Thursday, March 28, 2024

Blacks Ridiculed again by the Mormon Church.

September 12, 2013 by  
Filed under Christian Talk, News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) For several years now, every Tuesday evening I have had the great privilege of addressing the Christian and Mormon listeners of Worship FM 101.7 in Monrovia, the capital City of Liberia, West Africa.

I have come to know several of the station managers and a number of the mormon-bookmore frequent callers to the weekly program.  Through their comments, questions and photographs, I have been genuinely moved to see the application of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the past few months the question of racist teachings in the Book of Mormon and from the past Leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been on the minds of the Liberian converts to Mormonism and the many Christians who struggle to understand how such a Church can be growing in Africa. 

I believe the answer is relatively simple; it has been the perfect merging of a sincere lack of knowledge on the part of the Mormon converts and a disturbing lack of accountability on the part of the Mormon leaders.  A near total lack of knowledge across Africa specific to some of the more explicit teachings found within the Mormon Scriptures, principally that Black Skin[1] is a representation of wickedness and even less information concerning the racism and bigotry openly and officially taught by the early Leadership of the Mormon Church. This combined with the current Church Leadership’s inability to clearly and specifically reject its own racist teachings both in print and from its past Senior Leadership, has left the Black Race with only a short irresponsible and offensively juvenile Official Statement[2] that claims the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knows very little about its own race-based policy that had lasted for well over 100 years: 

“It is not known precisely why, how or when this restriction began in the Church, but it has ended.”  

Maintaining a detailed and comprehensive history of every aspect and teaching of the Church has been both one of the hallmarks and one of the downfalls of Mormon Church.  Within the relatively young Church, authoritative documentation, however corrupt it may have been, has never been in short supply.  Each of the Senior Leaders of the Mormon Church has had several official biographers as well as an army of Church authorized historians to record for the faithful Mormon all facets of the History of the Church.  In fact, one of my first of many “Callings” in the Mormon Church was that of a Ward (Congregational) Historian, long before I became a Bishop.

The peculiar assertion that the Mormon Church itself does not know the details of its very own race-based policy of restricting the Blacks from holding the Priesthood is tremendously embarrassing for all Mormons and exceptionally degrading for anyone who actually believes it.

As a former local leader of the Mormon Church, I have repeatedly assured the African members of the Mormon Church that the documents and “Scriptures” I have read to them over the air are both Authorized and Official for the time period they are relevant to.  I clearly state the current position of total acceptance of all Races by the Church, but I must highlight the fact that the Book of Mormon still carries it’s obviously racist message that dark skin was a curse and Jesus was white.  I have said many times on-air that like the Mormon Missionaries, I too believe that every African should have a copy of the Book of Mormon, if only to learn the truly racist teaching of the Mormons.

I have and will continue to teach the African Nations from the authentic Mormon Scriptures and the Church History documents, which I had purchased from the Mormon Church to know my past responsibilities as a Mormon Bishop. The official records of the Mormon Church include many jokes and sermons given within the Official Semi-Annual General Conference of the faithful Mormons, using the “N-word”, Darky and Sambo.  Additionally, these Church published books record nearly 100 graphic sermons and lessons that clearly teach the principle, practice and policy that Black Skin was, is and will remain forever the Curse of Cain.    

Only in the recent past has the “Complete History” of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints come to the attention of its own membership, much less to the under developed regions of the world.  As this information is discovered, an ever increasing number of members of the Mormon Church have come into a personal crisis of faith, most notably Elder Hans Mattsson[3] of Sweden, a General Authority of the Mormon Church who has gone public with his doubts and questions.

Not unique to Africa, has been the Mormon Church’s training of young Missionaries to strictly avoid any discussion of several of the more embarrassing, yet true, teachings of the 183 year old Church. Chief among these subjects has been Polygamy and Blacks and the Priesthood.

With the smooth talent of a skilled politician, the Mormon Church has ended its Official Statement with the following hypocritical and deceitful, but technically accurate quote:

“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.”

As a former Mormon Bishop and member of the Mormon Church for over 32 years, let me be of some help with the translation of this very carefully crafted message. The two key noteworthy phrases are: “in the absence of direct revelation” and “These previous personal statements do not represent Church doctrine.”

