the land of Zion. Unfortunately, their lives were made more difficult by the racial stereotypes they faced even among their new brothers and sisters in the gospel. This is a retelling of some real historical figures, most notably Elijah Abel, freed slave and first black member of the church, and show more Jane Manning, a free woman who traveled 400 miles on foot to join the Saints in Missouri and became a personal servant in the Smith household. Both were intimately acquainted with the Joseph Smith and his family.

Their stories are interesting and reasonably well told. Each chapter concludes with a few notes on the real historical facts. However, these accounts are not really woven together and it remains several different stories instead of one. I would like to read the next book in the series, but it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped. 3.5 stars show less

THIS IS THE SECOND IN THE TRILOGY ABOUT BLACK MORMONS AND THE UTAH PIONEERS OF 1847. IT CONTINUES WITH THE LIVES OF THE REAL-LIFE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN THE FIRST BOOK, AND GOES ON WITH SETTLING THE SALT LAKE VALLEY TO ESTABLISH ZION AS WELL AS MOVING ON TO CALIFORNIA FOR SOME. IT COVERS THE CIVIL WAR, THE MORMON BATALLION, EXCITING PERSONAL INCIDENTS, LIFE IN EARLY SALT LAKE CITY AND THE ATTRACTION OF CALIFORNIA DURING THE GOLD RUSH. IT TOUCHES LIGHTLY ON THE PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY AS WELL AS show more ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF BLACKS HOLDING THE PRIESTHOOD AND BEING DENIED THE PRIVLEGES OF TEMPLE BLESSINGS.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS, THESE STORIES, AND THESE PEOPLE. THEIR STORIES ARE HEARTWARMING, HEARTBREAKING, AND PULL ALL ELEMENTS OF HAPPINESS, SACRIFICE, FAILURE, AND SUCCESS FROM THE PROCESS OF LIVING INTO A WONDERFUL STORY. IT IS SUCH EASY READING. I READ INTO THE NIGHT AND DIDN'T WANT TO EVER PUT IT DOWN. KNOWING THEY ARE REAL SOULS, REAL SAINTS, MAKES ME ANXIOUS TO MEET THEM SOMEDAY.

THE BOOK PLAYS OUT AT SUCH A GOOD PACE, MIRRORING LIFE ITSELF. I LOVED LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR, THE HISTORY OF THE STATES, AS WELL AS THE PROGRESS OF THE LATTER DAY SAINT DEVELOPMENT, AS I READ ABOUT THE DAILY LIVING OF THESE AMAZING PEOPLE.

JULY 24TH IS THE DAY THE SAINTS ARRIVED IN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY. FOR THIS OCCASION, SINCE I LIVE IN UTAH, AND ALSO BEING OF PIONEER STOCK, MYSELF, I AM READING THESE TRILOGIES SIDE BY SIDE WITH ANOTHER BOOK, WE'LL FIND THE PLACE,THE MORMON EXODUS 1846-1848 BY RICHARD E. BENNETT. IMAGINE MY EXCITEMENT TO DISCOVER MY OWN GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER, LEVI JACKMAN, LISTED AS A MEMBER OF ORSON PRATT'S EXPLORATORY COMPANY WITH OSCAR CROSBY, HARK LAY, AND GREEN FLAKE. I COULDN'T HELP BEING QUITE HAPPY TO THINK THEY LIKELY CONVERSED AND SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS AT TIMES. IT'S EXHILARATING. AS I'VE SAID, I HAVE COME TO LOVE AND ADMIRE THE PEOPLE IN THESE BOOKS. THEY WERE SO AMAZING.

AND LET ME NOT FORGET TO PRAISE THE TALENTS OF THE AUTHORS. THIS IS SO WELL WRITTEN. NEVER DOES ONE LOSE INTEREST. NEVER DO THE STORIES LAG. THE RELIGION DOES NOT GET IN THE WAY. AND THE LIVES OF ALL ARE VERY NICELY SUMMED UP AND REVIEWED IN THE FINAL CHAPTERS. I LAUGHED AND HOPED AND CRIED THROUGHOUT. I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK.

THIS IS THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE BOOK, IT IS THE NARRATOR SPEAKING: "THIS ALL GOES TO SHOW THAT GOD NEVER STOPS DELIVERING SURPRISES. YOU JUST OPEN YOUR EYES EACH DAY AND WONDER WHAT'S COMING. YOU HOPE, LIKE ALL US DO, THAT TODAY'S SURPRISE WILL BE A GOOD ONE. AND YOU REMIND YOURSELF, AS ALL US SHOULD, THAT YOU CAN'T ALWAYS TELL FOR SURE." show less

Families relationships are supposed to a source of happiness, particularly within the LDS community. However, drug use, affairs, divorce, and religions differences can put tension on family relationships, making them ties that bind.

As the title would suggest, the short stories in "Love Chains" explore the difficult side of relationships, sometimes with a hopeful ending and sometimes not.

An interesting and important story, carefully told.