truth dancer wrote:Is anyone familiar with the, Setting the Record Straight, series published by Deseret Book?
Blacks and the Priesthood - Marcus Martin
I'm interested in hearing opinions from all perspectives if anyone has read any of the above!
I looked through them ALL a couple weeks ago. I was rather disappointed to be honest. The only one I ended up buying was "Blacks and the Priesthood", not because it's a good book in and of itself, but because I am OBSESSED with the topic (I baptized over 100 black people into this church after all) and like to have everything on the matter on hand for referencing as I compile my own book on the matter. Anyway, I've only skimmed through the book so far. I plan to take it with me to church over the next few weeks and read it while other people figuratively bore the living crap out of me (wouldn't be exciting if only it wasn't figurative). Also, I recognized Marcus Martins and have actually conversed with the man before so I felt good supporting him this way and was confident I'd find some interesting insights and interpretations.
My personal suggestion on those interested on a book about Blacks in Mormonism is to buy the book "Black and Mormon" -Edited by Newell G Bringhurst and Darron T Smith. It's by far the best compilation I've come across yet...and I've read TONS on this subject matter. It far surpasses the rest thus far
overall...and yet still not good enough. I'd still strongly recommend to everyone to read the essay by Alma Allred in that book titled "The Traditions of Their Fathers: Myth versus Reality". Best treatise I've ever read on the matter. EASILY better than the entire book in the "Setting the Record Straight" series.
I spent more time skimming through the other books because I knew I'd have time to read the Blacks & the Priesthood one. They were all pretty disappointing, even for regular apologetic works. They don't address most of the big concerns. They all have a chapter dedicated to "What we don't know for sure or not at all" and that basically blows off the entire subject. Then in the few remaining pages they beat around the bush with personal interpretations and rarely bring up sources or examples, etc.
Here's the layout on the book I bought:
Chapter 1
Insights from a black man in Zion (his experience and background)
6 out of 9 sections in the Second and longest chapter
"Responding to Traditions regarding to the priesthood ban" are talking about "things we don't know" (basically blowing it all off as saying we have no idea WHY). 1 of the remaining 3 sections explains that the curse on Canaan is a tradition from the middle ages. 1 other one is only 2.5 pgs long and deals with "statements from the past". Only 2.5 pages to deal with the mounds of stupid leader's statements. He blows most of them off as misquoting or misinterpretation (1pg used to say this), 1/2 pg discussing McConkie saying the old statements don't matter, and the rest excusing our leaders for being imperfect and quoting Oaks (about a page long quote) saying we shouldn't try to think of REASONS for revelations but just to accept them. Very Oaks.
Chapter 3: Neither an eternal law nor an obstacle to salvation
I'm interested to read this chapter, to see why he felt such. After all, the ban arguably has probably affected the salvation of many blacks and others who leave or never join the church because the ban used to exist.
Chapter 4: dynamics of race relations in an LDS environment
Sounds boring
CH 5 Refining race relations with the doctrines of the restored gospel
"Blessings are available to all races, based on our doctrines, blah blah blah..."
CH 6 Thoughts on Mormonism Race and world culture
not very interested to be honest. A footnote says they're an edited version of something he wrote on the internationalization of the church. I skimmed it and it mostly talks about diversity.
CH7 Looking to the future: concluding personal insights
Who knows.
Total = 82 pgs long
Maybe I'll mention any really good tidbits later when I finish reading it :)