Prelude to the National "Defense of Marriage" Campaign: Civil Discrimination Against Feared or Despised Minorities - Special Award for Outstanding Scholarly Research and Writing, Affirmation Conference, Long Beach, September 2001 by D. Michael Quinn

1964 Letter from Mormon Apostle to George Romney - Documents the foundation of racism in the LDS Church and threatens Governor George Romney that his support of Civil Rights will lead to his early death.

Mormons and Black-White Intermarriage - LDS Historical Rhetoric and Praxis Regarding Marriage Between Whites and Blacks - by Connell O’Donovan - March 2009

Jonah Got His Kicks On Highway 66 - A Southern California story of racism and polygamy vs. compassion and respect.

For an apologetic response to Mormon racism created by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research president Scott Gordon, click here: The Black Mormon - written by faithful White and Black Mormons about Mormon leaders, doctrine, policy and culture.

Another site on LDS - Black relations is written by Darrick Evenson, who is white, and not Mormon but used to be Mormon and is now B'hai, and has been for many years. Click here: The Black Mormon Homepage

White Wash For black Saints, forgetting the LDS Church's racist heritage is easier said than done. by Shane Johnson of the Salt Lake Weekly - 12/16/2004

For a look at the Black Mormon Single scene click here: Black Mormon Singles

Elder Sitati Sings "Why Me You Say" - Sing along to the tune of "YMCA by The Village People"

10/31/2009 - by cricket

Black man, you're now a Mo of renown
Yes, sir, Black man, with The Brethren get down.
Yes, sir, Black man, you're the new G.A. in town
There's no need to be unhappy.

Black man, off to General Conference you go
Sustain you, man, now you roll in the dough.
At Temple Square, I am sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to pray, Lord why me? You say.
It's fun to obey just like a slave G.A.

The Brethren make sure you really enjoy,
You can hang with the G.A. boys ...

Yeah man! I am the the first Black G.A.
Since nine-teen seventy-eight, it's all okay.

You can wash and annoint, you can preach with zeal
You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you're a GA's wet dream
But you've got to know this one thing!

No man is called all by himself,
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And you will become a G.A. some day
Sure Jesus can help you, unless you are gay.

It's fun to play, the Lord made me this way.
Just so I'd be the first Black G.A. some day.

They have everything that you need to enjoy,
Hey, I just love being the Lord's new toy!

It's fun to say, I'm the first Black G.A.
My story is sell'n at Deseret Book, so pay!

Do you get what I mean, I've got that appeal,
White man's quilt is what you all feel ...

Young man, I was once in your shoes.
At church, I was down and out with the blues.
For the priesthood I could not strive
I felt Mormon doctrine was so jive ...

That's when Tommy Monson came up to me,
And said, "Black man, take up this calling with glee.
Now is great PR time, this is your day,
I can start you back on your way."

It's fun to stray from Brigham Young's way
It's a matter of time 'til being gay is okay.

G.A.'s have all that you need to enjoy
So what if "I'm really just their black decoy!"

Why me you say?
Bring on the Mo-bling, don't delay.
Black man, young man there's no need to feel down
Black man, young man you're gaining some ground!

Why me you say?
Then just go and pray and obey.

Black man, young man you can wear temple shoes
Black man, young man, you're the hot news!

Why me you say?

I found out the following after we reunited in 2000.

After four months in foster care my 4 month old infant was finally placed for adoption due to having black blood but being white looking.

I placed her at birth with LDS Social Services (now known as LDS Family Services) and was truthful about her heritage. She was in my estimation 1/4 to 1/8 black.

She was born in Feb of 1978.

At some point before the June 1978 revelation they had called me to ask me if there was another father since she had not "turned" black. I told them no and wondered why they were wanting to know.

Fast forward to June of 2000 I am reunited with my birthchild and she tells me they had not placed her right away since she wasnt black enough for a black home and could not put her in a white temple home due to her black blood so they had bounced her from different "baby boarding" homes.

I had been totally honest with them about her "blood." June 9, 1978 they placed her with her white adoptive family.

The main reason I registered on reunion sites was that I got to thinking that she might never know of her heritage.

They tried..she was not told until she pushed her parents at 16. Only then did they tell her.

Her adoptive father spent her whole life and still does using the "N" word.

They don't like me as they said I runined the eternal family.

Since we have met again, she hasnt attended church. In fact she is my favorite exmo since beleive it or not out of my 3 kids she is the most like me.

Guess all those temple rites and blessings didnt make her a brainwashed follower.

I found her bio dad for her too, had contacted him before registering on reunion sites.

It has never occured to me to care what people look like, but going through this then and now to some extent shows that alot of people still do.

Rev. Franklin Jones of the Victory Outreach Ministries Inc. had congratulated and awarded a certificate to the president of the “African Exmormon Foundation”.

According to a release, Rev. Jones commended Darlington W. Gbee for what he (Jones) termed as his diligent service since the establishment of the African Exmormon Foundation.

African American Exmormon on Liberian Radio - 03/04/2009

On wednesday, March 4, 2009, I will be appearing on a local radio station in Monrovia, Liberia to explain to the public why I left Mormonism.

My parents, families and freinds as well as the public will all be hearing some of the hidden things about the Mormon Church.

Over the weekend, I was commended by the Rev. Franklin Jones from the Victory Outreach Ministries for establishing the " African Exmormon Foundation" and enlightening the minds of Liberian about the harms that Mormonsim causes.

My father hates to see the ground I move on but I do plan to call him on Wednesday morning to listen to his wise son.

Lots of people hate me but I'm happy that others love and appreciate me for my great work. My mother is proud of me and as I speak she is worshiping with a different church.

I am so happy that I came across, Mr. Bill Gardiner and Mr. Richard Packham who encourage me to find my own truth. I am happy and proud to be called an EXMORMON!

“The Foundation has helped my daughter and few of my friends to understand the actual doctrines and teachings of Mormonism,” said Rev. Jones.

African Exmormon Foundation makes headline in Liberia, West Africa - 02/02/2009

The African Exmormon Foundation which was established last year under the Laws of the Republic of Liberia is becoming popular among Christian and Non-Christians.

The Organization’s president, Mr. Darlington W. Gbee, served as full time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and left the church after he found out that Mormonism was based on fraud and lies. He established the African Exmormon Foundation last year and has helped many Mormons and non-Mormons to understand the harm that Mormonism causes.

The official launching of the organization was done last year December in Buchanan, outside Monrovia . The organization currently does not have office space but usually meet at its Vice President residence to attend meetings and other programs.

The African Exmormon Foundation has about forty eight members, 75% are formers members.

Beloved Ex-Mormons, if God exist, I do not think that He is a racist; the eyes of the Negroes are open!

I was attending church last Sunday, Sac Mtg only, and fell into my usual bored-outta-my-mind, get-me-outta-here state, just before dropping into a soft coma. I live in an African nation where church meetings of all denominations are lively and involve electric guitars, vibrant, colourful clothes, dancing, singing and sometimes pea-whistles.

Coming briefly out of my coma to wipe off the accumulation of drool, I looked around and saw the poor Africans, and how they had been reduced down to a lower state. All but a few were conservatively Mormon-dressed, many of them dozing with chins on their chests, a couple of kids sprawled out horizontally on the bench. A guy at the pulpit was droning on in French about Joseph Smith being a pretty great guy, and I think even the bishopric was nodding off.

Made me think when my family and I were in a ward in a predominantly African-American part of an eastern US city. Oddly enough, the missionaries converted the occasional black. I remember one black father got up and bore his testimony, and jumped in the air "for the joy of Jesus." That didn't play too well with the bishopric and the collection of white folk, knowwhatimean? After several months he got up to the pulpit again during a particularly slow fast day (you know what I mean, don't you?) and told everyone what a boring, colourless place it was (maybe he meant that he was looking upon a sea of white faces), and wondered how we tolerated it. A couple of months later he and his whole family were gone.

I'm old enough to remember the non-correlated days of Mormonism. There was plenty of room for boredom then, too, but so much nicer than now. There were youth activities, softball competitions, basketball competitions, mission farewells, mission homecomings, church budget drives, and even (godferbid) bazaars. Anyone remember this? I kid you not; once we had a BBQ behind the church to raise money for the budget, and the bishop had a boxing ring set up and various guys challenged each other to a one-round match. (Turned out to be a bad idea in the end, because some guys got pounded and then carried grudges.)

We never had guitars, though. And dancing was right out.

AP - Salt Lake City

In a surprise move felt by some to be prompted by controversy generated by Mitt Romney's presidential bid, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are preparing to release a statement clarifying Mormon doctrine on race.

The statement, entitled "A Proclamation on the Seed of Cain", will "put the myth of Mormon racism to bed once and for all", stated church spokesman I. Bray Forluker.