I will address the most obvious first, clearly the “previous statements” from the Church and its Leadership “do not” represent the Church doctrine today.  The policy was reversed in 1978 and there is no question as to the policy today. The hypocritical deception is that between 1845 and 1978 those “statements” did, very much “DID” not “DO” represent past Church doctrine.  Yet, I do give full credit to the clever Mormon authors and editors for their most skillful use of the English language.

And finally, the most revealing and enlightening statement from the Mormon Church is: “in the absence of direct revelation”.  So then, it is incredibly true and accurate that without any mockery or sarcasm; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had for nearly 100 years, restricted a significant portion of the human race, millions and millions from God’s intended blessings of Eternal Marriage, Salvation and even Godhood, without knowing why they did it, all without “direct revelation”? 

This Official Statement of religious shame and embarrassment comes from the Headquarters of a Church that claims to be guided in all things by “direct revelation”.  How then, did such an exclusive doctrine based on prejudice, bigotry and racism become so accepted, so authoritative, so convincing and so commanding for so long, without “direct revelation”?

As a former Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I give testimony that what they have stated is true, in that, they are racist and do not hide the History of the Church from its members or the public, this, their Official Statement on Race and the Church demonstrates that fact.

I believe that the truly wicked teachings as well as the repulsive history of the Mormon Church concerning Polygamy, Polyandry, Blood Atonement, and Blacks and the Priesthood is available for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

It is my prayer that all Mormons and non-Mormons will come to know the true history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  That every man, woman and young adult on the earth today will find the time to read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price from cover to cover to see the deception they hold, and then… read the Word of God with the eyes of a child, and follow the true Jesus, the true Christ found only in the Bible.

Via Former Mormon Bishop

Staff Writer; Lee Baker

 


Comments

30 Responses to “Blacks Ridiculed again by the Mormon Church.”
  1. Cory Huff says:

    Why do you find it necessary to rail so hard against a practice that ended 35 years ago? The church has issued an apology and acknowledged that some leaders taught doctrine that is not what the church officially teaches.

    There are plenty of other things that the church can improve on – why take on a practice that is no longer relevant?

  2. Watcher says:

    “The hypocritical deception is that between 1845 and 1978 those “statements” did, very much “DID” not “DO” represent past Church doctrine. ”

    I appreciate the above quote because it correctly identifies the start of the serious racism in the church with Brigham Young, not Joseph Smith

  3. Greg Scott says:

    Brigham Young started this false doctrine along with polygamy, blood atonement and the Adam-God doctrine. He was a racist and a libertine and probably did more damage to the church than any other leader. The church has since had to distance itself from him and undo the damage he left behind. I think many other members and leaders after him were also racist, reflecting the public sentiment at the time, but inexcusable just the same as they should have known better. Their own doctrine, which none of them ever refuted proved the Cain black curse false and they never put 2 and 2 together. That doctrine is this: the church has always taught ALL children who die before the age of 8 will automatically go to the highest level of the celestial kingdom. And guess what? Millions upon millions of black children have died before they were eight ever since Brigham came up with this racist policy. Talk about a conflict of doctrine.
    Matter of fact since 1845 more black children under the age of eight have died than now make up the entire current church membership. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Brigham.

  4. Ken dufur says:

    As I read all the comments I agree with many of the spoken views, but then again I have a problem with most organizations that exist just to bash heads and history that we as people today have no Idea what is true or false or just a ranting oponion. I respect and look at MLK with great admiration because he spoke the ideals of the time that needed to be heard by all people of all believes, but then being born white I don’t believe I had the choice. Being white I am not to blame for slavery and all the horrible things that happened and still do because people won’t let go of the past and start again in or generations All people of all believes and colors have been dis tomatoes against and lied to and misled because they are just people with sometimes opinions to preach to get ahead and gain power. Look at the history of the Catholic Church that was formed by men so they had no government so lets form a belief that will give them all power and belief so then there was a reason that they say was approved by the all mighty so when they conquered, killed ,enslaved, etc they then were guiltless because now all they had to say to justify their horrible deeds they said god or alla told them it was for the good of the church and the peopleI will never talk down to other people , but I will not take blame for the wrong of other men and women from past lives and generations!! As MLK spoke I have a dream , but so do I , and that is that one day the lamb and the lion shall Lye down together with out any ire. Put what bad history we have read in books and fairy tales behind use and start to trust together the things we have today from the gods that are knowers of all things. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you , sincerly, Ken Dufur

