Blacks weren't allowed to pray in church

[_Melchett]

First Presidency "statements" are not scripture, no matter what Brigham Young "thought".

Wasn't this guy on the 'hotline' to God? A prophet, Seer and Revelator?

Brigham Young doesn't count?

[_RayAgostini]

Wasn't this guy on the 'hotline' to God? A prophet, Seer and Revelator?

Brigham Young doesn't count?

When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture?.

[_ldsfaqs]

Once lineage was determined, the Priesthood was given.

They could not determine lineage from patriarchal blessings (and were shown to be wrong in many cases, eventually), particularly in places like Brazil, which has a huge mixed ancestry. This was one of the facts that inspired SWK to seek "guidance" on the ban.

You can read the whole history of the "The lifting of the Pharaoh's Curse" here:

Neither White nor Black:Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church.

I'm well aware that in places like Brazil that there was difficulty.....
Still doesn't change the fact that in the rest of the world, blacks were still given the Priesthood and it wasn't much of a problem.

[_Morley]

No. So "we don't know" why the Church opposes same-sex marriage, and to the extent attempts have been made to explain it, it is folklore.

Do you feel that the 9th Article of Faith encompasses past commandments being dismissed as folklore, even thought the doctrinal bases for the past commandments were not repudiated?

There was no solid scriptural basis for the denial of priesthood:

2 Ne.26:

33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

And today there is no solid basis for any Church leader/s to claim that they know "the mind of God" on this matter of homosexuality, including Boyd K. Packer. Both the Gospels and the Book of Mormon are silent on this matter. So is the D&C. So is the PoGP. Usually, in retrospect, the scriptures over-ride human prejudice in matters of much greater complexity like this. First Presidency "statements" are not scripture, no matter what Brigham Young "thought".

You're neglecting the Old Testament and the Epistles of Paul. Some in the Church still regard them as scripture. There are also those who consider the First Presidency statements to be doctrine.

[_Morley]

I'm well aware that in places like Brazil that there was difficulty.....
Still doesn't change the fact that in the rest of the world, blacks were still given the Priesthood and it wasn't much of a problem.

When and where were "blacks...given the Priesthood and it wasn't much of a problem."

[_ldsfaqs]

This a somewhat dated article (2003), but I don't believe much has changed:

Some blacks say Mormon Church must address racism:

The issue is a tough one for the church.

Mormons believe their president -- the leader of the First Presidency -- is a ''living prophet'' who rules by direct divine revelation, so the black priesthood ban must be seen as God's will or else the divine prophets from the mid-19th century until 1978 were grievously mistaken....

But Natalie Sheppard, a black American who joined the church 20 years ago, said she feels the church has never done a good job of encouraging black membership. When she moved from Ohio to a Salt Lake City suburb, ''I experienced the rudest awakening of my life,'' Sheppard said.

She recalled storming into church headquarters and demanding to speak to Mormon leaders on a cold day in 1982 when her 6-year-old son -- waiting for her to pick him up -- was made to stand outside the home of another church member because he was black. ''I'm not saying that people need to apologize,'' Sheppard said, ''but we lose a lot of black members.''

Unfortunately, the only way I see to solve this continuing problem is to address current racism in the Church (among some), which stems from now old teachings, and that can only be properly done through a formal apology. McConkie said, "we were wrong". Then if you are wrong, you should apologise for wrongdoings, or thinking wrong thoughts.

I've lived ALL over the Church..... and almost NEVER have I seen a Mormon that's actually racist, including and even especially the old-timers. It's actually one of the reasons that I was first attracted to the Church "pre-ban", is because in contrast to ALL other Churches I had attended including a Black Church, save the Catholic Church, all other Churches were racist to some degree or had a few amount of racist members.

While obviously there have been and there are likely still the rare racist member, the Church was ALWAYS the exception to the rule, even with the Priesthood ban. The Church ALWAYS taught against racism and tolerance for other races, religions and groups, thus the claim that the Church was somehow racist simply because of the rare instance example of some idiot member is ridiculous.

[_just me]

What is an "actual racist?" Thanks.

[_Darth J]

And today there is no solid basis for any Church leader/s to claim that they know "the mind of God"

That's where you are okay to stop.

[Guest]

When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture?.

Looks like you have an authoritative doctrinal source there, Ray.

ETA: Is this talk entitled to a claim of scripture? If yes, then so are other talks by General Authorities. If not, then why should we rely on it as authoritative for determining when what a church leader says is scripture?

[_Melchett]

Wasn't this guy on the 'hotline' to God? A prophet, Seer and Revelator?

Brigham Young doesn't count?

When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture?.

They must act and teach subject to the over-all power and authority of the President of the Church. It would be most unfortunate were this not always strictly observed by the bearers of this special spiritual endowment, other than the President. Sometimes in the past, they have spoken "out of sum," so to speak. Furthermore, at times even those not members of the General Authorities are said to have been heard to declare their own views on various matters concerning which no official view or declaration has been made by the mouthpiece of the Lord, sometimes with an assured certainty that might deceive the uninformed and unwary. The experience of Pelatiah Brown in the days of the Prophet is an illustration of this general principle. (DHC, Vol. V, pp. 339-345 )

This relates to Brigham Young and Joseph Fielding Smith.