The text of the statement, composed by both the LDS First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is as follows:

"Our Father in heaven is the father of all peoples and all races. Because of this, as prophets and apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we solemnly declare that racism, and racial discimination in any form, has no place in the hearts, minds, or actions, of Latter-day saints, or any people anywhere. We therefore reject any insinuation that as a church we continue to subscribe to the personal opinions to the contrary of past church leaders, often expressed over a century ago. We encourage Latter-day Saints to remember that we have a living prophet today, and that we follow him, not past prophets.

"More specifically, there is ongoing concern about the church's theological stance on the matter of those of African descent. We wish to be clear: negroes, as the seed of Cain, are not to be discriminated against in any way, shape, or form. We ESPECIALLY insist upon this in the matter of church leadership positions; and anyone who looks at a photograph of the faces of all the men in our quorums of the seventy, our quorum of the twelve, and our First Presidency, will be able to sense our seriousness about this issue.

"While some of our caucasian members may continue to take pride in the fact that in the pre-existence, we fought valiantly against Lucifer and his minions, while our negro brethren did not, we solemnly declare that any such feeling of pride is entirely unwarranted. Perhaps our dark friends in Jesus's pre-existent army were only doing the best they could with what psychological and emotional traits they had, which may have included a tendency to panic under pressure and an inability to plan for the future; we therefore have no right to judge them 'unworthy', any more than we would a handicapped person for not being as capable as a normal, real person. After all, every army needs cooks, janitors, and sanitation workers, even, from what we believe, pre-existent ones of spirit. We must leave the judgment to the Lord.

"We remind the world that the very musically talented Gladys Knight, a negress, has joined our church, and that basketball superstar Karl Malone, also of the seed of Cain, while not a member of our church, resided in Salt Lake City for many years. We also consented to allow those with the curse of Cain to receive all our church ordinances, and even trust them to officiate in church, a full TWENTY NINE years ago. We think these three facts say everything that needs to be said about our church's commitment to colored people. We therefore request that members of the media ensure that their representations of our church's doctrines and attitudes on race be accurate."

"Yours in Christ,

"The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve"

"The church's liberalism on race couldn't be clearer after this", remarked prominent church apologist Dimbulb Q. Rotundsen. "Even so, no doubt we will hear even more complaining from dissidents on the so-called 'Recovery' from Mormonism bulletin board".

Mitt Romney, for his part, is enthused. "I never knew what the problem was to begin with. But this statement is a slamdunk. Onward and upward for 2008!".

In a related story, Mormon leaders are reportedly now working on another statement, which will clarify exactly what the Book of Mormon means when it claims that Jews are "stiffnecked" and "stubborn", and that American aboriginal peoples are "filthy", "idle", "full of mischief", and "loathsome".

All the time as I was growing up I thought the Mormons were a little "odd" but I could never actually define what was wrong with the doctrine, it just never felt right.

Then in 1971 my family became a member of a group called The Genesis Group. The first (to my knowledge) church sanctioned group of high ranking, "True Believing" black Mormons.

The church trotted the Genesis Group out for all sorts of black friendly activities. Hell, we were even in a movie called "Mans Search For Happiness". Little did I realize they were just setting the scene for the great "revelation" that was to come in 1978.

Blacks can now hold the priesthood. My father was soooooo happy. That whole historical time frame changed my life and my view of the whole world. What a crock that revelation was.

I feel so sorry for my dad, he believed all the drivel right up to the day he died.

Perhaps, most of you are aware that a few black converts were ordained and given the priesthood by Joseph Smith.

The first black member to be ordained was Elijah Abel in 1836. Historial timeline: blacklds.org/mormon/history.html

You will note the following from that link:

1836: Elijah Abel Ordained an Elder

In March of 1836, Elijah Abel is given the priesthood and ordained to the office of Elder. This is reportedly done by Joseph Smith himself.

By 1853, Elijah Abel was in SLC and had requested to receive his endowments from Brigham Young - as noted from the link:

1853: Elijah Abel Requests Permission to Receive Endowments

Brigham Young denies the reqeust. Abel had already been through the Kirtland Temple for washings and anointings and he was already baptized for the dead in Nauvoo

If you read through that historical timeline, it appears that no one admits or claims responsibility for the "ban" -it just happened. By 1958, David O. McKay had approved priesthood ordination to blacks residing in Fiji (and some in the Phillipines) - yet, not the rest of the world.

Again, the same historical timeline indicates that Joseph F. Smith at first couldn't understand it and then, later, acknowledged that "revelation" was the source of the ban. Yet, no reference to any revelation has ever been provided.

Let me see if I understand this correctly:

(1) JS ordains black members to the priesthood - all ok.

(2) Black members travel to SLC - Brigham halts the ordaining of blacks and refuses temple admittance to already ordained members (Elijah Abel).

(3) LDS leaders struggle to understand the source of the ban

(4) David O. McKay allows for blacks residing in Fiji and the Phillipines to be ordained to the priesthood and receive temple recommends. All other blacks denied.

(5) LDS church acknowledges problems with "race mixing" in Brazil in 1947 - lineage determined by "patriarchal blessings".

(5) In 1971, LDS leaders organize the Genesis group in SLC - an organization formed to establish relationships with the black community - I guess.

(6) In 1973, Spencer W. Kimball acknowledges that church's policy with respect to priesthood ban is the "Lord's policy". What????????????????

(7) 1978 - Priesthood ban lifted

First, they did it. Then, they stopped it. Then, they tried to figure out who the source of it was. Then, they used patriarchal blessings. Then, they said to look heavenward for the source of the policy. Then, they said that heaven said it was ok.

Joseph said it was ok. Brigham said it wasn't ok. Church leaders can't figure it out - with the exception of McKay in 1958. And then, SWK tells everyone it's now ok in 1978.

Someone, please explain this to me. Sister Gladys Knight, why are you not offended by all of this?

Max---Joseph Smith is responsible for the ban. Elijah Abel was an exception to the rule. - Randy J Read details at:

roups.google.com/group/alt.religion.mormon/msg/d97c493fc48ccee6

The reason some people believe that Young instituted the ban is that very few Negroes had joined the church during Smith's era, so it wasn't really much of an issue until Young took over. But it's obvious that the dogma re: the "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham," which produced the ban, were instituted and disseminated by Smith.

One more note regarding - "(6)In 1973, Spencer W. Kimball acknowledges that church's policy with respect to priesthood ban is the "Lord's policy". >What????????????????"

That verbiage wasn't exclusive to Kimball. When the ban began to be an increasing PR problem for the church in the '40s and '50s, various leaders made statrments such as:

"From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the church, never questioned by any of the church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the gospel."---David O. McKay

"It is not the authorities of the Church who have placed a restriction on him regarding the holding of the Priesthood. It was not the Prophet Joseph Smith nor Brigham Young. It was the Lord!"---Joseph Fielding Smith

"The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the pre-mortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality, and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the principle itself indicates that the coming to this earth and taking on mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintained their first estate...Why the Negro was denied the Priesthood from the days of Adam to our day is known. The few known facts about our pre-earth life and our entrance into mortality must be taken into account in any attempt at explanation."---First Presidency statement, 1951

"I know of no scriptural basis for denying the Priesthood to Negroes other than the one verse in the Book of Abraham (1:26); however, I believe, as you suggest, that the real reason dates back to our pre-existant life."---Letter from David O. McKay, 1947.

Meaning: These modern-day apologists who are trying to spin the "curse of Cain" teachings and the priesthood ban as a mistake, and that it wasn't official church doctrine, are being disingenuous, because as these quotes show, church leaders said it was from "the Lord," called it doctrine, and provided doctrinal and scriptural explanations for the ban.

In 1947, Dr. Lowry Nelson, a professor at then-Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah, dispatched a letter to the Mormon First Presidency challenging the official exclusionary and racially biased position of the LDS Church toward people of African descent.

In writing his letter of protest, Lowry was no insignificant malcontent but, rather, a Mormon who came to the table with impeccable credentials:

"Nelson earned a B.S. degree at Utah State University in 1916. He spent the next two decades working mainly in Utah. He served as the County Agricultural agent in Sanpete County, Utah in 1919, he became the field agriculturist for the People's Sugar Company in 1920 and edited the Utah Farmer from 1920-1922. He was associated with Brigham Young University from 1921-1935. During the Depression he worked for the Utah Relief Administration in 1934, he was regional advisor to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and in 1935 became director of the Resettlement Administration. He was then director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station at Logan. In 1937 he received a position at the University of Minnesota in the Sociology Department. . . .

"Dr. Nelson's works include several monographs and a multitude of articles and papers ranging from rural life in Latin America, the United States and Canada as well as studies on various Mormon Villages in Utah. Dr. Nelson died in Provo, Utah in 1986."

http://library.usu.edu/Specol/manuscript/collms17.html

_____

It was from this distinguished professional career track and deep Mormon background that on 16 June 1947, Lowry wrote the First Presidency, taking issue with the Mormon Church's anti-Black doctrine.