  5. I’m another former Mormon missionary. I even wrote a Defense of the Church (“TheGainsayers”) which was a favorite of missionaries in the U.S. during the 1990s. The Church is LYING….lying through its teeth, by saying it “does not know the reason why” it banned blacks from the temples and priesthood for 130 years. And lying is not of God. No True Church needs to LIE in order to defend it or promote it. Lies are not of God. The men who lie, and who tell others to lie, are not of God. It’s time for Mormons, black and white, to wake up! Read my story below:
    http://daheshism.webs.com/DARRICK.htm

  6. Ken dufur says:

    I hope one day that you once believers in the true church will get over your color and know that god is god and Christ is Christ. Look to them and not the color of our skin. We are all gods children and he accepts all of us ,your white brother

  7. Ken dufur says:

    I hope one day that you once believers in the true church will over your color and know that god is god and Christ is Christ. Look to them and not the color of our skin. We are all gods children and he accepts all of us ,your white brother

  8. Tall Man, Short Hair says:

    Selected quotes from Mormon scriptures:

    2 Nephi 5: 21
    And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people, the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

    Alma 3: 6
    And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.

    2 Nephi 30: 6 …their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people.

    3 Nephi 2:15
    And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites.

    Jacob 3: 5, 8-9
    5. Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.
    8. O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.
    9. Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their fathers.

    Moses 7:22
    And Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them.

    Abraham 1:21-24,27
    21. Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth.
    22. From this descent sprang all the Egyptians, and thus the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the land.
    23. The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden;
    24. When this woman discovered the land it was under water, who afterward settled her sons in it; and thus, from Ham, sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land.
    27. Now, Pharaoh being of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood, notwithstanding the Pharaohs would fain claim it from Noah, through Ham, therefore my father was led away by their idolatry;

  9. Dan (below) says:

    “There is a lot of folklore and misinformation about black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    “This will help: http://blacksinthescriptures.com/in-the-news/

    Study the Scriptures, pray and fast, seeking and listening to the Holy Spirit. . .”

    He is right about folklore and misinformation about black members of the CoJCoLDS, but fails to mention that the misinformation comes from the LDS church itself. The sad thing is that the most so-called “anti-Mormon” publications are the church’s own: The Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham (especially the Book of Abraham), the Journal of Discourses, B.H. Roberts’ History of the Church, and virtually any lesson manual. Mormons are their own worst enemies and their own publications are evidence of how demonstrably false it is.

  10. Charles Rivera says:

    I would like to apologize in behalf of Kai Sanders who wrote, quite ignorantly: “It’s truly unfortunate that instead of reading the Book of Mormon for yourself and learning it as God originally intended it to be taught, you have relied on the words of others to learn what Its contents means.” I don’t know why s/he missed it, but your article intro explicitly says in the third paragraph that the questions were coming from a reading of the BOOK OF MORMON. It must be the heavy brainwashing Kai receives on a weekly basis, if not daily, in the Mormon church that has lowered his/her reading comprehension skills. As a former True Believing Mormon, I do understand this knee-jerk reaction to defend and lie for the church on cue. Nevertheless, sorry you had to be patronized yet again by Mormons.

  11. Marcus says:

    I was an LDS missionary in West Africa from 1997-1999. While my mission did not have an explicit policy against discussing the LDS Church’s racist past, it was strongly discouraged. I felt it was dishonest not to disclose it, so during the 3rd Discussion on the Restoration of the Priesthood, I would mention the lifting of the ban in 1978.

    Occasionally, someone would ask for details or an explanation on why they ban was in place. A few individuals had the courage to call out the racist nature of the teaching, and they didn’t care to learn with us anymore. But, the vast majority of people just nodded, and then would always have an excuse why they couldn’t meet with us again. They would dodge and avoid us until we lost interest.

    Of all the regrets I carry from my time as a Mormon, the heaviest are from the role I played in convincing other people to join the church as a missionary. If I could, I would like to go back and undo what I did there 15 years ago.

