Conference Will Explore Issues Of Race In The Lds Church

[smac97]

Here: http://www.sltrib.com/home/2280531-155/conference-will-explore-issues-of-race
 

To many Mormons, the "race problem" means the Utah-based faith's former ban on black men being ordained to the church's all-male priesthood.

Since that prohibition ended in 1978, most of the LDS faithful now presume no such problem exists in the 15 million-member, multi-ethnic Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To some, however, the race issue is far from over — and not just for blacks.

Though LDS leaders have disavowed any purported doctrinal defenses of the ban, for example, some members say such false ideas continue to harm them and undermine their relationships with the white majority.

"As the biracial product of an interracial marriage," says Kalani Tonga, "some of the racist doctrines or former doctrines of the church deeply affected me, though I didn't realize how deeply until fairly recently."

Tonga is among a handful of speakers at a half-day conference on Saturday titled "Theology from the Margins: Thoughts and Experiences from Mormons of Color."

The gathering is sponsored by the Sunstone Foundation and will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Community of Christ church on the east side of Salt Lake City.

"This conference aims to explore different forms of racism," says Sunstone organizer Lindsay Hansen Park, "so that hearts can be changed and all God's children can feel welcome in the church."

I really hope this conference is productive.  I have a multi-racial family (we're a mix of Caucasian, Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Tahitian and Samoan), so I have a vested interest in making sure my loved ones, particularly the kiddos, are inheriting a community in which, to paraphrase Dr. King, they will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
 
That said, I am a teensy bit concerned about the reference in the article to "different forms of racism."  I have read various articles and commentaries about concepts like "microaggression" ("the use of known social norms of behavior and/or expression that, while without conscious choice of the user, has the same effect as conscious, intended discrimination"), "microinvalidation" ("communications that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person belonging to a particular group"), "microrape" ("predatory non-physical prurient communications with the intent to penetrate the victim's emotional security on the basis of heteronormative impositions") and similar grasping-at-straws, looking-for-ways-to-feel-insulted types of concepts, as well as the apparent recent deterioration in race relations generally (see, e.g., here).  Frankly, I am concerned that decades of gains in race relations are being eroded by racebaiters and other types of grievancemongers who obtain social prominence, financial gain, and other benefits from fomenting racial discord under the pretext of "talking about race" (Al Sharpton, call your office).
 
I recognize that racism still exists today.  It will probably never be fully extinguished, so saying "racism exists" doesn't really mean much.  And racism exists in various forms.  And it's not just a white man's game.  So I applaud good faith, legitimate discussions about race.  I hope the conference described above is one of them.  I also hope Latter-day Saints apply the Restored Gospel in meaningful ways in their lives, as doing so is the best way to reduce/eradicate racism in the Church and in our communities.
 

Many Latter-day Saints don't realize that something they say or do makes other members uncomfortable, "especially in a gospel setting," Park says in a release. "We are having this conference to be able to dialogue about these hard issues in a loving way."

Tonga applauds Sunstone organizers, saying this conference will explore "an area of Mormonism that has been either overlooked or too uncomfortable to discuss widely in the church."

Mica McGriggs, also biracial and another conference speaker, echoes Tonga's enthusiasm.

"The beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it can touch the lives of people from all cultural backgrounds," McGriggs says. "However, in practice the church has struggled with race relations."

The Saturday event will "provide a forum for myself and other people of color to share our stories and struggles," she says. "It will also provide an opportunity for our white brothers and sisters to listen and learn."

McGriggs hopes that in the future, the LDS Church will become "a leader in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all of God's children."

Saturday's conference, she says, "seems like a step in the right direction."

I hope it's a step in the right direction, too.
 
Thanks,
 
-Smac

Edited March 12, 2015 by smac97

[thesometimesaint]

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

[UtahTexan]

All Churches had race issues back then.  The KKK was largely Protestant.  Catholics have had issues.  Much of it was how the Bible was interpreted.  I am not justifying it, I am saying that it is not surprising based on the times.

 

The main problem for the LDS Church is that it claims Divine Guidance in a manner not claimed by other Churches.  

 

Our leaders were wrong.  But, so was every other leader....religious and political.  

 

Perhaps our Prophets should have asked for guidance from God sooner.  They didn't, apparently.  But when they did, they received an Answer unprecedented in any other Church.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Or Kanye West?

[UtahTexan]

Or Kanye West?

 

Or REVEREND Al Sharpton?