On 17 July of the same year, the First Presidency replied thusly:

"Dear Brother Nelson:

"As you have been advised, your letter of June 16 was received in due course . . . We have carefully considered [its] content; and are glad to advise you as follows:

"We make this initial remark: the social side of the Restored Gospel is only an incident of it; it is not the end thereof.

"The basic element of your ideas and concepts seems to be that all God's children stand in equal positions before Him in all things. Your knowledge of the Gospel will indicate to you that this is contrary to the very fundamentals of God's dealings with Israel dating from the time of His promise to Abraham regarding Abraham's seed and their position vis-a-vis God Himself. Indeed, some of God's children were assinged to superior positions before the world was formed.

"We are aware that some Higher Critics do not accept this, but the Church does. Your position seems to lose sight of the revelations of the Lord touching the pre-existence of our spirits, the rebellion in heaven, and the doctrines that our birth into this life and the advantages under which we may be born, have a religionship in the life heretofore.

"From the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith even until now, it is has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel.

"Furthermore, your ideas, as we understand them, appear to contemplate the intermarriage of the Negro and White races, a concept which has heretofore been most repugnant to most normal-minded people from the ancient partiarchs till now. God's rule for Israel, His Chosen People, has been endogamous [meaning 'marriage within a specific tribe or similar social unit']. Modern Israel has been similarly directed.

"We are not unmindful of the fact that there is a growing tendency, particularly among some educators, as it manifests itself in this are, toward the breaking down of race barriers in the matter of intermarriage between whites and blacks, but it does not have the sanction of the Church and is contrary to Church doctrine.

"Faithfully yours,

[signed]

George Albert Smith
J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
David O. McKay

The First Presidency"

(John J. Stewart and William E. Bennett, Mormonism and the Negro," [Orem, Utah: Community Press, 1960], pp. 46-47; see also, http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/neither/neither2.htm and http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/response/general/Blacks_Priesthood_Pyle.htm )

_____

Lowry followed up with another letter to the First Presidency, dated 8 October 1947, in which he expressed his disappointment with the Mormon Church's officially, blatantly racist position, expressing his conclusions as follows:

“The attitude of the Church in regard to the Negro makes me very sad. I do not believe God is a racist.”

The First Presidency replied:

“We feel very sure that you are aware of the doctrines of the Church. They are either true or not true. Our testimony is that they are true. Under these circumstances we may not permit ourselves to be too much impressed by the reasonings of men, however well founded they may seem to be. We should like to say this to you in all sincerity, that you are too fine a man to permit yourself to be led off from the principles of the Gospel by worldly learning.

"You have too much of a potentiality for doing good and we therefore prayerfully hope that you can re-orient your thinking and bring it in line with the revealed Word of God.” (Stewart and Bennett, "Mormonism and the Negro," p.28)

_____

What other proof is needed than that from the Mormon "prophets'" own "official" mouths, demonstrating beyond doubt that the LDS Church is an embarrassingly bigoted, backwater cult?

I've been speaking, arguing is more like it, with a Mormon who is black, (he says brown), which is okay by me, he brought it up. I don't really care. I need to stop being surprised (or revolted, or nauseous, or rupulsed) by what people like this say about the church they love.

This guy was studying for the ministry in what he calls 'protestant cults' (his favorite name for anyone who is not Mormon or Catholic. When he felt they were preparing him to preach to his people, (blacks), he became so offended he went looking for a church that would accept him. He found it in the Mormon Church. Been a member for twenty plus years. I also was at that time, I mean over 20 years ago. I asked why he would be a member of such a rascist church, and he responded (in caps, no less, which really startled me, but I found out that means screaming in webspeak). I'm used to that now.

He screamed (I guess) "don't you dare play the race card". Then went on to tell me even though he couldn't receive the priesthood, he had all the benefits of it without the responsibility. I mean, did he give thought to what he had said? I just don't understand why everyone doesn't run right down to the nearest branch and sign up, know what I mean. He probably hasn't figured that out either.

Pres. Hinckley claims that Mormon racism is "all behind us". And maybe it is. But even if it is, there is still a big problem those investigating the church must grapple with, and it is one unacknowledged by Pres. Hinckley and all church defenders.

What I mean is that the current defense of the (sometimes viciously) racist comments made by past church leader seems to consist of a claim that, "well, they were men of their time, and these comments were nothing out of the ordinary back...we can't judge him by today's standards...".

But as is so often the case with these defenses, there is something terribly self-undermining with this. What REALLY does it mean that the views of self-proclaimed oracles of God on a moral point affecting the lives of millions upon millions of fellow human beings, was in fact exactly the same as most others of the time - totally racist and very much at ease with legal discrimination (even slavery)? Think about this, my investigator friends. What does that really mean?

Does it really make sense for the church to claim that certain men have superior access to the truth of heaven, but then deny that they should be evaluated as if that were the case, but rather, as though they were no more or less able to access that light than any other man?

NO. Like so much else in the church, it makes no sense.

The church claims NOT that its leaders have as much ability to know righteousness and truth from God as any other man, but that they have vastly superior access to the perfect mind and direction of the embodiment of all truth, virtue, and eternal righteousness himself, Jesus Christ, so much so that leaders guarantee that Jesus will not allow them to "lead the church astray". So, let me see if I understand this: they must be obeyed as though they had superior access to divine revelation, yet should be evaluated in effect as though they were atheists. Huh?

We're supposed to believe they are prophets, seers, and revelators (!) at the same time we're supposed to not bat an eye when they come up about even with Pope Pius, Father Coughlin, the local plumber, Ty Cobb, and everyone else? It's nuts! How long can we believe that Joey's a math prodigy when he never gets any better grades than anyone else?

Think about it - the belief that blacks represent a lower order of human was the justification for legislation and behaviour that DIRECTLY AFFECTED the lives of millions of our fellow human beings in the most horrific of ways. How can past GA's by and large aligning themselves with this view, which most definitely influenced how Mormons voted and acted, NOT be considered a case of "leading the church astray", when this view is NOW claimed to have NEVER been right by MODERN GA's?

Now, when it is so popular to proclaim a belief in the innate moral equality of all humans, the church does so - but when it was not, the church didn't. GBH can say, "it's all behind us". But what is behind the church, on this issue, is behaviour which very much suggests that Mormon church leaders either have no greater access to revelation from Jesus Christ than anyone else, or ignore it. Either way, that in turn raises serious questions about the claims that the church itself makes about itself.

Another way of looking at this is: If Brigham and JS and D. McKay and all the rest REALLY were prophets of God unable to lead the church astray, why SHOULD their racist teachings be "all behind us"? Why?

If unable to lead the church astray, their teachings - made in general conference, published in church magazines, etc. - should be regarded still as expressions of divine omniscience and judgement. Right?

There is no way around this. If current prophets are right about race, then past prophets in fact DID lead the church astray on this "moral issue", which means modern GA's are presently leading the church astray with claims that GA's can't lead the church astray, which suggests strongly the church is not what it claims;

BUT

If past prophets did NOT lead the church astray with their many teachings on race, then the current disavowal of the idea that behaviour in the pre-existence influenced our "station on earth", and that no one should harbour any opinion that one race is morally superior innately to another, means that modern GA's ARE leading the church astray by preaching false doctrine on an issue fundamental to life on this planet, which also suggests the church is not what it claims.

So, maybe racism is in fact "all behind" the church. But that's not the point. What is, is that the church's advocacy and denial of certain doctrines pertaining to race is just another example of how its own history detonates the church's own claims for itself.

What I think Pres. Hinckley and all the rest might really mean by saying the "past is all behind us", is that they yearn for the obliteration of every last vestige of the past which appears to threaten the believability of its increasing unbelievable claims to authority.

This is a true story of a spoof I pulled off this morning while driving to work.

I was listening to Hot Ticket 700 AM and the John Wright Show this morning. It's talk radio and John Wright appears to be a rather liberal Mormon. I've never met him but he comes across as quite liberal.

He brought up Gladys Knight performing at Deseret Book this week and mentioned she had converted to Mormonism. John Wright asked his radio listeners these questions:

1. Why are LDS people in Utah embracing Gladys Knight now?

2. Is it because of her music or because she converted to the LDS Church?

3. Why didn't Utahns embrace her music prior to her conversion to the LDS Church?

I grabbed my cell phone and John Wright took my brief comments. Here's the conversation:

John: Hello, what's your take on this?

cricket: LDS people embrace Gladys and her music because they are totally bored and feel stagnant with the standard fare. They are starving and desperate for some life in the Church.

John: So you think Gladys livens life up for them?

cricket: Yes John, in fact I have a strong testimony that Gladys Knight is the only true and living singer of modern Mormon gospel on the planet and I say this in the name of......

John: Oh great, that's funny, a testimony that Gladys is only true and living gospel singer on the planet. Thanks for the call...chuckle.