  12. I want to thank the Brothers and sisters for having the courage to tell the truth about the Mormon church in regards to Black people, rather than finding ways to justify what was said about Black people. It is the truth that will set us free and show us that we are one race, the human race. Unfortunately, the world we live in continues to keep us divided through lies. I choose to work with mostly Black people because of these lies and the continued hardships my people go through, all over this world. But I look forward to the day when what Dr. King said will no longer be just a speech, but a way of life. That day hasn’t come.

    Black Unity means financial independence and happiness

  13. When I was an LDS missionary in the late 1960s (considerably before the 1978 “revelation” that allowed blacks to hold the priesthood), each time we interviewed someone for baptism, we had to carefully disclose the doctrine of withholding the priesthood from “those with African heritage.” It was a disclosure that allowed prospective members to know what they were getting into. The doctrine was very clear, and written out for us. Although most of us were genuinely perplexed that this doctrine abruptly changed in 1978, we were happy for it. We were only perplexed because it was written in stone–it was “eternal,” and “everlasting.” But we were perplexed also because it had been telegraphed to us over a period of 2 years, while also being simultaneously denied. Most of us knew it was coming, even though leadership denied it was so. In fact, as the press focused more and more on it, the church was forces to spell out the doctrine in stronger, more crystal-clear terms. But it had to change. We knew it. The US government was breathing down the necks of the apostles and the prophet, threatening to take away the church’s invaluable tax exempt status. The church had also stuck its neck out and begun building a temple in Brazil, where it had become impossible to tell whether or not a member had African blood.

    Fast-forward to today: The LDS church denies the very doctrine that it had firmly in place up until 1978. Instead, they insist that it was perhaps just a “folk belief,” or worse, directly lie to the public by stating, “We don’t know why we did it.” For me personally, I became even more disturbed when my work took me to a very large central African city with many African LDS members and missionaries. I once asked an American senior missionary there how the Africans coped with the pre-1978 ban on Africans holding the priesthood. He looked at the ground and then quietly said, “We are not supposed to tell them. Most of them don’t know about it.” So the lie, as far as I was concerned, became personal: In the 1960s we HAD to disclose the doctrine; in 2005, we had to deny that it existed.

    This dishonesty regarding black-skinned people and the priesthood, as well as other dishonest behavior at the core of Mormon leadership, led me out of the church as soon as I discovered it, in spite of having been raised in Mormonism and having raised my entire family in it. I had been a high priest. I had been a temple worker. I had held stake leadership positions. I had been an adjunct LDS Institute teacher in Europe. But I don’t deal well with institutional lying. When I saw the depth of the lies, I terminated my membership and did not look back. Some of my family members are still faithful, but I’ve also been able to lead other family members out of the cult-like effect of the church.

    Addressing conversions in Africa, here’s what I found in my personal experience: In Africa, Mormons baptize a lot, it is true. But who are they baptizing, and what is the retention rate, the real indicator of success? Normal LDS retention after baptism is below 30%, which is ridiculously low. The Adventists, for example, can boast a retention of over 70% of all converts. But more than 2/3 of all Mormons are so unhappy with it that they jump ship, many within the first year. And what about quality? In the United States, current conversions mostly happen among the undereducated and those with mental issues. Gone are the days of converting educated family men and women, required to push the church forward. But in African countries, it is child’s play to convert. All you have to do is talk Jesus. Everyone listens, many convert. Who stays? The same under-30%. Retention is no different than anywhere, except that in Central and West African countries, the bulk of the population still believe in sorcery and witchcraft. Members of the local bishopric were no less believing in sorcery and other ridiculous notions, such as albinos having special magical powers. Temple endowed members purchased “fetishes” from local witch doctors along with the other townspeople. So while 30% of a lot is indeed a lot, they are still getting the devotion of people who largely believe in ghosts and goblins. And of course, since most are “hugging the earth” when it comes to poverty, they are also not getting the revenue-producing members that still exist in the US.

  14. Rosemary says:

    John said:
    “Lastly, racism against blacks and other ethnic groups was pervasive throughout American society during the period of time you mention (early 1800s thru 1960s). So, why single out the Mormons?”

