Originally Posted in 2013
Mormonism, Mama & Me, 1986, pp 24‑25 “As a white Mormon, I proudly accepted the teaching that my fair skin and Mormon parentage signified that I had been one of God’s most intelligent and obedient born‑in‑heaven spirit children…. As a reward for my superior attributes and attitudes, I had been singled out, trained, and qualified to be born a white Latter‑day Saint, deserving of emulation, adulation, and eventual deification. All dark‑skinned people, even darker‑complexioned Caucasians… had been inferior spirits in heaven.” – Thelma “Granny” Geer
1 Samuel 2:3; “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”
Given what the Bible has declared why would God who is all knowing, allow an organization to teach that white people born in Mormonism are superior to everyone else? Why would He want anyone to feel superior to others when we and especially God Himself, would know this is pride?
Thelma “Granny” Geer grew up in a typical LDS home, much like the one in which I was raised. She was raised to be proud of being Mormon, and proud that she was white because it was a sign she had been a superior spirit in the pre-existence. Born in 1916, she passed away in AZ in 1999, and was the great-granddaughter of John D. Lee. Her mother was born into a polygamous family. She was obviously intimately aware of how the Church operated!
She came to know the Lord as an adult, and shortly thereafter the Lord called her into ministry. She gave seminars and spoke across the country about the doctrines of Mormonism compared to Christianity, and dressed in pioneer attire during her presentations.
The info she shared on the pecking order of who was more righteous within Mormonism gives us valuable insight on how Mormons view themselves, and outsiders as well. While her style seemed simplistic to many, her message carried truth as it touched thousands of people by leading them out of the prison of Mormonism and into the arms of the Lord!
Beloved, God is well aware of what color you are because He created you and doesn’t need a visual reminder of how great you might be because of the color He made you! He’s not all that concerned about the different shades of people as He is about your heart. This type of behavior within Mormonism hasn’t changed. Just imagine the amount of time lost to those caught in this when they could’ve been reading their Bibles…
If the Church’s motives were truly sincere, they would have eradicated all of the racist LDS scriptures by now. They declared they accept everyone 40+ yrs ago, but their faux behavior speaks otherwise. Abraham 1:26-27 is a good example of what they believe.
Pray for those who are trying to escape but don’t know how, or too afraid to do so. We see this all the time at the ministry.They know it’s wrong and don’t know how to leave because there’s so much at stake with jobs, homes, families…
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
I think it is pretty funny that you quote Granny Geer. Her warped views on about everything aren’t church policy. I have heard her say things where she leaves off half of a verse of scripture and bends it to her purposes. (She had to ignore the verse in full or she couldn’t make her point.)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has never taught people hatred of others on the color of their skin, and in fact teaches love and respect for all. In fact much of the hatred toward the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was because of the attitude that slavery and the treatment of the native American Indians was wrong and immoral.
Do you think that God is racist? After all, He chose the children of Israel to be His people. They were not to intermarry with other peoples and in some cases were told to “smite them, and utterly destroy them.” (Deut 7:1-3) Was it sexist when He chose Aaron and his sons to be temple priests?
I have looked at the pattern in God’s church in the Old and New Testament. His people have always had the words of living prophets and the greatest Prophet who came to suffer and die for the sins of everyone in the world. After His death and ascension into heaven prophecy continued until all those with God’s power and authority were dead. Why did God stop speaking? For the same reason He didn’t speak for 400 years between Malachi and John the Baptist- no one was listening. No one even thought about the nature of God for almost 300 years! Then it had to be decided by committee, none of who could say, “Thus saith the Lord…”
How can God have a unified church on earth without those things? The Bible has no authority to grant either power or authority. I look around the world and see confusion and differences in belief with the exception of one church. Any guesses what that church is?
Why don’t you get on with life and leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints alone? If you have something better to offer, put it out there. Bashing another faith isn’t a religion. It’s a waste of time.
I love your reply to the above article! I stayed active in the Church through high school, fell away, became semi-active for a couple of years after getting out of the Army and then fell away again for 40 years! I only became active again about 5 years ago and this time I will NOT stray again. I had many reasons for not coming back, mostly thinking that our Heavenly Father wouldn’t want me back; I broke all but one of the Ten Commandments, disobeyed the Word of Wisdom with the use of drugs and alcohol, had illicit sex with many women and refused to enter the doors of a Branch or Ward, thinking the walls and roofs might cave in if I entered! I was finally urged to come back by member friends who welcomed me back with open arms and started attending meetings, answered callings, and eventually baptized my wife. Then we got our Temple Recommends and we were sealed in the Temple! Now I’m retired and am an Ordinance Worker in the Temple! I love working in the House of the Lord! And I’m speaking to our youth tomorrow night about why I left the Church, how I felt while not attending Church and why I came back. I’m looking forward to discussing my past with our youth and bearing my testimony. I feel sorry for those who have fallen away from the Church. And if any of you reading my reply still have doubts about the truthfulness of the Gospel, I urge you to pray with a sincere desire and ask Heavenly Father if this is the true Church of Jesus Christ, restored in these latter days. I know the Church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the Lord, just like Moses and Abaham of old. I know we have a true and living prophet on the face of the Earth today, President Russel M. Nelson. I know our Heavenly Father answers prayers and He will answer your prayers, too. And I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.