Why were Blacks banned from having the Priesthood...?

[_bcspace]

The banning never came from Joseph Smith. It arose during Winter Quarters when it appeared that black William McCreary would prove too much competition in the snagging of polygamist wives. One southern gentleman stepped forward and uttered that the Prophet Joseph Smith had told him that the Prophet was against the priesthood for blacks. In truth Joseph Smith had already conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood on Elijah Able. Once the lie was uttered, the prejudice of the times took over and perpetuated this lie for another 133 years. Many cover stories were circulated during this time, until the Church came to its senses in 1978.

You speak as if this were the gospel truth, yet it seems inconsistent with the facts, some of which you seem to have purposefully avoided. However, since you were the first to make the claim, I think it's incumbent on you to produce your evidence first. CFR unless you have no evidence.

[_moksha]

You speak as if this were the gospel truth, yet it seems inconsistent with the facts, some of which you seem to have purposefully avoided. However, since you were the first to make the claim, I think it's incumbent on you to produce your evidence first. CFR unless you have no evidence.

This is straight out of the Mormon Stories podcast with Darius Gray and Margaret Young. I am no researcher, but they traced the origin of this exclusionary policy. Had you heard of Elijah Abel before this? His is a most fascinating story. His is a story of a Saint who remained faithful to the end no matter how much disrespect was heaped upon him. This would make for a great inspirational General Conference talk.

.

[_cinepro]

Now I know that there has been a lot of speculation about this across the decades. I know a lot of people here were taught the 'black people were less valiant' angle.

But what has the Church said was the official, doctrinal purpose/reason for banning Black people from holding the Priesthood?

Please resist testimony bearing and stick with official Church pronouncements and teachings.

Thanks

I really like Elder Holland's comments in his interview for the PBS show on "The Mormons". I hope his attitude becomes more well known:

I've talked to many blacks and many whites as well about the lingering folklore [about why blacks couldn't have the priesthood]. These are faithful Mormons who are delighted about this revelation, and yet who feel something more should be said about the folklore and even possibly about the mysterious reasons for the ban itself, which was not a revelation; it was a practice. So if you could, briefly address the concerns Mormons have about this folklore and what should be done.

One clear-cut position is that the folklore must never be perpetuated. ... I have to concede to my earlier colleagues. ... They, I'm sure, in their own way, were doing the best they knew to give shape to [the policy], to give context for it, to give even history to it. All I can say is however well intended the explanations were, I think almost all of them were inadequate and/or wrong. ...

It probably would have been advantageous to say nothing, to say we just don't know, and, [as] with many religious matters, whatever was being done was done on the basis of faith at that time. But some explanations were given and had been given for a lot of years. ... At the very least, there should be no effort to perpetuate those efforts to explain why that doctrine existed. I think, to the extent that I know anything about it, as one of the newer and younger ones to come along, ... we simply do not know why that practice, that policy, that doctrine was in place.

What is the folklore, quite specifically?

Well, some of the folklore that you must be referring to are suggestions that there were decisions made in the pre-mortal councils where someone had not been as decisive in their loyalty to a Gospel plan or the procedures on earth or what was to unfold in mortality, and that therefore that opportunity and mortality was compromised. I really don't know a lot of the details of those, because fortunately I've been able to live in the period where we're not expressing or teaching them, but I think that's the one I grew up hearing the most, was that it was something to do with the pre-mortal councils. ... But I think that's the part that must never be taught until anybody knows a lot more than I know. ... We just don't know, in the historical context of the time, why it was practiced. ... That's my principal [concern], is that we don't perpetuate explanations about things we don't know. ...

We don't pretend that something wasn't taught or practice wasn't pursued for whatever reason. But I think we can be unequivocal and we can be declarative in our current literature, in books that we reproduce, in teachings that go forward, whatever, that from this time forward, from 1978 forward, we can make sure that nothing of that is declared. That may be where we still need to make sure that we're absolutely dutiful, that we put [a] careful eye of scrutiny on anything from earlier writings and teachings, just [to] make sure that that's not perpetuated in the present. That's the least, I think, of our current responsibilities on that topic. ...

