What is more relevant about Mormon racism today is not the answer, but how well crafted the question is. The question LDS like to answer is when were black people allowed to go to the temple? They have an answer for this one. While Brigham Young is often referred too about this 1978 revelation, his quote is truncated to make it look prophetic. Guess which part of the following quote is usually missing?
"Cain slew his brother . . . and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. . . . How long is that race [blacks] 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." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 290).
Was this the only time brother Young made this kind of statement?
"When all the other children of Adam have had the privilege of receiving the Priesthood, and of coming into the kingdom of God, and of being redeemed from the four quarters of the earth, and have received their resurrection from the dead, then it will be time enough to remove the curse from Cain and his posterity."(Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 143).
The question never answered is, "Do you believe that black skin is or ever was a sign of a curse from God?" Mitt Romney or any Mormon leader does not ever want to answer that one on national television. Any yes or no answer looks foolish. Any drawn out explaination looks weak. This is a question that anyone with knowledge of the pre-existance belief can answer.
"But those spirits in heaven that rather lent an influence to the devil, thinking he had a little the best right to govern, but did not take a very active part any way were required to come into the world and take bodies in the accursed lineage of Canaan; and hence the Negro or African race" (Speech of Elder Orson Hyde, delivered before the High Priests' Quorum, in Nauvoo, April 27, 1845, printed by John Taylor, p. 30).
"Those who were less valiant in pre-existence and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the Negroes. Such spirits are sent to earth through the lineage of Cain, the mark put upon him for his rebellion against God and his murder of Abel being a black skin "(Mormon Doctrine, pp. 476-477, 1958 edition; p. 527 in the second edition in 1966).
But wait, LDS cry out that these statements do not come from the standard works. They are just opinions of these leaders. This is the response I have heard more than once. If your apostles and prophets cannot be trusted as guides, then what is their purpose? Why have apostles and prophets? Was anything really restored? Of course the real reason these are called "opinions" is that most LDS know in their hearts that this racism is wrong. Instead of trying to defend these statements, they try to deflect them.
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6 comments:
I live in Portugal, a country that his History was very much involved in the slavery trade. But my country was also one of the first countries to abolish slavery (12Feb1716) and also the death penalty (5July1852) I wonder what moral you have to talk about racism when your country still have a lot of problems with racism. In the sixties some evangelical churches at the south states were for white people and others to black people.
LDS Church always baptized the Black people, Black people always could participated in our meetings and be seated next to white people. Tell me what is the worst racism not giving to BP the priesthood or denying their entrance in the Church!
Is also historical that Lds people were persecuted for being abolitionists.
In our Church people have the right to have their opinions and sometimes our leaders can be wrong. Our leaders are not perfect, they are mortal men like everyone else. I disagree sometimes with my leaders so I talk to them in private and I try to achieve a common idea with them.
cesar- Stick to history in Portugal. The Mormons were not abolitionists. After the stupid racism displayed by the LDS church, you try to come across so righteous. It is truly pathetic. In 1838, Joseph Smith answered some questions that were frequently asked regarding the church. Question number thirteen was concerning slavery:
Thirteenth— "Are the Mormons abolitionists?" No, unless delivering the people from priestcraft, and the priests from the power of Satan, should be considered abolition. But we do not believe in setting the negroes free (History of the Church, vol. 3, p. 29).
Interesting, the same people who have a very strong background of racism are the ones who criticize the LDS Church of being racist. In Portugal we use to say people who forget things eat a lot of cheese (is an urban myth). If that is true the evangelicals must eat more cheese than Mickey Mouse. They forgot they segregated the Churches by color.
Interesting your quote from JS is taking a neutral position just like he said “unless delivering the people from priestcraft, and the priests from the power of Satan, should be considered abolition” in another words abolitionism isn’t a religious thing.
I just don't understand why the newspapers in Missoury (Place where JS said your quote) said the mormons were abolitionists. For example published in the Western Monitor, at that time published by Weston F. Birch, at Fayette, Mo.:
“Elevated, as they mostly are, but little above the condition of our blacks, either in regard to property or education, they have become a subject of much anxiety on that point, serious and well-grounded complaints having already been made of their corrupting influence on our slaves.”
You also forgot (you are eating too much cheese) that JS defended the abolitionism in his political campaign to US presidency.
Check the site www.blacklds.org and see if the black LDS people agree with you. LDS Church being racist is a BIG LIE
cesar- I have never denied that racism was extremely prevelant in my society (and yes there is still plenty to deal with.) I have a black friend that grew up in New York and now lives in Alabama. His position is that because the people of Alabama were forced to deal with the racism, there is now more of racism in New York than in Alabama (his opinion.)
I do find it curious that Joseph Smith was adament that Mormons were not abolitionists, yet Mormons still want everyone to believe they were. If you were not racist, then why was a restriction of the priesthood based just on the color of one's skin? If it smells, walks and quacks like a duck, it is usually a duck.
cesar, do you like crackers with your cheese?
"I do find it curious that Joseph Smith was adament that Mormons were not abolitionists"
Already answered that issue. You don't read my comments.
"yet Mormons still want everyone to believe they were"
They were and they are. Only the the anti-mormons say the contrary.
"If you were not racist, then why was a restriction of the priesthood based just on the color of one's skin"
God's commandment! Why is that?!!! Only God knows. There's no official response.
Probably you are going to quote sentences from my leadership but they aren't the official position of the Church.
But Black people were never denied baptism and attend the Church. For me segregating churches by color (like evangelicals did, not only your society) is more racism than denying the priesthood.
ceasar- Most churches were well past their racism before 1978. How come you guys were so far behind? If you are the ONLY TRUE CHURCH, and you see the need to be beyond racism, you guys should have been the first, not the last. I personally have never belonged to a church that did not have both blacks and whites in its leadership as well as members.
Amazing how your god had to change his mind about who is worthy to go to the temple or hold a meaningful leadership position. No 'offical' response because anything they say will naturally sound racist.
I could quote all kinds of horrible things from the likes of Brigham Young, but no need. Your churches offical stance on blacks not being temple worthy was way to 'offical.' (Was there a church worse than you guys, the Dutch Reformed church, but they did not hide behind any stupid only true church doctrine.)
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