The following has been republished with permission from taylorhalverson.com and complements this week's Come, Follow Me study.

Dear Dave,

A new Church History Library exhibit brings the history of black Latter-day Saints to life with 16 documents, photographs, oral histories, and autobiographies from Saints throughout the world.

Photo courtesy of Terra Cooper Terra Cooper thought she’d be different.

When James A. Garfield took the oath of office as the new president of the United States of America in 1881, Mormonism was a heavily contested topic in much of the nation. As one of the largest territories in the nation at the time, Utah kept pushing for acceptance as a state, but many Americans feared the "peculiar" Mormons and their practices—including polygamy.

David Farland didn’t have the best childhood.

With every stroke of his brush, James C. Christensen is fast becoming one of the world’s most beloved artists. Best known for his whimsical paintings of “poofy guys” and floating fishes, flying boats and flying pigs, Christensen captivates his audience with his fascinating realm of make-believe. And while most people are enchanted with his paintings at first glance, if they look a little closer, they can usually learn a few eternal principles as well.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publishes editions of the Bible in English and Spanish. In many other non-English languages, the Church has identified a preferred non–Latter-day Saint edition of the Bible for use in Church meetings and classes.

Jane Elizabeth Manning was born in Connecticut in about 1820. Her mother had been enslaved, but she was emancipated by the time Jane was born. Jane’s father died when she was a young child and, perhaps in part for that reason, Jane began working as a domestic servant for a wealthy white family in the next town over. As a young woman, she was baptized and joined the local Congregational Church, but not long afterward she heard a missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints preach and she was convinced by his message. She was baptized a short time later, and she appears to have persuaded her family to join the Church as well. In 1843, the Mannings joined an interracial group of converts for the journey to Nauvoo. Although they left the Northeast together, the group was separated at some point during the journey. The white members continued to Nauvoo on public transportation; the black members walked. When Jane and her family reached Nauvoo, they were welcomed by Emma and Joseph Smith and stayed in the mansion house for a short time while they found jobs and housing. Jane remained in the mansion house, working for the Smiths as a domestic servant.