[_daheshism]

Before the McCary Incident (a half-black Mormon Elder sexually seduces a number of Mormon women including no doubt a few secret polygamous wives or beautiful women Brigham Young had an "eye" on) blacks were not banned from temples or priesthood. True, few joined the Church, but that was due mainly that whites and blacks did not socialize with each other in American society.

Before the McCary Incident, Brigham Young was ANTI-curse of cain doctrine (as it was developed by the Pratt brothers in 1845-7), but after the McCary Incident Brigham Young was PRO-curse of cain doctrine; which seems to say the McCary Incident (half-black man seducing Mormon women...a few of which may have been Brigham's secret wives or girls he had "eyes" on and intended to "marry" until McCary "defiled" them and made them undesireably mates for Briggie) seems indeed to be the "catalist" for his promoting the doctrine. And the Curse of Cain Doctrine was AN OFFICIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH! The Church has not taught it since 1978, outside of Bruce McConkie's book "Mormon Doctrine" pre-1990 edition. The First Presidency CAN easily say "We were wrong!" or "Prior Church leaders were wrong" but they have not done so. Bruce R. McConkie saying "We were wrong" DOES NOT COUNT since he was not the Prophet of the Church when he wrote that.

LDS Public Affairs now says: "The Church NEVER taught the Curse of Cain Doctrine. Some Members may have held such a view, but it was never a doctrine of the Church".

Yes, they are saying this. ASK THEM!!!

Elder Holland's PBS interview in which he said: "We don't pretend that something wasn't taught or practice wasn't pursued for whatever reason." is either a BIG LIE, or he is blissfully ignorant of what LDS Public Affairs, and most Missions, and most Missionaries, have been telling people since at least 1996.

The Church is lying....and lies are not of God. Scientology needs "lies". Jehovah's Witnesses need "lies". The SDA Church needs "lies". But the "Only True Church" does not need LIES to help it along. Yet, this is what the Church has chosen to do...lie and deny.

The banning never came from Joseph Smith. It arose during Winter Quarters when it appeared that black William McCreary would prove too much competition in the snagging of polygamist wives. One southern gentleman stepped forward and uttered that the Prophet Joseph Smith had told him that the Prophet was against the priesthood for blacks. In truth Joseph Smith had already conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood on Elijah Able. Once the lie was uttered, the prejudice of the times took over and perpetuated this lie for another 133 years. Many cover stories were circulated during this time, until the Church came to its senses in 1978.

You speak as if this were the gospel truth, yet it seems inconsistent with the facts, some of which you seem to have purposefully avoided. However, since you were the first to make the claim, I think it's incumbent on you to produce your evidence first. CFR unless you have no evidence.

[_Brackite]

This Essay gives an explanation on why Brigham Young instituted the Priesthood ban:

The Mormon Priesthood Ban & Elder Q. Walker Lewis:

[_why me]

I remain totally baffled at why the leadership doesn't want to admit to a judgment error made by earlier prophets.

It might not have been a judgement error. We need to remember that most churches at that time practiced segregation. However, the LDS church did not practice segregation at all. All were welcome to worship together in the same church at the same time. The priesthood ban did not mean that blacks were not welcome in the LDS church. Just the opposite.

Instead of dwelling on the ban, one should celebrate the cohabition of whites and blacks in the same church at a time when certain missourians were hanging black people.

[_why me]

This Essay gives an explanation on why Brigham Young instituted the Priesthood ban:

The Mormon Priesthood Ban & Elder Q. Walker Lewis:

At least this is one interpretation. However, in mormonstories there is a podcast on the priesthood ban. You can find it here:

http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=664 ... aret+Young

[_mentalgymnast]

If He wants to speak He can. If He chooses not to that is also His prerogative.

In the meantime, here is an interview with a black member that doesn't pull any punches and helps broaden our knowledge base on this topic.

http://mormonstories.org/?p=1639

Regards,
MG

[_moksha]

Before the McCary Incident

My memory was experiencing a senior moment. The name is indeed McCary rather than McCreary.

The most curious thing about this whole affair was that instead of condemning McCary for offending the Elders, they banned all black men as a remedy. Well, maybe not the most curious thing. The most curious was really involving God in this decision.

[_moksha]

Here is the MormonStories podcast from Darius Gray and Margaret Young:

http://mormonstories.org/podcast/MormonStories-026-BlacksPriesthood-DariusGray.mp3