The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History by Matthew L. Harris & Newell G. Bringhurst

Author:Matthew L. Harris & Newell G. Bringhurst [Harris, Matthew L. & Bringhurst, Newell G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 2015-11-06T07:00:00+00:00

7

Confronting the Church's Problematic Racial Past after 1978

General Introduction

The Mormon hierarchy lifted the priesthood ban in 1978, but persistent questions remained about the racist teachings related to the now abandoned practice: Did blacks derive from the lineage of Cain? Was there still a connection between skin color and past deeds in a premortal life? How could the perceived racial teachings in the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price be interpreted relative to the end of the priesthood ban? These and other related questions were not initially addressed by the First Presidency, let alone by the revelation itself.1

Equally perplexing was that Deseret Book—the LDS-owned and -operated bookstore—continued to print and sell books that contained antiblack teachings by Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie.2 Moreover, the church had failed to officially denounce such antiblack teachings in church-sponsored venues, specifically general conference, the Ensign magazine, or the Church News. Such inaction caused considerable angst among some Latter-day Saints, particularly African American converts, deeply troubled by the church's erstwhile racist doctrines. Certain LDS religious educators expressed concern, indeed confusion, most vividly reflected in the case of BYU religion professor Randy Bott, that the church's racial teachings had changed. Church officials, in fact, sternly rebuked Professor Bott when he reaffirmed racist theories asserting black priesthood denial to a Washington Post reporter during Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign for the presidency.

In sum, the church's position today with respect to the provenance of the priesthood ban is much different than it was in the 1950s and 1960s. It is no longer acceptable to teach that blacks were cursed by God or that they were “fence sitters” in a previous life. These prior assertions have been replaced by a new position. The church now teaches that the ban was rooted in racism, not divine revelation.

1. LDS CHURCH ACKNOWLEDGES BLACKS ORDAINED TO THE MORMON PRIESTHOOD DURING THE LIFETIME OF JOSEPH SMITH, AS REPORTED IN THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MORMONISM (1992), A FOUR-VOLUME WORK PUBLISHED WITH APPROVAL FROM THE LDS FIRST PRESIDENCY.

DOCUMENT INTRODUCTION

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992, is the fullest, richest, and most expansive coverage of Mormonism ever produced.3 Totaling some one million words, with nearly fifteen hundred articles and 738 authors, this four-volume work is the first encyclopedia devoted exclusively to Mormons. Although the encyclopedia's editors explained that the work did not “have the force and authority of scripture,” nor did it represent the official position of the church, the First Presidency authorized it to be distributed to research and public libraries throughout the United States.4

Most of the writers are practicing members of the LDS faith.5 Their mission, as the editors note, is to “assist readers” with a “greater understanding and appreciation of the history, scriptures, doctrines, practices, and procedures” of the church.6 All told, this ambitious work included 250 articles devoted to church doctrine, over 150 articles on church history, and more than 100 articles related to Mormon culture, families, art and literature. To ensure a balance between accuracy and tone, each of the entries went through a rigorous editorial process.

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