    Why? Because mormons claim to have a living prophet who speaks to God and for God. At the very least this so called prophet receives revelation from God. He even has two counselors and 12 apostles who are sustained as prophets, seers and revelators. If they were truly communicating with God they would have never got this issue wrong. God is not an ever changing God, or is he?

    The promise of the lds church and its living prophet is that if the members follow the prophet they would not be led astray. In this case they were led astray and continue to be led astray by the non-sense responses from the mormon leaders.

    Another promise is that the lds church is not going to change to accomodate the world view or science, but the lds church does change to accommodate both. It was the case in the priesthood ban. BYU football? Tax status? Social Pressure?

    And one more thing, John mentions racism up to he 60’s, however the ban was lifted in 1978. The lds church and its prophets of God were 10 years late to align themselves with American society. That should be telling to those who sustain them. I would think that true prophets of God should be leading the way not following suit.

  15. John says:

    Your article could have been more persuasive with source citations, but there are none. Also, a more objective view of this issue, which would’ve mentioned Mormonism’s anti-slavery stance and acceptance of black membership since its creation in the 1830s, was not considered. Lastly, racism against blacks and other ethnic groups was pervasive throughout American society during the period of time you mention (early 1800s thru 1960s). So, why single out the Mormons? The link below provides a more objective view of “Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine” (which happens to be the article’s title). I’m not making excuses for the past racist statements of Mormon leaders. Just trying to add some context to the issue.

    See https://www.dialoguejournal.com/2012/mormonisms-negro-doctrine-an-historical-overview/

    And, for what it’s worth, I agree with your recommendation that Mormon Church leaders should apologize for past racist statements and better clarify the origins of such declarations.

    -John

  16. Brian says:

    Thanks, Lee! I emailed you.

  17. Lee Baker says:

    Dear Readers of ThyBlackMan.com

    As Brian asked above, I have all references to all subjects listed both in my Article and our book, which highlights our departure from the Mormon Faith and includes the statements and doctrine against the Black Race.

    If anyone would wish a copy of the references (26 pages on this subject) please email me at: leebbaker@hotmail.com and I will forward individually rather than clog this site.

    Thank you,

    Lee Baker

  18. Dapper Dan says:

    I was a Mormon missionary that served in Brazil about 10 years after the ban was lifted. I come from a region of the United States that has very few African Americans. It’s my belief that this deep seated racsim in the Mormon church will exist until the day that the Mormon prophet repudiates these abhorrent former doctrines.

    In 1978 God changed his mind. It took a run at the presidency by Romney to prompt the LDS church to declare that they didn’t know where these racist doctrines started. But to date, no Mormon prophet has declared, “We were wrong and we are sorry. This was a mistake.”

    The lack of repudiation leaves fertile ground for racism to continue to fester. When the former prophet (Hinckley) was asked about the subject by a German journalist, he replied, “This is behind us.”

    When asked if he thought it was wrong he said ,”No it was not wrong. There was a reason for it.”

    By telling the membership that there was a reason for the ban and failing to explain what the reason was leaves the onus on members of the black race in the minds of current members. The truth is that there was no reason for the ban and the ban was born out of pure ignorance and bigotry.

    It won’t matter how many websites the LDS church creates. They’ll never be able to repair 100 years of hatred and bigotry without a formal repudiation and apology. I hope the current prophet is brave enough to do this so healing can begin.

  19. mandy says:

    If the LDS church truly did have prophets who received Gods revelations, then why were they the very last church to include black people? And only so, after their hand was literally forced by threats from the government. If they were leading gods true church, wouldn’t they be the example of righteousness for the world to follow? Wouldn’t they have been the ones to lead the civil rights movement?
    Thank you for this wonderful, thoughtful article.

  20. Timothy says:

    OFFICIAL FIRST PRESIDENCY STATEMENT:

    August 17, 1949

    The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is NOT a matter of the declaration of a POLICY but of DIRECT COMMANDMENT FROM THE LORD, on which is FOUNDED THE DOCTRINE of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: “Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a SKIN OF BLACKNESS? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to.”

    President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: “The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have.”

    The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that THE CONDUCT OF SPIRITS IN THE PREMORTAL EXISTENCE has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.