[smac97]

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

 

Were any of those frat boys LDS?  I doubt it.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

[thesometimesaint]

Delete

Edited March 12, 2015 by thesometimesaint

[thesometimesaint]

Were any of those frat boys LDS?  I doubt it.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

 

Don't know. Really wouldn't make any difference either way.

[smac97]

All Churches had race issues back then.  The KKK was largely Protestant.  Catholics have had issues.  Much of it was how the Bible was interpreted.  I am not justifying it, I am saying that it is not surprising based on the times.

 

The main problem for the LDS Church is that it claims Divine Guidance in a manner not claimed by other Churches.  

 

Our leaders were wrong.  But, so was every other leader....religious and political.  

 

Perhaps our Prophets should have asked for guidance from God sooner.  They didn't, apparently.  But when they did, they received an Answer unprecedented in any other Church.

Actually, the process leading up to 1978 was a long time coming.

Thanks,

-Smac

[smac97]

Don't know. Really wouldn't make any difference either way.

 

Well, in kinda does.  The topic of this thread is about racism in the LDS Church.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

[thesometimesaint]

Well, in kinda does.  The topic of this thread is about racism in the LDS Church.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

 

Were there and are there racists in the Church. Sad to say yes to both. The good side is there are fewer today than in the past.

[Tacenda]

I'm such an idiot!  I was trying to c/p the Sunstone link for you to read about the conference.  Because at first I thought Peggy was talking about LDS Conference coming up.  I hadn't read the article in the TRIB until now.  I guess I don't have to worry about going to my google CHROME (which wasn't working) to link the article because this is the article!!  Darn, but I guess that means the church isn't bringing it up in Conference in April.  Or they may... 

[cinepro]

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

 

I don't expect that we could ever totally eliminate racist expressions in the world (or our country), so I don't realistically aspire to a society that is free from such expressions.

 

To me, the measure of our progress isn't as much how often such expressions are made, but the reaction others have when they are made.  Based on the reactions from the fraternity, the school administration, and society in general to the racist chant on that bus, I think we've come a long way and I'm encouraged.

[Kenngo1969]

I'm such an idiot!  I was trying to c/p the Sunstone link for you to read about the conference.  Because at first I thought Peggy was talking about LDS Conference coming up.  I hadn't read the article in the TRIB until now.  I guess I don't have to worry about going to my google CHROME (which wasn't working) to link the article because this is the article!!  Darn, but I guess that means the church isn't bringing it up in Conference in April.  Or they may...

 

Tacenda, in the immortal words of Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" Callahan, I'm going to make your day!

 

 

President Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference (Priesthood Session), April, 2006:

 

Racial strife still lifts its ugly head. I am advised that even right here among us there is some of this. I cannot understand how it can be. It seemed to me that we all rejoiced in the 1978 revelation given President Kimball. I was there in the temple at the time that that happened. There was no doubt in my mind or in the minds of my associates that what was revealed was the mind and the will of the Lord.

 

Now I am told that racial slurs and denigrating remarks are sometimes heard among us. I remind you 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 of Christ. How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color is ineligible?

 

Throughout my service as a member of the First Presidency, I have recognized and spoken a number of times on the diversity we see in our society. It is all about us, and we must make an effort to accommodate that diversity.

 

Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.

 

Brethren, there is no basis for racial hatred among the priesthood of this Church. If any within the sound of my voice is inclined to indulge in this, then let him go before the Lord and ask for forgiveness and be no more involved in such.

With due respect, don't blame the rest of the world if you don't have "ears to hear."

Edited March 12, 2015 by Kenngo1969

[Kenngo1969]

Were there and are there racists in the Church. Sad to say yes to both. The good side is there are fewer today than in the past.

There are few enough today that they're far less the rule, and far more the exception.

[Tacenda]

Tacenda, in the immortal words of Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" Callahan, I'm going to make your day!

With due respect, don't blame the rest of the world if you don't have "ears to hear."

Sad to say, I listen better to conference now then ever before, strange phenomenon with some disillusioned folks out there, but I may have just forgotten this. Edited March 12, 2015 by Tacenda

[Kenngo1969]

Were any of those frat boys LDS?  I doubt it.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

By contrast, I am a proud Sigma Gamma Chi "frat boy."

[Kenngo1969]

Sad to say, I listen better to conference better now then ever before, strange phenomenon with some disillusioned folks out there, but I may have just forgotten this.

To be fair, it was in the Priesthood session, so that's why you may have missed it, particularly if you haven't subscribed to the Ensign in awhile.  One tends, though, to find what one is looking for. (Funny, that.)  

