Prophets Wrong
Race and the Priesthood
Heavenly Father likes blacks enough to give them the priesthood under Joseph Smith but He decides they’re not okay when Brigham Young shows up. And He still doesn’t think they’re okay for the next 130 years and the next 9 prophets until President Kimball decides to get a revelation.
CES Letter, Page 65
Next Relevant Quote
President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: ‘The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have.’
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 premortal 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 mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.
The First Presidency
Along with the above First Presidency statement, there are many other statements and explanations made by prophets and apostles clearly “justifying” the Church’s racism. So, the 2013 edition Official Declaration 2 Header in the scriptures is not only misleading, it’s dishonest. We do have records – including from the First Presidency itself – with very clear insights on the origins of the ban on the blacks.
This is a dramatic statement that misrepresents church teachings.
The Gospel Topics essay "Race and the Priesthood" describes how cultural traditions apparently influenced a Church policy that has now been removed.
Brigham Young’s implementation of the restrictions over time were undoubtedly influenced by surrounding cultural norms. This does not excuse the ban, but it does provide context for the policy Brigham eventually implemented.
In 1978 through an official declaration from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, the priesthood ban was removed.
Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, a man responsible for vocalizing some of the Church’s justifications for a racial ban, denounced his own statements within months of the 1978 revelation. He told an audience at Brigham Young University to “[f]orget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young 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 was a statement that suggested prior teachings on race may have lacked “light and knowledge.”
The priesthood and temple restrictions were a trial for both white and black Latter-day Saints. In retrospect, it might seem like it was a needless trial that could have been easily remedied. However, the label of “needless” could be applied to many of the individual trials we each face daily.
While the trials associated with the priesthood ban were ultimately removed, dealing with its memory is a trial for many today.
Additional Resources:
FAIRMORMON: Mormonism and Racial Issues
“Race and Priesthood” LDS.org Essay
Revelations in the Summer of 1978: A Personal Essay on Race and the Priesthood
Black Latter-day Saints: A Faith-FULL History (2003 FAIR Conference) by Margaret Blair Young
Blacks and the Priesthood by Marvin Perkins
Blacks in the Bible (2005 FAIR Conference) by Darius Gray
Dispelling the Black Myth (2002 FAIR Conference) by Renee Olson
How to Reach African-Americans (2005 FAIR Conference) by Marvin Perkins
International Perspectives of a Black Member in a “White” Church (2004 FAIR Conference) by Alex Boye
No Johnny-Come-Lately: The 182-Year-Long BLACK Mormon Moment (2012 FAIR Conference) by Darius Gray
The Charge of “Racism” in the Book of Mormon (2003 FAIR Conference) by John A. Tvedtnes
The LDS Church and the Race Issue: A Study in Misplaced Apologetics by Armand Mauss
What Does the Book of Mormon Mean by “Skin of Blackness”? by Brant Gardner
History of Blacks and the LDS Church, ,
Africa and the Welcome Table — Margaret Young, ,
Brigham Young and Racism — Russel Stevenson Podcast, ,
Mormon FAIR-Cast 79: Does Mitt Romney belong to a “racist religion”?, ,
Elijah Able, The First Black Mormon Priesthood Holder — Fair Mormon Podcast, ,
Blacks and the Priesthood- Interview with Max Mueller- Fair Mormon Podcast, ,
Articles of Faith 13: Russell Stevenson FairMormon Conference Follow Up – Coming to Grips With Brigham Young and Race, Russell Stevenson, 0:26:24
Articles of Faith 16: Margaret Blair Young – The Heart of Africa and The Welcome Table, Margaret Blair Young, 0:39:38
Best of Fair 5: A Black Man in Zion: Reflections on Race in the Restored Gospel, Marcus H. Martins, 0:48:45
FAIR Conversations, Episode 16: Max Mueller, on blacks and the priesthood, Max Mueller, 1:29:51
FairMormon Frameworks 6: Russell Stevenson and “Elijah Ables”, Russell Stevenson, 0:49:22
Mormon FAIR-Cast 42: From Panthers to Priesthood, Ed & Wanda Willis, 1:23:13
Mormon FAIR-Cast 79: Does Mitt Romney belong to a “racist religion”?, Scott Gordon, 0:18:36
Mormon FAIR-Cast 128: Blacks in the Bible, Darius Gray, 0:47:01
Mormon FAIR-Cast 129: Skin Color & Curses, Marvin Perkins, 0:45:47
Mormon FAIR-Cast 130: Equality and Priesthood, Marvin Perkins, 0:27:34
Mormon FAIR-Cast 131: Blacks and the LDS Priesthood, Darius Gray, 0:35:59
Mormon FAIR-Cast 185: Race and the Priesthood, Russell Stevenson, 1:07:40
RiseUp Podcast – From Baptist Preacher to Mormon Teacher, the story of Wain Myers, Wain Myers, 0:36:00
RiseUp Podcast – Having conversations about the history of Blacks and the LDS Church, Russell Stevenson, 0:17:11
Articles of Faith 16: Margaret Blair Young – The Heart of Africa and The Welcome Table, Margaret Blair Young, 0:39:38
pt 1, Dispelling the Black Myth
pt 2, Dispelling the Black Myth
pt 3, Dispelling the Black Myth
pt 4, Dispelling the Black Myth
pt 1, Black Latter-day Saints: A Faith-FULL History
pt 2, Black Latter-day Saints: A Faith-FULL History
pt 3, Black Latter-day Saints: A Faith-FULL History
pt 4, Black Latter-day Saints: A Faith-FULL History
pt 1, On being a Black Man in Zion, 2006 FAIR Conference
pt 2, On being a Black Man in Zion, 2006 FAIR Conference
pt 3, On being a Black Man in Zion, 2006 FAIR Conference
pt 4, On being a Black Man in Zion, 2006 FAIR Conference
Pt 1 Reaching the Black Saints
pt 2 Reaching the Black Saints
pt 3 Reaching the Black Saints
pt 4 Reaching the Black Saints
pt 5 Reaching the Black Saints
LDS Church and the Race Issue: Study in Misplaced Apologetic
2LDS Church and the Race Issue Study in Misplaced Apologetic
3LDS Church and the Race Issue Study in Misplaced Apologetic
The Charge of Racism in The Book of Mormon by John Tvedtnes
Blacks in the Scriptures Blacks and the LDS Priesthood
Mormon Doctrine on Blacks, Race and Priesthood Restriction Explained
Blacks in the Scriptures: Skin Color & Curses
Exciting Announcement From Blacks In The Scriptures
Blacks in the Scriptures: Equality & Priesthood
Blacks in the Scriptures: Blacks in the Bible
Blacks and the Scriptures: Blacks and the LDS Priesthood
Alex Boye- An International Perspective of a Black Member in a “White” Church