    Prophet and President George Albert Smith
    1st Counselor J. Reuben Clark
    2nd Counselor David. O. McKay

    “Not Doctrine”

    “It is not known precisely why, how or when this restriction began in the Church, but it has ended.”

    What a laugh. Is there anything the mormon cult doesn’t lie about??

  21. Jacob says:

    As an former Mormon raised in the church, and a one time Mormon missionary who served in the black inner city of a major US metro area, I saw the plight of many black Americans first hand. I’ve spent much time in sub Saharan Africa as well. I was a “Wahhabi” Mormon – a doctrinal extremist but I simply could never understand the church’s position on blacks. Having to explain this LDS doctrine to a black person was like apologizing for using the N word in front of them and then hoping they would shrug it off- rather awkward for everyone every time.

    Understanding that the Mormon church is a hoax makes sense of the whole thing.

    I was just imagining what America, particularly Utah might look like today if the doctrine on blacks and the priesthood was reversed in say 1878 instead of 1978. What if the Mormon church had sent young missionaries to Africa or to the Southern US to garner new converts after the civil war? We might actually have a thoroughly integrated America- normal middle class neighborhoods in Utah would be mixed with black/white/mixed families who all share the same American dream. I believe the entire country would be different today if god had have made that revelation way back then. Brigham Young must not have been listening.

  22. Brian says:

    Oops, sorry, that’s “Kai”, not “Kia”. I read it wrong.

  23. Brian says:

    @Kia- You stated,

    “If you had you would have known that most of the meanings we are taught are incomplete or have been corrupted, such as the skin color issue.”

    Are you suggesting that the BOM has been corrupted, similarly to the Bible?

  24. Kai Sanders says:

    It’s truly unfortunate that instead of reading the Book of Mormon for yourself and learning it as God originally intended it to be taught, you have relied on the words of others to learn what Its contents means. You wrote, “That every man, woman and young adult on the earth today will find the time to read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price from cover to cover to see the deception they hold, and then… read the Word of God with the eyes of a child, and follow the true Jesus, the true Christ found only in the Bible.” But it’s clear you haven’t. If you had you would have known that most of the meanings we are taught are incomplete or have been corrupted, such as the skin color issue.

    Any serious study of the Book of Mormon or any other significant source of religious information, such as the Bible, would reveal to you or any other reader that the stories found therein are stories of darker skinned peoples. BOTH the Bible and the Book of Mormon are stories about the descendants of the House of Israel, who historically speaking were darker skinned people. I wouldn’t call them African because they were not all from Africa at that time but they were not white or European in color either.

    Therefore the truth about the Book of Mormon is: it a record of darker skinned people of the past (namely the House of Israel) addressing their descendants. This you learn from studying the Bible. It was by watching the Blacks in the Bible CD found in the Blacks in the Scriptures series that taught me this. Reading the first few verses in the Book of Mormon confirmed it. Upon further study I found that it also contains instructions for healing the world but more especially for healing the descendants of the House of Israel who can be abundantly found in the African Diaspora.

    Therefore the reason so many Africans are coming into The LDS Church is because intrinsically their spirits know the gospel is true AND this gathering of the House of Israel is a fulfillment of prophecy. Why do you think the scriptures say “and the last shall be the first and the first shall be the last”? Because the House of Israel was the first to receive the gospel back when the word was written. When Jesus came He did not spread the word to the Gentiles, except on occasion and ONLY as directed. He said He’s come unto HIS own. But when the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored (meaning being brought back from being lost or corrupted) in this day it went to the Gentiles first and now it is spreading to the true House of Israel last. And that is why it is flourishing. It is important to note that while many Gentiles today are a very light complexion which we designate as white, this was not necessarily true when the word was written. Also as I mentioned earlier, today the skin color of both Gentiles and of the House of Israel span the entire spectrum of human skin color.

    I think that’s enough for now. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information. I have plenty to share. Create a beautiful day.

    Peace, Love and God’s continued blessings. Always…(s.m.i.l.e.)
    Kai

  25. Emory says:

    Racist statements and policies instituted by imperfect men and women from a different century are understandably frustrating in the year 2013. Prophets and apostles that lived in ancient times also said and did things that frustrated and baffled believers then and now. (For example, Peter denied his Lord and Savior three times after being warned he would do so — just when Christ needed help the most. Yet Peter remains one of the great Apostles of the New Testament, deservedly so.)