End of conversation:

What I should have said is that Gladys was embraced by Gordy and the boys as a PR stunt to help mainstream the Mormon Church. A black woman, no less! The Brethren are trying to scream to the world, "We're not totally weird bigots and good ol' boys here!"

Actually if conversion rates had remained high in the late 1970's, they would have remained bigots and good 'ol boys but their racism was getting in the way of growth.

I'm Black and a member of "the church" and it was very difficult en painfull.But I know that the gospel is true and people are stupid and sometime full of hate against Blacks. But if the "Gospel" is true why turn your back against the church.I have decided to believe in the lord and follow his light and work hard on my self and my children to become people of GOD and there will be a time the lord will explain me the true story about blacks, but I think in the time of B. Young the accepted norm was hate against Blacks. - 11/20/2004 - B.Ceder

I urge anyone who has questions to go to a reputable website, like www.blacklds.org, where it has explanations from Black Latter-Day Saints. It is easy for people to say "Yeah, Mormons are racist and hypocrites, and only do things because it's convenient for them" when they don't actually do research from actual Mormons, or reputable sources, only from sources that have limited knowledge of why things happen, or people who are angry and just want to vent.

My husband, who is a convert, was very upset when he found out about the Priesthood Ban, and was about to leave the Church, (and he's white) but I urged him to read not just things written by disgruntled people, but Church Leaders, and Black members themselves.

Go to www.blacklds.org, and read for yourself the different articles there, that have very good sources, and have people who have experienced both sides of the issue. The Latter-Day Saints have never claimed that their leaders are perfect- but that the gospel principles are basic, and if followed, will bring joy and happiness to people. Please go to that website, www.blacklds.org, and see for yourself if your answers cannot be answered by some of the articles written there. - 11/042004 - Anon

I want those people, of all races, reading these passages to be aware of a few things.

First, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-Day Saints. My husband is black and we have three beautiful children we are raising in the church. Unlike other commentaries on this site, I will not lump all Mormons into one category.

I will, however, share my experience, from my ward. No other religious organization that I have attended shows more love, kindness, charity, or respect to my family. The bishop has embraced and encouraged my husband to fully partake of his priesthood callings. My son holds the priesthood and passes the sacrament. We are accepted and loved, not more so or as "token" members, but as any other member of our ward would be.

There are "blemishes" in the church history, but isn't that true with all organizations? I encourage you, as I was encouraged by church leaders, to prayerfully study scriptures then ask for guidance you will need to understand where you should be, not from man, but from personal revelations. You are a child of God, and thus entitled to his guidance. Don't rely on man with all of our imperfections. Go straight the source and ask for yourself. - 09/12/2004 - anon

I am the mother of three LDS African American Children. I grew up LDS and know the history of the Church concerning African American males and holding the priesthood. I have to admit that I don't fully understand this history. I also clearly remember when the position of the Church changed on African American men holding the priesthood.

I remember it was a time of rejoicing within the Church. I grew up in the Caribbean and had the opportunity to visit many different churches. Most of the chuches were wonderful places, but were missing the completeness of the gospel. I pray each and every day that persons of every race and color will find the love and completness of this gospel. It takes a brave, confident and faithful person of color to overlook the societal pressures of being Mormon. Many mormons, especially women, have grown up in a tight knit community without the wonderful experience of developing deep and meaningful friendships with people of other races or religions. I'm convinced after living and attending the LDS church througout the U.S.A. that the members are loving, kind, accepting Christians.

My husband, who is an African American priesthood holder was a baptist before joining the church. He has said many times that he's never met more charitable, kind, loving people in his life. The African American/Priesthood history of the Church is something that many members don't understand. We just know that the Gospel is true and faith in any religion is not something anyone has all the answers to, that's why it's called faith. As we Mormons like to say; "Line upon line, precept on precept." I hope that I will gain a full knowledge and faith in this controversial topic within my religion. All we know is, we are a Mormon family of color and we love the church.

Maybe my family can help change the image of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. - 08/01/2004 - anon

My name is Henry L. Sanders. I am a 23 year old African-American male. I'm from Shreveport, LA (currently living in Rancho Cucamonga, CA). I joined the church in May of this year. I was aware of the past history of the church, but I say that was then and this is now!

I love the church and have gained many great friends because of it. I am one of two black members, but I don't let race get to me like most people I know. I believe that the church is true and that truth overcomes all. Some blacks may call me a sellout for joining a "white church", but who cares?!

I'm still a cool black dude. I'm still the same Henry that loves rap and girls, just different spiritually. I know the truth now. To all the black Mormons out there, I hope my testimony helps you. - 07/21/2004 - from henrytroy2003@yahoo.com

Unfortunately I was one of the African American that joined and was bamboozled. I am not from overseas and not poor. I believed all the hype and did not find out about the priesthood ban until I was in the church about a year.

The ward I was in (the tri state area of New York, New Jersey and Penn had a few African Americans) The eye opener was at stake conference when I could count the number of blacks on one hand. However I stayed it was more social than anything because I some of the best friends I ever made.

Now that I think about it no matter how much I worked and served I would never be like the rest of the club. I had my church friends and then my African American family I was suspended between two worlds. I thought the mission would make me totally LDS so I went. The church however never set well with my family. My parents would came to my mission farewell and and talks I gave at church because they wanted to support me all the time my mother was praying please get my daughter out of that church.

I moved below the Mason Dixion line and got a taste of true racism in the church a sister in my ward called me colored and I did know whether to slap her or tell her off I just walked away. I was in the church 15 years I just resigned and now I feel free and I can be who I am an American woman.

You would be suprised about how many African American Mormons there are. We all kind of sought each other out. I have friends in the church in the New York area (black men who are college educated and in the church) They are not happy both are married to sisters (black women who do not tolerate the church) although the missionaries are constantly trying to convert their wives. At least when I was there (up north) there was a member in the Stake presidency who is African American (I always told him you sound like a preacher to me) I think most who join like me eventually find their way out.

Its the best decision that I have made in years as I repair the damage it did to my family.

The Lard works in mysterious ways. According to this account (by a faithful Latter-day Saint, as far as I can tell), a subpoena against SWK in connection with a lawsuit filed by a couple of black boy scouts was one of the leading factors that led to Spencer W. Kimball working up his "revelation" to lift the ban on blacks.

http://www.geocities.com/solmes.geo/aam-francis-m-gibbons.html

That plus the fact that conversions in Brazil were exploding and virtually all of the local Brazilian leaders probably had some African ancestry.

(See LeGrand Richards interview linked below:)

http://spires.net/contemporary/richards.html

So is this how God's Prophets, Seers and Revelators get revelation from God? Subpoenas? Embarrassment? Stupid doctrines slamming head-on into the brick wall of reality? Playing catch-up with the moral sensibilities of secular society?

TBMs (True Believing Mormons) think it's inspiring. I can think of other adjectives...

The Church's policy of excluding blacks from the priesthood had stood against all attempts at reform during the civil rights movement. But then things happened to Brigham Young University's basketball program in the 1970s.

During a game at Colorado State University, a Molotov cocktail was tossed onto the court to protest the antiblack LDS tenets. A Stanford University official declared that if the B.Y.U. team ever wanted to play Stanford again, the Mormon Church would have to "reinterpret God's word and establish doctrines compatible with Stanford's policies."

Shortly following this statement, Stanford indeed canceled all scheduled sports events with B.Y.U., not just its basketball games. In fact, the Western Athletic Conference nearly disbanded over the furor.

Additionally, anti-Mormons urged for boycotts of recordings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the cancellation of vacations to Utah. The NAACP initiated several lawsuits against Mormon Boy Scout troops, charging that church policy was foisting racism on minority Scouts. Worst of all, the IRS suggested that the racial policies of the Mormon Church might justify a suspension of its tax-exempt status.

Several professional consulting firms which the church had previously hired for other matters suggested to church leaders that they reconsider the status of blacks in the Mormon Church as part of a major overhaul of church policy.

Finally, on June 9, 1978, the Mormon President Spencer W. Kimball announced to the Saints that he had received a new revelation which ended the ban on blacks in the priesthood. "That same revelation came to his counselors and to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Temple, and then it was presented to all of the other General Authorities who approved it unanimously," stated Kimball. This revelation is known to Mormons as The Second Great Accomodation

Follow me into the main entrance lobby of the Latter Day Saint - Mormon Family History Library.

You will see a prominent display of Bill Cosby's profile and personal family genealogy.

The LDS Church makes it a practice of researching prominent and famous individuals personal and family genealogy. This research is attractively compiled and presented to these famous people on Television shows and upon their visits to Salt Lake City.

Are there any ulterior motives behind such efforts? Is this a blatant effort by the Mormons to appear mainstream Christian and non-racist?

