Letter from LDS Apostle Delbert Stapley to then Michigan Governor George Romney regarding Romney’s position about civil rights and attitudes toward black people, January 23, 1964: 1 It was a real pleasure to greet and have a moment to visit with you and Lenore here this past week. It is wonderful to see how enthusiastically … Read more
Letter from LDS Apostle Delbert Stapley to then Michigan Governor George Romney regarding Romney’s position about civil rights and attitudes toward black people, January 23, 1964: 1 It was a real pleasure to greet and have a moment to visit with you and Lenore here this past week. It is wonderful to see how enthusiastically … Read more
Letter from the First Presidency to Dr. Lowry Nelson, July 17 1947: 1 “Your position seems to lose sight of the revelations of the Lord touching the preexistence of our spirits , the rebellion in heaven, and the doctrines that our birth into this life and the advantages under which we my be born, have … Read more
Letter from the First Presidency to Dr. Lowry Nelson, July 17 1947: 1 “Your position seems to lose sight of the revelations of the Lord touching the preexistence of our spirits , the rebellion in heaven, and the doctrines that our birth into this life and the advantages under which we my be born, have … Read more
Excerpt from the ‘The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson’, January 2, 1902: 1 “Apostle Clawson desired an expression of the brethren in regard to a case that had come to his attention. A young man — a member of the church — had sought the hand of one of the daughters of Zion in marriage. … Read more
Excerpt from ‘The Eternal Everyday’, a 2017 General Conference address by Apostle Quentin L. Cook: 1 “Anyone who claims superiority under the Father’s plan because of characteristics like race, sex, nationality, language, or economic circumstances is morally wrong and does not understand the Lord’s true purpose for all of our Father’s children.” … Excerpt from … Read more
On February 4, 1852 an ‘Act of Relation to Service’ was passed in the Utah territory, making slavery legal. 1 Several weeks later, the ‘Act for the Relief of Indian Slaves and Prisoners’ was passed on March 7, 1852, specifically dealing with Indian slavery. 2 … A speech by Governor Brigham Young in Joint Session … Read more
Image: George Albert Smith, President of the LDS Church, May 21, 1945 – April 4, 1951 [footnote]George Albert Smith – Wikipedia[/footnote] Excerpt from ‘Statement of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’, August 17, 1949 “The attitude of the Church with reference to the Negroes remains as it has always stood. It … Read more
Image: Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, LDS Prophet Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine:[footnote]Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 114[/footnote] ‘Negroes in this life are denied the Priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty. (Abra. 1:20-27.) The gospel message of salvation is not carried affirmatively to them . . . negroes … Read more
Image: Apostle Mark E. Petersen Apostle Mark E. Petersen, “Race Problems – as they affect the church:[footnote]Mark E. Petersen, “Race Problems – as they affect the church,” August 27, 1954, p. 17[/footnote] “In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere … Read more
Image: George Albert Smith, LDS Prophet. LDS First Presidency, letter to Virgil H. Sponberg (critic of the anti-black ban), May 5, 1947: [footnote]LDS First Presidency (George Albert Smith), letter to Virgil H. Sponberg (critic of the anti-black ban), May 5, 1947, quoted in Lester E. Bush, Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview, p. 42 [/footnote] “Your ideas, … Read more
From Elder Ezra Taft Benson Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, 1967:[footnote]Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 34-39[/footnote] False solicitude for the unfortunate “Such timely counsel could help save our country from Communism, as the same masters of deceit are showing the same false solicitude for the unfortunate in the name of … Read more
LDS First Presidency (George Albert Smith), letter to Virgil H. Sponberg (critic of the anti-black ban), May 5, 1947:[footnote]Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview – Lester Bush[/footnote] “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 … Read more
Image: Joseph Smith Jr. – Mormon Prophet Views of Joseph Smith Jr. regarding race, from The History of the Church:[footnote]History of the Church, Volume 5, pages 218-219 [/footnote] The Prophet’s View of the Negro Race. At five went to Mr. Sollars’ with Elders Hyde and Richards. Elder Hyde inquired the situation of the negro. I replied, they … Read more
Image: Joseph Fielding Smith Excerpt from a 1963 Look Magazine interview with Joseph Fielding Smith:[footnote]Look Magazine, Oct 22, 1963, p. 79 [/footnote] “I would not want you to believe that we bear any animosity toward the Negro. ‘Darkies’ are a wonderful people, and they have their place in our church.” Crash Course: Blacks and the Priesthood – … Read more
Excerpt from Historian D. Michael Quinn’s article on ‘Utah Mormon discrimination against the Blacks’:[footnote]Prelude to the National “Defense of Marriage” Campaign: Civil Discrimination Against Feared or Despised Minorities – D. Michael Quinn [/footnote] “Even after federal emancipation of America’s slaves in the 1860s, LDS church president Brigham Young referred to African-American slavery as a religious necessity. Earlier, as … Read more
Image: Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Activist Excerpts from an address by Apostle Mark E. Peterson given at the Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level Brigham Young University Provo, Utah – August 27, 1954[footnote]Race Problems—As They Affect The Church – Mark E. Petersen, 1954 [/footnote] “God has commanded Israel not to intermarry. To go against … Read more
Image: Apostle LeGrand Richards In a 1978 interview Apostle LeGrand Richards spoke on the topic of ‘giving the priesthood to the Negro’:[footnote]Interview with Apostle LeGrand Richards -16th August 1978, Church office Building [/footnote] WALTERS (Interviewer): Is there still a tendency to feel that people are born with black skin because of some previous situation, or do we … Read more
Image: Brigham Young In 1855 Brigham Young said: “You must not think, from what I say, that I am opposed to slavery. No! The negro is damned, and is to serve his master till God chooses to remove the curse of Ham…”[footnote]New York Herald, May 4, 1855, as cited in Dialogue, Spring 1973, p. 56 [/footnote] … Read more