“Although, I do not care much for a negro, still I have a warm spot in my heart for those beautiful singers.”
“There is not now, and there never has been a doctrine in this church that the negroes are under a divine curse. There is no doctrine in the church of any kind pertaining to the negro. We believe that we have a scriptural precedent for withholding the priesthood from the negro. It is a practice, not a doctrine, and the practice someday will be changed. And that’s all there is to it.” – Sterling M. McMurrin affidavit, March 6, 1979. See David O. McKay and The Rise of Modern Mormonism by Greg Prince and William Robert Wright.
See also NY Times Report on January 18, 1970.
Joseph Fielding Smith
Negroes not an Inferior Race
Answers to Gospel Questions 4:170; “The Latter-day Saints, so commonly called “Mormons,” have no animosity towards the Negro. Neither have they described him as belonging to an “inferior race.”” – Joseph Fielding Smith, 1963
Cain is Father of Inferior (black) Race
The Way to Perfection, p. 101; “Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, 1949
Blacks Banned from Priesthood
The Improvement Era, v. 27, n. 6, p. 565; “It is true that the negro race is barred from holding the Priesthood, and this has always been the case. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this doctrine, and it was made known to him, although we know of no such statement in any revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon, or the Bible.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, April 1924
Bible: All Nations, One Blood
Acts 14:26; “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation”.
Ultimately, the Lord has the last say in all that we do, it’s just too bad man doesn’t follow along.
If you’re LDS, which prophet would you believe? If Joseph Fielding Smith was contradicting himself on the race issue, what other important doctrine was he not reporting correctly? Are you okay with placing your eternal welfare in the hands of such men?
What is your opinion on Mr. McKay’s insight? If he represents God on earth, is it okay if he doesn’t (didn’t) like other races? How would this affect his prophetic capabilities?
For me personally, it was scary, and humiliating. I grew up in the era these men were in leadership, and their comments about blacks and other races, bled through the weekly teachings I received at church. Coming from a long line of black Welsh immigrants, the stain of my unknown sin in the pre-existence spoke louder than words. Essentially, I was a sitting duck.
Did you know that God doesn’t look at the outer man, but what’s inside his heart?
1 Samuel 16:7; “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Pray for those in the Church won’t you?!? Pray for those of color, and others to open their hearts of what He says in His word. I can’t imagine Jesus shunning someone for their skin color.
Can you?
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