    However, despite their mistakes and imperfections, prophets from Adam to current LDS President Thomas S. Monson have been necessary instruments in the Lord’s hands to lead His Church and teach His most vital doctrine: God is our Eternal Father. Jesus is the Christ. The Holy Ghost reveals the truth of all things to the sincere and humble follower of Jesus.

    This makes your abandonment of the LDS Church most puzzling — the Holy Ghost undeniably testifies of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and of the prophetic witness of Joseph Smith. Polygamy and racism do not negate the miraculous power and truthfulness of the restoration of Christ’s gospel.

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said is best: “Be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work.”

  26. Brian says:

    Hi, in this article, you state:

    “The official records of the Mormon Church include many jokes and sermons given within the Official Semi-Annual General Conference of the faithful Mormons, using the “N-word”, Darky and Sambo. Additionally, these Church published books record nearly 100 graphic sermons and lessons that clearly teach the principle, practice and policy that Black Skin was, is and will remain forever the Curse of Cain.”

    Can you please give references to some of these? I would be very interested in reading them. Thank you!

  27. Rosemary says:

    The lds church official statement begs the questions, what other statements have been made in the absence of direct revelation and have passed as doctrine? Or more importantly, what is being preached now in the mormon chapels as counsel from the beloved prophets and apostles that will be dismised in the future because it is wrong? Will today’s teachings become tomorrow’s ‘speaking as a man’ statements?

    Maybe in retrospect the now mormon leaders can claim there was no revelation, however when this was happening the then current prophet was speaking as it was. So what it is, was it revelation from a prophet then or was a not-direct revelation from a man?

    Brigham Young was considered at his time as the prophet of God, his mouthpiece and he openly spoke against the black race. Young even claimed that everything he said was to be considered as scripture. Was he a prophet of God speaking the correct doctrine? Or was he a false prophet teachng incorrect principles?

    Is Thomas Monson a prophet a God? Or will his words become an embarrassment to the mormon church in the future?

  28. Charles Rivera says:

    Former Mormon Bishop:
    It is unfortunate that in your zeal to fulfill your calling and beyond, in caring for the spiritual welfare of your brothers and sisters in the faith, that you have stumbled upon the real history of the Mormon church as regards dark skinned people in this upsetting manner. Very recently, a news article came out about a Swedish stake who were alarmed upon discovering other disturbing facts. They asked Church HQ in SLC to clear things up, in turn they sent two historians who could not answer their questions clearly “for lack of time”. In they end, the members were not satisfied; the church left them to decide if they would stay or leave.
    May I say up front that I have left the church upon learning of its terrible secret history of polygamy, politics and the real reason behind the extermination order that they so piously wave around with pride. I do not recommend you do the same, you will find your own path to peace.
    But do not be persuaded by commenter “Dan” who calls Mormon scripture “folklore” and “misinformation”. The truly misinformed are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as you have so clearly discovered. Your conclusions here are correct. And while commenter “Marvin” above seeks to REDIRECT attention away from the facts you have plainly uncovered, from true history and doctrine by calling it “faults of men”, stand strong in your own convictions. Work this out in your own mind.

  29. Dan says:

    There is a lot of folklore and misinformation about black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    This will help: http://blacksinthescriptures.com/in-the-news/

    Study the Scriptures, pray and fast, seeking and listening to the Holy Spirit. . .

  30. Marvin says:

    My brother, I appreciate your bringing some much needed attention to this topic. I would also add that it is not as important how long you were in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is what your focus was on while you were here. When you focus on the faults of men you miss the things of God. I have a list of prophets and apostles in the Bible who sinned and made errors as well. Are we to throw out the entire Bible and Gospel of Jesus Christ because of that? No.

    You have some very good points, however, because of your focus, you have missed the most important points. The Lord’s church can and always has existed among sinful men. You may want to start with this video on Blacks and the Priesthoood that will give you and your audience a greater understanding of how truth can live hidden by the errors, misunderstandings and sins of man. http://www.BlacksintheScriptures.com/in-the-news

    Thanks again for the attention to the topic.

    Marvin

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