Did Bill Cosby know about this display and give his permission to the Mormons? If Mr. Cosby knew about the racist history of Mormon doctrine, would he give such permission?

My TBM (True Believing Mormon) parents asked me if I wanted to attend the annual Mo Tab christmas concert at the Conference Center on Saturday night. I didnt have plans so I agreed. I met my parents near Temple Square and we proceeded over to the great and spacious building (Conference Center, or as some refer to it, the Meganacle). The concert featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square, along with some featured soloists.

All was progressing nicely and as expected. Somewhere about 2/3rds through the concert they did a series of pieces titled "Christmas Around the World". Perhaps they are attempting to show that they are culturally diverse. the first piece in this series was a Caribbean Carol and they featured the "Pan Jam Steel Drum Band".

When I saw this in the program I thought "Cool, they are going to actually have a steel drum band, this could be good", but when the band came out to perform, they were exceedingly white and delightsome. Definately from nowhere near the Caribbean, but perhaps from somewhere in the vicinity of BYU. The Mo Tab actually attempted to sound Calypso! I personnaly thought that the Mo Tab should stick to their genre of being a Choir.

They had a few more pieces from "Around the World", bringing on the Utah Pipe Band to do an English carol, and so on. Then came a song titled "Betelehemu", a Nigerian Carol. African drums appeared on stage, but were there any Nigerians to beat said drums? No, just a bunch of pasty white guys again. The choir pretended to get in the mood, swaying to the beat of the white man drums, and pretend clapping.

The audience went wild, they loved it! Some even stood up in ovation! I sat in my seat and refused to clap. If you're going to do a Nigerian carol, with African drums, the least you could do was get some African Americans up there to beat those drums. So much for cultural diversity.

After the concert my mom asked me if I liked it. She said, "The African song was the best I thought". I said, "Well except they had a bunch of white guys up there beating on those African drums."

Oh well, what was I to expect?

Click image to hear Mike Wallace interview Gordon Hinckley about Blacks and the Priesthood. created by Paul Maughan and Pat McKitrick

Black Mormons & The Priesthood-ban is available via Sam Weller's books. - 03/14/2003 from Darrick Evenson

Although not overt, this reference says ragtime/jazz is "savage"... interesting since jazz has long been seen as black music. Hint that blacks were seen as savage.

'No music is as sweet as religious compositions; none is so majestic, so inspiring. Martial music stirs up the animal in man. So called "ragtime" breeds frivolity, and appeals to the vulgar. Set to sacred text, it may produce a sensation of distressing incongruity. "Jazz" is an abomination, an evidence of recrudescence of savagery.'

"Doctrine and Covenants Commentary" by Janne M. Sjodahl with a introduction by Hyrum M. Smith of the Council of the Twelve Apostles (1951). It's in a footnote written (probably by Sjodahl) in reference to section 25 vs. 12. - 09/19/2003 - from anon (thanks to Dimmesdale recovery board)

"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. Trace mankind down to after the flood, and then another curse is pronounced upon the same race-that they should be the 'servant of servants;' and they will be, until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree. How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them? That curse will remain upon them, and they never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the keys thereof. Until the last ones of the residue of Adam's children are brought up to that favorable position, the children of Cain cannot receive the first ordinances of the Priesthood." - 09/19/2003 - anon

Well now you will hear "the rest of the story" the LDSchurch had just completed a multi million dollar temple in South America... when the government of the country heard that a major portion of their own people would not be allowed to partake after dedication, since the s.am. people are so racially mixed...the government officials threatened to keep the temple from opening..I think it was in Brazil but not sure any more..I was told this by a g.a.'s son in the army in vietnam. anyway...faced with this dilemma, the PROFIT had the very "timely" "revelation" wow...how timely God was ....??????? LOL - 09/05/2003 - anon

Mormons (at least this prophet) teach that Christ's atonement "payed the debt" for "original sin" but there's a funny little clause attached to this doctrine.

According to Mormon Doctrine, we are not punished for Adam's transgressions, but some are born into this world with other sins they committed in the pre-existence. These born-sinners for example, get black skin and are born as the descendants of Cain.

"It is one of the most abominable, cruel and unreasonable doctrines that Satan ever introduced into this world to lay at the door of innocent, helpless babies, a sin which they never committed. Jesus Christ paid the debt for "original sin," or the bringing of death into the world. No other soul ever born, or that may yet be born, will be charged with any taint because of Adam's Fall. Jesus Christ came and paid that debt, and the sprinkling or touching the body of a baby with water to cleanse it from original sin, and to condemn it to "limbo," and deny it the mercies of the Lord if it is not so touched or sprinkled, comes close to being an unforgivable sin. Spirits who have received the privilege of coming to this earth had their agency in that spirit world. Some of them failed because of rebellion and were cast out with Lucifer. Others were not valiant and therefore came into this world under some restriction, and the Lord deals with them according to their works." - Joseph fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Volume 2, Page 178

"There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantage. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient, more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less.... There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits." -Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.1, pages 66-67

So yes, in the Mormon world the atonement covers the sins of Adam's fall, but babies are still born black and get treated like inferiors.

Doesn't Mormon Doctrine teach that all righteous people will be resurrected as white Caucasians like God the Father is?

Are people born to other races because of something they did (or didn't do) in the pre-existence?

Were women "less valiant" in the pre-existence and so are denied the priesthood here?

Were gays "less valiant" in the pre-existence, so they deserve getting mistreated here?

Were Mormon leaders "more valiant" in the pre-existence and so deserve our honors and obedience?

Sounds like a Mormon caste system to me.

Ahhh, but there's more... Joseph Fielding Smith also said:

"That the negro race, for instance, have been placed under restrictions because of their attitude in the world of spirits, few will doubt."

But wait, lets toss a few crumbs to the poor negro: "If they prove faithful in this estate . . . there will be in store for them some blessings of exaltation."

The Way to Perfection, pp. 43-44

But that sweetheart of Mormon tolerance, Bruce R. McKonkie, elaborated even further: "The race and nation in which men are born in this world is a direct result of their pre-existent life. All the spirit hosts of heaven deemed worthy to receive mortal bodies were foreordained to pass through this earthly probation in the particular race and nation suited to their needs, circumstances, and talents. . . . Not only Israel but all groups were thus foreknown and their total memberships designated in the pre-mortal life." Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 616

And what is the Negro after? McConkie informs us clearly: "I think I have read enough to give you an idea of what the Negro is after. He is not just seeking the opportunity of sitting down in a cafe where white people eat. He isn't just trying to ride on the same streetcar or the same Pullman car with white people. It isn't that he just desires to go to the same theater as the white people. From this, and other interviews I have read, it appears that the Negro seeks absorption with the white race. He will not be satisfied until he achieves it by intermarriage. That is his objective and we must face it. We must not allow our feelings to carry us away, nor must we feel so sorry for Negroes that we will open our arms and embrace them with everything we have." Race Problems -- As They Affect The Church Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, August 27, 1954 http://www.lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml

Not to be left out, of course, are the thoughts of that cuddly curmudgeon of Mormon equality - ETB: "First of all, we must not place the blame upon Negroes. They are merely the unfortunate group that has been selected by professional Communist agitators to be used as the primary source of cannon fodder." - EZRA TAFT BENSON - General Conference Report, October 1967, p. 38 www.lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml

So there you have it from the Lord's annointed: blacks (negroes), and all other than white races, are born into their respective circumstances due to a less than desirable performance in the pre-existence. They are susceptible to being communist dupes, and have a secret agenda to meld into the white race.

These are not the remote blatherings of a JS or BY, these are the holy spoken and written pronouncements of prophets speaking in our day and time.

As a matter of Honor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints should apologize to all people of African (black) descent for calling them "cursed", "unworthy" and "less faithful" for such a long time. - 05/11/2003 - from gqdr77

Thank you very much for your informative website. It helped me get informed about the Blacks issue in the Mormon Church. I'm a convert to the Church (baptized at eight 'coz my mom joined when I was young) and served a mission for the LDS Church at 19-21. The blacks issue was a persistent stumbling block for potential black investigators, as well as a lot of thinking non-blacks. However, I couldn't get proper and intelligent historical information from the LDS Church itself.

The blacks issue bothered me a lot, until I found your website and found out more about it. Perhaps the Church should apologize officially to the blacks? (But then I guess that would call into question divine inspiration and LDS authority, so I guess the LDS Church won't apologize unless this issue really becomes a major concern in the future for the majority of new investigators who may find this and polygamy crucial points. - 05/05/2003 - giordandelros

A few years ago, when Arizona was agitating over whether to approve a state-paid holiday honoring the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., I decided to take my children to pro-King rallies and parades. (This became a family practice until efforts succeeded, with us bundling up the children on nippy January mornings, gathering our large and small American flags and pictures of the slain civil rights leader, and heading into Phoenix's city center, where we chanted and sang and held hands with strangers, joined together in the cause. We also participated in similar gatherings in Mesa, AZ, where the city council had turned down a King day).