[Tacenda]

To be fair, it was in the Priesthood session, so that's why you may have missed it, particularly if you haven't subscribed to the Ensign in awhile. One tends, though, to find what one is looking for. (Funny, that.)

Yes, I probably listen to conference for bad reasons, maybe for finding things wrong to make myself feel better for my issues with the church.

Back to the conference, thinking of going!

[why me]

I just watched the terrible video out of New York City where there was a horrible beat down in a McDonalds. It seems that a 15 year old was severely beaten by several teenagers as crowds watching cheered them on. All the people involved were black and the cheering from the crowd were also black. No one called 911. And yet, Al Sharpton or any other african american civil rights person was no where to be seen or heard about this incident.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/girl-beaten-mcdonald-caught-video-warning-graphic-article-1.2145599

 

Can we consider this a race issue?  Or just an issue of inhumanity that seems to plague the world these days? I don't see a race problem as much as I see a human problem. And what exactly is the concept of race in the United States now? It is a multiracial society where whites will be in the minority within a generation or two. America will be a brown society with hispanics making up the dominant population. However, reading the news, I feel as if I am back in the US when the year was 1966.

 

What is the church suppose to say about race? It is a world wide church and in many countries it is not about race but about culture, religion and class. In europe it is more a religious problem with muslims gaining in population and others reacting accordingly. We are living in an age where humanity is suffering from a lack of compassion, empathy and kindness. Perhaps it has to do with the marketization of the world, where people are looked upon as commodities. Maybe the so called race issue can be solved when humanity becomes decommodified and society does not function solely as a cash nexus but as a social nexus, where community and family are again placed in importance where they should be: first.

[rongo]

I'm such an idiot!  . . . at first I thought Peggy was talking about LDS Conference coming up. 

That's exactly the reaction I had to the thread title. I was prepared to be surprised that the Brethren were leaking/floating trial balloons a few weeks before conference.

[jwhitlock]

I also hope that the conference is productive. Racism in our society today occurs across the board among all people, and I agree wholeheartedly with the statement made in the OP by Smac:

 

I recognize that racism still exists today.  It will probably never be fully extinguished, so saying "racism exists" doesn't really mean much.  And racism exists in various forms.  And it's not just a white man's game.  So I applaud good faith, legitimate discussions about race.  I hope the conference described above is one of them.  I also hope Latter-day Saints apply the Restored Gospel in meaningful ways in their lives, as doing so is the best way to reduce/eradicate racism in the Church and in our communities.

 

 

My main fear is that the conference will tend to be one sided and will perpetuate certain myths about racism. While a forum is needed for people of color to tell about their stories and struggles, I was a bit concerned by this statement from the article:

 

The Saturday event will "provide a forum for myself and other people of color to share our stories and struggles," she says. "It will also provide an opportunity for our white brothers and sisters to listen and learn."

 

 

This seems to be a bit one sided to me, and I'm not totally comfortable with what it seems to infer. Then again, maybe that's just me.

[BlueDreams]

That's exactly the reaction I had to the thread title. I was prepared to be surprised that the Brethren were leaking/floating trial balloons a few weeks before conference.

 

Ditto....shows where my brain's at. 

 

That said, I am a teensy bit concerned about the reference in the article to "different forms of racism."  I have read various articles and commentaries about concepts like "microaggression" ("the use of known social norms of behavior and/or expression that, while without conscious choice of the user, has the same effect as conscious, intended discrimination"), "microinvalidation" ("communications that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person belonging to a particular group"), "microrape" ("predatory non-physical prurient communications with the intent to penetrate the victim's emotional security on the basis of heteronormative impositions") and similar grasping-at-straws, looking-for-ways-to-feel-insulted types of concepts, as well as the apparent recent deterioration in race relations generally (see, e.g., here).  Frankly, I am concerned that decades of gains in race relations are being eroded by racebaiters and other types of grievancemongers who obtain social prominence, financial gain, and other benefits from fomenting racial discord under the pretext of "talking about race" (Al Sharpton, call your office).

 

I agree with everything....minus this part. I find the term microrape ridiculous but strongly believe in microaggressions and microinvalidations as a specific form of microaggressions. They're not new fad terms. They're real and they do have an effect because they have a way of unconsciously marginalizing, undervaluing, and at the very least they're off-putting. No one's 100% immune to them, but it is a "form of racism" that needs to be addressed. Particularly in LDS communities that have large white majorities (such as, but definitely not limited to UT/ID) this is the form of racism I'm more likely to see living here. One more based on ignorance and informing their interactions off of stereotype. Which mean microaggressions are pretty common.

