Doctrine Cannot Be Changed Boyd K. PackerApril 2013 General Conferencehttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1993/10/for-time-and-all-eternity?lang=eng August 17, 1949 The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church … Read more
The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging. L. Tom PerryApril 2013 General Conferencehttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/04/obedience-to-law-is-liberty?lang=eng August 17, 1949 The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a … Read more
Indian turning white. A Winnebago Indian, Louis Armell, living on the reservation, is said to be the object of scientific observation because for many years his skin has gradually been turning white. He is now 54 years old. He still has “copper patches” but physicians believe that if he lives a few more years he … Read more
Excerpt from the journal of Wilford Woodruff: 1 May 12, 1851: At Cedar City, President Young then addressed them and said he would express his feelings upon the subject to those who wished to go home. If you were now on a mission to France, England or any other part of the earth preaching the … Read more
Excerpt from a Salt Lake Tribune article from June 8 2020, ‘Despite joining President Nelson in call to end racism, NAACP would like to see the LDS Church do more.’: 1 In yet another symbolic gesture of racial unity, LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson joined with top NAACP leaders Monday in calling for an … Read more
Excerpt from a New York Times Opinion article published August 18, 2012, ‘Why Race Is Still a Problem for Mormons’: 1 The church could begin leaving those problems behind if its leaders explained that their predecessors had confused their own racist views with God’s will and that the priesthood ban resulted from human error and … Read more
Excerpt from the LDS Gospel Topic Essay, ‘Race and the Priesthood’: 1 “Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other … Read more
Social media post from Russell M. Nelson, June 1 2020: 1 We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic of freedoms because … Read more
Excerpt from the September 2000 Ensign magazine article by Elder Alexander B. Morrison Of the Seventy, ‘No More Strangers’: 1 How grateful I am that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has from its beginnings stood strongly against racism in any of its malignant manifestations. President Spencer W. Kimball stated the Church’s position … Read more
Excerpt from the LDS Gospel Topic Essay, ‘Race and the Priesthood’: 1 “Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other … Read more
Excerpt from the LDS Gospel Topic Essay, ‘Race and the Priesthood’: 1 “Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of … Read more
Image: Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, LDS Prophet Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine:1 ‘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 are not equal with other … Read more
Image: Brigham Young, LDS Prophet Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses:1 “Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This … Read more
Image: Apostle Mark E. Petersen Apostle Mark E. Petersen, “Race Problems – as they affect the church:1 “In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift … 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: 1 “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 patriarchs … Read more
From Elder Ezra Taft Benson Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, 1967:1 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 civil rights. Now there is nothing wrong with … Read more
LDS First Presidency (George Albert Smith), letter to Virgil H. Sponberg (critic of the anti-black ban), May 5, 1947:1 “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 … Read more
Image: Joseph Smith Jr. – Mormon Prophet Views of Joseph Smith Jr. regarding race, from The History of the Church:1 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 came into the world slaves mentally and physically. … Read more
Image: Joseph Fielding Smith Excerpt from a 1963 Look Magazine interview with Joseph Fielding Smith:1 “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 – Mormon Think Black people in Mormon … Read more
Excerpt from Historian D. Michael Quinn’s article on ‘Utah Mormon discrimination against the Blacks’:1 “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 both church president and governor, he had instructed the Utah legislature in 1852 to legalize the … Read more
Image: Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Activist From an address by Ezra Taft Benson in the April 1965 General Conference:1 What are we doing to fight it? Before I left for Europe I warned how the communists were using the civil rights movement to promote revolution and eventual takeover of this country. When are … 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, 19541 “God has commanded Israel not to intermarry. To go against this commandment of God would be in sin. Those … Read more
The Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 5:21-25), in describing the ‘curse of dark skin’ that afflicted the Lamanites (American Indian), reads:1 21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto … Read more
Until 1981 2 Nephi 30:6 in the Book of Mormon taught that dark-skinned Lamanites (Indians) would eventually experience a change in the color of their skin should they embrace the Book of Mormon. This passage read: “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand … Read more
Image: Spencer W. Kimball From the October 1960 LDS General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball:1 “At one meeting a father and mother and their sixteen-year-old daughter were present, the little member girl—sixteen—sitting between the dark father and mother, and it was evident she was several shades lighter than her parents—on the same reservation, in the same hogan, subject … Read more
Image: Apostle LeGrand Richards In a 1978 interview Apostle LeGrand Richards spoke on the topic of ‘giving the priesthood to the Negro’:1 WALTERS (Interviewer): Is there still a tendency to feel that people are born with black skin because of some previous situation, or do we consider that black skin is no sign anymore of anything … Read more
Lesson 19, A white and Blessed People:1 LESSON NINETEEN A WHITE AND BLESSED PEOPLE (a) Activity Period: (About 15 minutes.) Prayer.—Roll Call—Consider ways of getting attendance of absent members.—Report of assignments performed.—Assignments for ensuing week.—Social and fraternal activities.—Instructions by Bishop. (b) Lesson Period: (15 to 30 minutes.) Report of number who have read lesson. Statement of … Read more