An Unfortunate Attempt To Explain The Pre-1978 Restriction On Priesthood

[JeremyOrbe-Smith]

Um, that enormous quote two posts above yours?

[Zeta-Flux]

Oh, yep I did miss that one. And it is disgusting. Did nobody tell ilyan that the less-valiant idea was officially refuted by our prophets, all the way back to Brigham Young?

[wenglund]

I've never been more ashamed to be a Latter-Day Saint than I have been during the past two days, seeing the absolutely horrifying, racist things people have been trying (unsuccessfully, in every single case) to defend.

We need to be better than this. That the situation prompting this thread even happened is appalling, let alone some of the rationalizations on display here.

Can I get you some sackcloth and ashes to wrap yourself in while you writhe in self-righteous indignation?

I just love the drama. Can we get people to take themselves even more seriously? I am not sure we are quite to the point of absurd, though close.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Edited March 1, 2012 by wenglund

[blackstrap]

How do we define race? Is it by skin color?hair type?nose size?eye shape?intelligence(or lack thereof)?Are the jews considered a race?How about the Poles or the Russians? Is it not just Us vs. Them?

[JeremyOrbe-Smith]

Do you honestly not see anything wrong with statements like ilyan's, Wade? Honestly?

Yeah, I'm gonna stick with "appalled and ashamed to be associated even tangentially with this sickness" over here.

Edited March 1, 2012 by JeremyOrbe-Smith

[Ares]

Final Word:

Official Statement

The Church and Race: All Are Alike Unto God

The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. The Book of Mormon states, “black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33). This is the Church’s official teaching.

People of all races have always been welcomed and baptized into the Church since its beginning. In fact, by the end of his life in 1844 Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opposed slavery. During this time some black males were ordained to the priesthood. At some point the Church stopped ordaining male members of African descent, although there were a few exceptions. It is not known precisely why, how or when this restriction began in the Church, but it has ended. Church leaders sought divine guidance regarding the issue and more than three decades ago extended the priesthood to all worthy male members. The Church immediately began ordaining members to priesthood offices wherever they attended throughout the world.

The Church unequivocally condemns racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church. In 2006, then Church president Gordon B. Hinckley declared that “no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church. Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.”

Recently, the Church has also made the following statement on this subject:

“The origins of priesthood availability are not entirely clear. Some explanations with respect to this matter were made in the absence of direct revelation and references to these explanations are sometimes cited in publications. These previous personal statements do not represent Church doctrine.”