After returning home from one such rally, I got a phone call from my mother, asking how we were doing. I told her I had taken our youngest daughter to a King Day rally, where I had carried her on my shoulders as we marched with the throng in support of the holiday.

My mother replied: "Oh, Stephen, you know your grandfather would not have approved of that. You need to respect your grandfather."

My grandfather, by the way, was by then dead. (--Sigh--) We shall overcome.

this is a joke. you know this is not true. i am black and am not a member but know this is not true, i have white member friends and know for a fact this is not true - 10/22/2002 - anon
Editor's Note: Sadly and unfortunately all of what is posted below is true. If only it were just a "bad joke?" The racist history of the LDS Church remains one of its ugliest skeletons in the closet.

The Mormon Church is now showing a TV commercial that shows a black family and some friends sitting around on a porch having a birthday party. They are laughing and reminiscing together. Then it ends, saying "this message has been brought to you by the mormons."

The church has a lot of nerve advertising to black people after it's long history of racism. I found this commercial disgusting.

I was just now pondering the morning's posts about SWK when light as bright as the noonday Sun filled my cubicle. Then a warm feeling began to grow in my bosom and down to my thighs. I awoke from my vision with a start as my supervisor yelled, "What the hell is a 'Recovery Board'?!" Realizing I had been in a daydream, I reached for the nearest copy of "The Other Testament of JC" and began blotting the hot coffee I had spilled all over my "bosom".

As soon as my super cleared out, I wrote down this revelation: Mormons still believe that Blacks were justifiably cursed for thousands of years, even if the definition of "Blacks" is very hard to nail down. In all seriousness, folks, this realization struck me again today as I was thinking about the Trent Lott/Strom Thurmond issues and recalling the themes of the old books that many TBMs still have on their shelves. Just like the old-guard senators, many old-guard TBMs quietly harbor old prejudices.

My in-laws are the epitome of old-guard TBM, with the bigotry of the Deep South mixed in for good measure. They have AAALLLL of those loathsome old books on their shelves: from Doctrines of Salvation, Mormon Doctrine (old version), The Great Apostasy, through Cleon Skousen and on down to the Ludlow gunk. I submit that people who have read and believed all that stuff still believe concepts such as:

Celestial realm for Whites only.

Blacks were the "less valiant souls" in the preexistence who grudgingly came along just to get a body.

"Lamanites" will gradually become light-skinned as they repent and embrace the 'god-spell'.

Cain is a black man who still roams the earth wishing he could die.

The fact that these beliefs still exist below the radar or recollection of recent converts and today's crop of missionaries practically gives me hives! This topic should not be allowed to be pressed beneath the slick veneer of the new-age Morg platform.

Oh no, here comes my supervisor again!

It seemed damned convenient to me that SWK suddenly gets this revelation out of the clear blue. I now live in the South and I see blacks are a whole lot better treated than they were in SLC. - 01/04/2003 - Larryy Reynolds

The late LDS Apostle, Bruce R. McConkie described these events of 1978 thus: After this meeting, which was one of great spiritual uplift and enlightenment, all of the brethren except those in the Presidency and the Twelve were excused. . . . . . .This session continued for somewhat more than two hours. Then President Kimball suggested that we unite in formal prayer ....

"It was during this prayer that the revelation came. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon us all; we felt something akin to what happened on the day of Pentecost and at the Kirtland Temple. From the midst of eternity, the voice of God, conveyed by the power of the Spirit, spoke to his prophet. The message was that the time had now come to offer the fulness of the everlasting gospel, including celestial marriage, and the priesthood, and the blessings of the temple, to all men, without reference to race or color, solely on the basis of personal worthiness. And we all heard the same voice, received the same message, and became personal witnesses that the word received was the mind and will and voice of the Lord.

"President Kimball's prayer was answered and our prayers were answered. He heard the voice and we heard the same voice. All doubt and uncertainty fled. He knew the answer and we knew the answer ....

"In the days that followed the receipt of the new revelation, President Kimball and President Ezra Taft Benson-the senior and most spiritually experienced ones among us-both said, expressing the feelings of us all, that neither of them had ever experienced anything of such spiritual magnitude and power as was poured out upon the Presidency and the Twelve that day in the upper room in the house of the Lord. And of it I say: It is true; I was there; I heard the voice; and the Lord be praised that it has come to pass in our day. "(Priesthood, pp. 127-128, Deseret Book Co., 1981 ).

For LeGrand Richards point of view click here: LeGrand Richards Interview

I live in South America and I'm amazed at the number of people associated with or interested in the LDS church that do not know about the previous ban against priesthood for African Americans. South Americans tend to be very racially mixed, before 1978 this would have excluded many, many South American men from holding the priesthood. I marvel that South Americans are flocking to the LDS church when it's perspective, historically, has been so gringo.

Select Mormon scriptures revealing God's racial prejudice.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 11:13 (Mary) ". . . she was exceedingly fair and white."
1 Nephi 12:23 (Prophecy of Lamanites after Christ) ". . . became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations."
1 Nephi 13:15 (Gentiles) ". . . they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people [Nephites] before they were slain."
2 Nephi 5:21 ". . . a sore cursing . . . as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them."
2 Nephi 30:6 (Prophecy to Lamanites) ". . . scales of darkness shall begin to fall . . . they shall be a white and delightsome people." (Changed to pure and delightsome in 1981)
Jacob 3:5 (Lamanites cursed) ". . .whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins. . ."
Jacob 3:8-9 ". . .their skins will be whiter than yours . . . revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins . . ."
Alma 3:6 ". . . skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion. . ."
Alma 3:8 (Cursed) ". . .that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren . . .that they might not mix . . ."
Alma 3:9 ". . . whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed."
Alma 3:14 (Lamanites cursed) ". . . set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed. . ."
Alma 3:19 (Amlicites cursed) ". . . brought upon themselves the curse ..."
Alma 23:18 ". . . [Lamanites] did open a correspondence with them [Nephites] and the curse of God did no more follow them."
3 Nephi 2:14-16 ". . . Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites . . . became exceedingly fair . . ."
3 Nephi 19:25, 30 (Disciples) ". . . they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness . . . nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof . . . they were white, even as Jesus."
Mormon 5:15 (Prophecy about Lamanites) ". . .shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us . . ."
Mormon 5:17 "They were once a delightsome people . . ."

Pearl of Great Price

Moses 7:8 ". . . a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan . . ."
Moses 7:12 ". . . Enoch continued to call upon all the people, save it were [except] the people of Canaan, to repent . . ."
Moses 7:22 ". . . for the seed of Cain were black and had not place among them." Abraham 1:21 ". . . king of Egypt [Pharaoh] was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth."
Abraham 1:27 ". . . Pharaoh being of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood . . ."

The legacy of Mormon racism lives on here in the South in a pecular way. The Mormon church did not grow here much until after WWII. The primary foundation of the Mormon church in the South developed during the late 1950's and 1960's when the church espoused a fanatically racist view. The majority of converts were at least tolerant of this position if not attracted by it as were transplants from the West.

Oddly, few left when the Revelation came in 1978 extending Priesthood to the Blacks. But there was much grumbling and anger and a real sense of betrayal beneath the surface. After that, a sort of selection process transpired as the next generation of leaders gradually took their place at the head of the congregations. Only leaders who were able to make the conceptual transistion smoothly from hatred of Blacks to denial of all such bigotry survived. This involved massive self deception and selective memory loss. Today these leaders swallow any idiotic idea as long as it appea! rs to have prophetic approval, even if it isn't from the Prophet. They don't think, remember, learn, verify, evaluate, lead, or stand up for anything. They only obey. They are not even very religious. And the big boys in Salt Lake wonder why the local leaders here lack the vision, or capacity to solve their own problems.

Meanwhile, Black folks have gotten rather independent (uppity), they have not forgotten who was on which side during the Civil Rights movement and Mormonism holds little appeal for most of them. Except those who see a free lunch at the trough of church welfare. Racism wins in the end when white Mormon children now see only stereotypically lazy shiftless dull Black Mormons at church and assume that these are the best the Black race has to offer while ignoring the praiseworthy accomplishments of other Black folks in the community.

Why is it that in the book of mormon, that every race is cursed besides that of white american.
And how can the book of mormon be true when it keeps changing it's views. If one thing is wrong , why shouldn't people believe that the whole book is wrong. - 03/06/2002 - from weslakia@yahoo.com

How wonderful it must be, to be a part of a religion which changes and adapts its doctrine to meet the socio-economical demands of the day. Yet, if one aspect of LDS doctrine can be changed, how solid is the foundation upon which the Mormon church rests? I imagine it must be terrifying to be a Mormon, knowing that those foundational truthes upon which the religion rests are not solid like concrete, but, rather, are fluid, and fluctuate just like the "all mighty" dollar. - 02/18/2002 - anon

We were told that if a man had even one ancestor who was from Africa; that man could not hold the priesthood, even if all the other N ancestors were not African.