 

There are more funny ones: For example when I am working at the temple, if I do anything with my curly hair short of putting it in a severe bun I will expect several compliments on it. And not the sort of off hand stuff....I mean serious, I-think-this-person-just-had-a-spiritual-experience compliments on my hair. And it's not 1 or 2 compliments. Once I was directing traffic in the locker rooms and it happened 14 or so times in 30 minutes. I feel somewhat like a rare bird specimen. Mostly it's funny, but it reminds me that I would easily be described (and have been described) as "exotic." It bothers me after a while and becomes embarrassing, especially with the more flowery out there compliments, because it's a permanent reminder that I'm somehow extremely different, satisfy a mixed stereotype, and can become uncomfortable when you feel a little like you were just placed on a very high pedestal based solely on my outward appearance. Other 'compliments' have entailed overt, star-struck staring, comments on how mixed people are always so beautiful, strangers touching me, etc. On the bright side, I generally don't feel ugly....I can't. 

 

There are more uncomfortable ones. Like picking up the racial tabs for other groups in behavior. Or having your behavior stereotyped to a specific group (never white). 

 

There are marginalizing ones, like the time I went to a cabin where all but one other girl was even partially brown. It entailed double glances of shock from the parents, awkward comments after asking for a drink about how they didn't have kool-aid, and one person saying I startled him because I "blended in the shadows" (I'm a light brown and it was a well lit kitchen). Or the awkward moment that taught me I wasn't "black enough" when my white fellow YW's decided for a skit it would make more sense for me to drum out a hip hop beat (it sounded awful). 

 

There's the ones that one-drop me. I dance and sing....because I'm black (forget that I had no rhythm before 18 and I sing because my white mother does). My hair is curly...obviously from my black side....I have "black hair" (I don't, and treating it as such is a recipe for disaster). Talking to me in a more "black" accent...when I don't speak like that. Or having, after a time, these expectations fall apart so that many begin to just see me as "weird" or kinda out there. I become an exception to their obviously accurate depiction of black people or mixed people. Or the ones that cannot accept my racial identity. 

 

There's ones that freeze me in my tracks and there's no real way to get me out of the situation without it becoming uncomfortable for another. These are usually in class settings. One happened with my roommate....who stated first that I was the "whitest black person" that she knew. I asked her to explain that, pointing out that it was a real oxymoron. She then went to tell me I did things more white....like my dress style and that I was in grad school. 

 

I could go on and on....

 

The point is, microaggressions may not seem like a big deal....one insident in and of itself may be almost funny. But over time, they build up like sediment until they are definitely tiring, heavy, and obnoxious. And they reinforce the message that you are different and in ways that often invalidate the persons experiences and paints with such a large stereotyping brush. It is more definitely a form of racism.  

 

With luv,

BD

[Teancum]

All Churches had race issues back then.  The KKK was largely Protestant.  Catholics have had issues.  Much of it was how the Bible was interpreted.  I am not justifying it, I am saying that it is not surprising based on the times.

 

The main problem for the LDS Church is that it claims Divine Guidance in a manner not claimed by other Churches.  

 

Our leaders were wrong.  But, so was every other leader....religious and political.  

 

Perhaps our Prophets should have asked for guidance from God sooner.  They didn't, apparently.  But when they did, they received an Answer unprecedented in any other Church.

If it was wrong and they were not asking why didn't God intervene and tell them? After all plural marriage was allegedly so important God sent an angel with a flaming sword. This error seems at least as important if not more so.

[strappinglad]

Some of the behaviors that BD mentions seem like an overcompensation so that the person tries too hard to not be racist and in doing so comes across as racist. Some are just thoughtless, sort of like asking an overweight woman when her baby is due.

Recently Conan Obrien spent a week or so in Cuba, where the prevailing color is brown/black. Here was a very tall, very white, red headed guy surrounded by the locals. It was interesting to watch the reactions of the local population to the " odd duck " . I wonder how Conan would have felt had he been completely ignored.

Sadly, everywhere there are " us against them " attitudes. In Africa one black tribe hates a different black tribe and genocide ensues . In the Middle East one kind of Muslim hates a different kind on Muslim and genocide ensues.

memories:

Edited March 13, 2015 by strappinglad