Category: Blacks and the Priesthood
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Blacks and Priesthood — 40 Years Later
By Sandra Tanner . . . for the seed of Cain were black and had not place among them.(Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:22) “We have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren,” wrote Spencer W. Kimball in the announcement of June 8, 1978, when the Church of Jesus Christ of…
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Blacks Cursed — Doctrine or Folklore?
BYU professor’s comments stir national controversy. Was he true to LDS doctrine or misinterpreting folk tradition?
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Mormon Expansion into Black Africa
By Sandra Tanner One year ago, at the April 2009 conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Sitati became the first black African to be appointed to their top leadership. Sitati, an experienced businessman with a degree in mechanical engineering and a diploma in accounting and finance, was installed in the…
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Brigham Young Speech on Slavery, Blacks, the Priesthood, and Blood Atonement
Governor Brigham Young argues against Orson Pratt’s support for Black suffrage based on the curse of Cain, which he said prohibits Blacks from the LDS priesthood (and, by extension, from voting or governance). Also, if White “seed” were to “mingle with the seed of Cain” it would bring whole generations under that curse, for which…
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Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood
By Sandra Tanner Twenty-six years ago, in June of 1978, the LDS Church announced the end of its priesthood restrictions for blacks. Since one of the foundations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the claim that priesthood is essential to act in God’s behalf, the change opened the way for blacks…
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Top Stories of the Decades
Highlights of Utah Lighthouse Ministry research and experiences through the years.
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Racial Statements in LDS Scripture
By Sandra Tanner Despite claims by modern LDS leadership that racist rhetoric and priesthood restrictions are nothing more than relics of unfortunate folklore, their scripture clearly shows a basis for what early LDS leaders defended as doctrine.Consider the following examples from the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. Book of Mormon Pearl…
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Mormon Claims Answered: Chapter 5
Marvin W. Cowan More LDS Scripture & Revelation “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” 9th Article of Faith by Joseph Smith Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie wrote, By the standard…
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Brigham Young Sermon: Blacks and the Priesthood
Brigham Young explains the curse of Cain and how black people are relegated to being the “servant of servants” and are prohibited from holding the LDS priesthood until “all the other descendants of Adam have . . . enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood . . .” As printed in: Journal of Discourses, vol. 7,…
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The Changing World of Mormonism: Chapter 10
Changing the Anti-Black Doctrine On June 9, 1978, Mormon church leaders announced a very important change in their doctrine concerning blacks. They stated that blacks would now be given “all of the privileges and blessings which the gospel affords” (Deseret News, June 9, 1978). Prior to that time blacks of African lineage were not allowed…