I heard of a Sunday School president in one ward or branch in Sao Paulo (Helio do Rocha Camargo was a bishop at that time) who had found he had an ancestor from Africa when doing his genealogy. He voluntarily(?) stopped using the priesthood and held only positions that did not require it.

I became a good friend with a member who could not hold the priesthood. Gelio was in his late twenties, a humble and most honest person. He sometimes would tell us how disheartened he felt knowing that he had not been faithful before this life, and wondered how God could possibly love him. Gelio shot and killed himself two months after I was transferred to another city.

How stupid we were.

After the church did an about-face and granted the priesthood to the blacks McConkie responded to questions with:
"..it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world."

"...it erases all the darkness and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don't matter any more."

"It doesn't make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June of this year (1978). It is a new day and a new arrangement, and the Lord has now given the revelation that sheds light into the world on this subject. As to any slivers of light or any particles of darkness of the past, we forget about them." ("All Are Alike Unto God," by Apostle Bruce R. McConkie of the Council of the Twelve, pp. 1-2)

Interesting - McConkie considers all the multitude of past statements by himself and other living prophets on the subject of priesthood for the blacks to now be "darkness" and mere "slivers of light."

Got a problem with that? Then "G E T I N L I N E!"

Click on the link to learn how missionaries related to blacks in Brazil. Owen West. He is the webmaster of Questions to Gospel Answers.

The following letter to the editor was published in the Salt Lake Tribune on Sunday, April 22, 2001 . The "Bruce Olsen" referred to is the head of public relations for the LDS Church.

"I was quite surprised by LDS PR man Bruce Olsen's attack on Kathy Erickson's allegations regarding the Mormon church's motivations for abandoning its anti-black doctrine (Forum, April 5). His bold assault is particularly amazing in light of the fact that history "distortion" and "invention" have been trademarks of Mormonism since its inception. Of course, the risk in Mr. Olsen's gallant tossing of the gauntlet is that someone might just pick it up.

For example, it didn't take much investigation to discover that in 1981 the Solicitor General of the United States, Rex Lee, a Mormon, recused himself from a case against Bob Jones University. In that case, the U.S. government was threatening to revoke Bob Jones University's tax-exempt status because of its racist policy of prohibiting interracial dating. When asked why he took himself off the case, Mr. Lee explained that previously when representing the Mormon church in a similar case, he had argued that the church should retain its tax-exempt status despite its racist policies and felt conflicted from arguing an opposing view in the Bob Jones case. (See, The Tenth Justice, Lincoln Caplan, Knopf, 1987, page 51, note 2 on page 293).

If the church's tax-exempt status was never threatened by the U.S. government because of its racist policies, why was Mr. Lee making such an argument, presumably in an era before 1978? Given Lee's explanation, Olsen's "categorical" assertion that federal tax law was never a motivating factor in the church's 1978 change in racial policy rings disingenuous. One thing true history teaches us is that secrecy breeds dishonesty.

It's fairly easy for Mr. Olsen to hide behind the tightly secured vaults in the Church Office Building and demand proof. If he was a true knight, he would throw open the doors to the vault and invite inquiring minds in to examine the minutes of meetings held by church leaders in the months and days leading up to the "revelation," so we might decide for ourselves the church's actual motivation for the change. What's that you say, Mr. Olsen? Salamander got your tongue?"
GARY ANDERSON
Springfield, Va.

Comment Section

Being White and knowing of the greatness that Whites have achieved makes me proud of my race. The problems of racial integration come from the scientific facts that only a White male and a White female can produce a White child. Because of intermarriage, within 200 years, the White Race may cease to exist. - 01/04/2014 - Jack Mormon

Elder Bruce R. McConkie stated in his first edition of Mormon Doctrine that the blacks/negro would never receive the priesthood. That comment was taken out in the second edition of Mormon Doctrine.

Elder McConkie stayed in my parents' house to release my Dad as Stake President. When asked about that statement in the first edition of Mormon Doctrine, Elder McConkie simply replied, "I was wrong."

Folks, it is time to get over this. - 12-22-2012 - Thomas

Being White and knowing of the greatness that Whites have achieved makes me proud of my race. The problems of racial integration come from the scientific facts that only a White male and a White female can produce a White child. Because of intermarriage, within 200 years, the White Race may cease to exist. - 03/05/2012 - Jack Mormon

I'd like to take this time to be completely honest with everyone and I do mean everyone. I am in fact white and my wife in fact is black and we are both faithful members married in a temple. My wife is sensitive to these things but she is not unreasonable either and if there really was as much "racism" in the church as most antimormons claim then she wouldn't be a member of it. NO ONE has EVER said ANYTHING about me and my wife at anytime. I've gotten questions of curiosity but they never had anything to do with being racist. I will concede that this should have been addressed a lot sooner than 1978 but at the same time I must let you all know something about my religion. Like every other religion, the people in my church are NOT perfect. All these misconceptions about racism and sexism all boil down to this fact. The church as an organization has never had doctrine stating that blacks could not have the priesthood and our woman don't stay home, pop out babies, knit, bake pies and craft knick knacks...unless of course they want too. So, what ever you believe, let the record be set straight, some people were and are racist now but that is all on them. Their mistakes and misconceptions about blacks and the priesthood (and anything else for that matter) are not a reflection of the core beliefs of my church...I've looked into this many times and I should know! I personally think that if you go purposefully looking for racism anywhere then you'll find it whether it's there or not.

Then again, all the liars and ones who would twist truth out there that try to argue and say that Joseph Smith said this or Brigham Young did that are nothing but haters. Undeniably, this is the bottom line and let me put it like this...If you had questions about a plugged pipe in your house would you call a PC Technician? NO? Why not? Because you'd need to call a plumber, that's why! So, if you REALLY TRULY want to know about the LDS then go ask a MORMON missionary or a MORMON bishop! Don't ask or get online and look up what a Catholic, Southern Baptist or Lutheran says about us because you WILL NOT get a straight answer. Go do your homework and ask someone who actually knows about us because obviously there are a lot of misinformed and mistaken people out there and I'm not talking about the one in my church. If you are not just on blogs like this to talk trash because you can and you actually want to know something then go to an LDS chapel next Sunday and ask, it's not hard. We have classes just for people who are investigating and if it's still not your thing then no harm done, just don't come back. Just try to at least learn the truth about these things when you are there so you are not spreading the lies, half-truths, misconceptions or whatever you want to call them. If things REALLY were the way you say then I wouldn't be a member myself. Like I said, I've gone through and check these things out already and you should too. - 04/26/2010 - Ignorance From All

First of all i am sooo ashamed to see such hate and ignorance!!!! I am have done the re-search and dug just as much if not way more about the LDS church and others. I have read about the claims of J. Smith the one of the churches Proph.s and many others about our race and the whites. J. smith was as human as any one else and was not perfect by any means what so ever. God may have asked him to do certain things but still gave J smith the free agency to make right or wrong choices his own mistakes. God did not take that away from him just because he asked him to do certain things. Let it be known that J smith had to go through judgement by God also but at the same time while on earth during his time also experiance free agency like everyone else. God works through everyone but just because he does, does not mean that person is perfect. God promised never to take somones free agency away but to give the same oppurtunity to all and he has not just as he did not with J Smith. Damn you all talk about not hating or not being raceist but you all have seemed to do nothing but have all the time in the world to bitch about Mormons and create a evil cult for all of you to be negative in. It seems to me you all just want what is convient to you and your lifes meaning if it does not float you boat or make you happy on your terms it's not worth it to you. That is sad. With all of this talking bad about the church you put time into you could have used it to help others and CHARITIES like the MORMONS do. They don't have time to speak bad or defend themsleves to ignorant people such as your selves but to put that time and effort into helping others and CHARITIES. I say that big becuase CAtrina Hurricane Mormons were the first to be called to help becuase they are always prepared to hlep and are well know to help any time somone is in need they have contributed more money and help all over Africa and many other countries then any other religion or star with money ever has. And if you did your research you would have know that. Look how you repay them. Don't mean to be rude if i have been it just hurts to see my brothers and sisters of my background breakdown. I love you all no matter what and will pray for you all. it just hurts to see how you have spoke so badly about the church and how bad they are when what you are complaining about is what you are doing back. The pot calling the kettle black. - 08/16/2009 - Devon

I heard that church was racists so they have to make up for the last over 148 years of Racism. So I feel I am non white but I will not join. This reverse it if it was Black Church racist against whites and also told them for over 148 years too did not want white to hold any leadership at the church then I ALSO WOULD NOT JOIN BECAAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO SUPPORT RACISM EITHER BLACK VS WHITE OR WHITE VS BLACK. I also do not want to support Racism against Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Baracial or others. I think also they just use the black Mormons for the one purpose to get more blacks Americans in the church. I know Africa the church is over 197,000 because Africa does not have acess to the proof and records of racist church is pasted. Black Americans here have it advantange they can look it up and research like I am doing. There are Muslim that are black and do not like whites either. I also do not support that. White Mormons also need to notice about blacks in the church. In the USA Blacks do not even make up 1 percent of the church they tend to be in the inner cities were the black familes are fallign apart. Jehovah Witness also had the thinking of thier teaching that are official that blacks are not equal and inferior. They also had separate Kingdom Halls in the deep south until late 1980s or even early 1990s. There group is over 50 percent NON WHITE BUT THEY TOOK A COUNT IN 1994 NON WHITE PEOPLE WERE HOLDING LEADERSHIP POSTION!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS STILL 16 YEARS AGO but when they did that survey!!!!!!!!! I DO NOT PERSONAL KNOW ANY BLACK MORMONS OR LDS BUT I KNOW PLENTY OF JEHOVA WITNESS.

I believe you need to know about the past just like we need to know the past of racism here in the USA. I think they Mormons do not answer why was the banned of Presithood in the first place. They always QUICK TO TELL YOU ABOUT HOW MANY BLACKS THEY HAVE NOW AND IN AFRICA BUT THEY DO NOT ADMITT THAT RACISM WAS IN THE MORMON BOOK AND MEMEBERS DO HAVE RACIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED!!! YET. I WHEN I JOIN A CHURCH I WANT TO KNOW THIER HISTORY IF IT IS NOT WANT I WANT OR AGREE WITH I WILL NOT JOIN THATS HOW JEHOVAH WITNESS IN THE LATE 70S EARLY 90 HAVE SEPARETED KINGDOM HALLS BUT IT IS JUST OTHER GROUPS THAT DENY THE RACISM IN THE FAITH. I WOULD NOT JOIN BECAUSE OF THE RACIST PAST AND DO NOT WANT TO CLEAN IT UP OR EVEN ADMITT OR BUT EVEN LIAR AND SAY THEY NEVER HAD IT AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN THEY KNOW PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH ARE RACIST AND BIOGOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! email: name: Kiki - 01/27/2009 - Kiki

Joseph, son of Jacob, married an Egyptian lady of high rank, which most likely was one of her birthrights as a literal true descendant of the pharoahs, which likely were descendants of Ham, a son of Noah, married Egyptus, descendant of Cain.

If Joseph's wife happened to have even "one one-hundred-and-sixth" drop of the genetic blood of Cain, and passing this bloodline to her sons Ephraim and Manasseh, and the great majority of LDS patriarchal blessings reveal that we are "of the tribe of Ephraim", therefore bearing the blood of Cain and the curses upon him. How then could we be ordained to the priesthoods, etc, prior to the 1978 "revelation" regarding Black Afro-Americans now being "pure and delightsome" and eligible for priesthood ordinations and other blessings? - 01/26/2009 - L. G. KIRKPATRICK

I'm an American Indian (a Lamanite, one the "cursed" people) and I love the church, regardless of its past. In my opinion, all of the questionable doctrines of the church came to fruition under one prophet. I had a black bishop when I was younger, and he was one of the smartest, kindest men I ever knew. I'm only one voice, and I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't see anything wrong with the church. Critics of the church are acting just as bigoted as those who they think "wronged" them. - 01/03/2009 - anon

This is the worst article I have ever seen concerning blacks and the priesthood. It is not based on fact nor prayer but an extremely bias and humorous battle for someone to waste with their time. Did not the Gentiles have no claim on the gospel or it's priesthood until after the appointed time of the Lord. Blacks and the Priesthood and this comparison do not completely coincide, since the New Testament example is harsher, but it gives us the point of view that God's ways are not ours. You can ask any member of the church if there was a hatred that existed before the revelation of Spencer W. Kimball and they will answer that there was instead a great love. In fact that love was what caused a lot of the early persecution and murder of the early saints because they knew in their heart that slavery was wrong, and opposed it. Because of their affiliation with African Americans and Native Americans they were seen as a threat and thrown from there homes and many more died. Remember that the whole nation saw the blacks as a cursed people and the Mormons were one of the few groups who extended their hand in brotherhood. What of the story of Joseph Smith taking in a former black slave as a daughter or giving his priced horse as ransom to the dept of a father who stole for his son's freedom. All I ask is that you read the actual revelation from Spencer W. Kimball and then humbly bow your head and ask God if it be true. The key is you must have a soft heart for how can water turned dry clay into mortar if unless the clay is not dry but ready the potters wheel. To put this article to scriptural sense, it is a wayside of which of when the seed fell it was not understood and the evil one came and removed the seed from them. - 6/08/2008 - Pray about it!

Thank you for a very enlightnening look at Mormonism over the years. I have worked with a few Mormons in the field of Human Service and have gotten into a few arguments because of their not-s-secret views on Blacks. They both carried an open belief that the population we served (poor Blacks) were pitiful, entitled, and incapable of self-sufficiency. (Two separate jobs, two different Mormons.)

When I'd question how this theory held up with my being Mormon A's boss at the one job, and one of a staff full of educated Black professionals at the other, they both gave the same dull, confused, mindless shrug. I shook Mormon B to the core, as she doubted her own racism and upbringing already. She wound up dating a Black, woman hating, self hating, republican man, who dumped her, but only after lots of consentual fornication. I hope she remembers she had the same results with her pure, White, Mormon brethren. - 12/06/2007 - oohcynthia

Elijah Abel did not get the priesthood! It's propaganda, so that people can believe that black weren't banned 100%! I find it funny, that his last name was "Abel" or that his first name was "Elijah". If you all do your homework you'd know that Abel is Cain's brother, and Elijah is the person who gave Joseph the restored priesthood! If you look at it that way, then you can see the lie. - 11/08/2007 - anon

you guys are morons. Go find something better to do with your time. - 10/30/2007 - Spider

My profit sayd that cain ib still alive on the eart today. I know dip ib true. My profit sayd he didnt take noas ark, but got thru the flood okay. Ip he wab sittin on the bottom ob the water for 40 days during the flood, he could ob easely walkd and walkd and walkd he way to japan, or africa, or salt lake. ip he had he wife and kids walkin with him under water, they coulda somehow got lost, they could ob ended up anywher. Ip ib hard to see under water witout gogles, and maybee they turned left at the giant clam. Farm modern cartoon sience we know that every once in a whiln ip they come up real fast and brethe thru a straw, they can get air. Till bumble bees block they straw. They made it to the american north west, and could hab had db cooper for dinner ip he landed on they barbeq wit he parashute, and they were fasting just before that or something. Later some ob he relatives got to other places too. My profit sayd all of gods childern can now be at our barbeq no matter ip they cains beatiful family or not. Dip ib why I love my profit. Dip ib in answe to your quesiens about cain. My profit sayd he ib still alive, and I hab a tesimonie dap he ib bigfoot. Hope dip help. - 08/03/2007 - MortimerKnavely

Very very enlightening. A couple of years ago the mormons came fishing around my neighborhood. Their missionaries so called. I knew who they really were because I had read their "book", gotten to the parts where it described the "good" and "bad" peoples of the world, saw it as just another white lie, tossed it in the garbage and dismissed them for the vulgar fakes they are. Thanks for the in-depth info. - 06/03/2007 - Kush

Shame on the LDS Church. The only color that God ever saw (or will ever see) was/is red, and that's the color of the blood on the cross. I am an exmo who is deeply ashamed that the Mormon Church should ever have treated black people so shabbily. Shame on them. - 12/14/2006 - LGC

The Mormon Faith and the Baha'i Faith have a similiar history but one they are drastically different faiths. As a Baha'i we recognize the insignificance of race, for race to be an issue in the Mormon chruch totally goes against some of the nice principles the I know in Mormonism.

I find it totally absurd to restrict back members from the priesthood simply because of thier race. This absurd and backward view was only reformed in 1978?? Unnaceptable. At that time even civil authorities have changed the laws, that is more forward thinking that the Church. The reasoning as I was able to read was because of some obscure interpretation that they were descendants of Cain??? Cain and Abel were brothers, they came from the same stock! What kind of reasoning is that? - 10/26/2006 - Bahai guy

I have to confirm racist attitudes still existing in the church in the south--I attended a ward in Kentucky in college for nearly four years (I quit going spring semester my senior year and became semi-active some time before that). During my junior year--would have been 2004--I heard one elderly gentleman criticizing a family moving in to the ward because they were an interracial black/white marriage, with children. Now this gentleman didn't appear to oppose blacks in the church so much as the fact that the family was interracial. I was greatly offended at the time (still am), and I'm not black. While he was an older man, the people he was talking with were not--they were middle-aged, forties-ish, and they agreed with him! - 08/19/2006 - phoenix rising