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Back in 1981, I wrote a letter to the First Presidency, telling them that African-Americans won't stay in the Church until they are given their own Wards and Stakes, their own leadership. On my mission, I helped to get a black family baptized, but they later went inactive. This was because African-American culture is too different from white Mormon culture for African-Americans to feel comfortable; unless they are raised in middle-class mid-west White culture. And most are not.

I would say that the inactive rate within one year for African-American converts is at least 97%. I was told "blacks don't like to keep commitments". I knew this was not true, because the "African-American Churches" are doing quite well, for example, the Church of God in Christ (98% black) is now larger than the LDS Church, and its activity rate is at over 80%.

Church leaders are afraid of what the Media may "think" of them if they allow all-black Wards and Stakes. That is the only reason they don't allow them. But, if they did, they retain most converts, because people are simply more comfortable around those most like themselves.

Once again, and I've seen this 100 times, Church leaders are much more concerned with how the World perceives them, than with what is best for the Members themselves.

Back in 1981, I wrote a letter to the First Presidency, telling them that African-Americans won't stay in the Church until they are given their own Wards and Stakes, their own leadership.

That assumes a lot of racism on their part.

The older Mormon leaders (over 60) are certainly "racist". They were taught that in college when 99% of all colleges/universities in the U.S. taught scientific racism as absolute fact. They were also taught it in Church, or in books by Joseph Fielding Smith such as "The Way of Perfection" where he writes that "Cain became the father of an inferior race" and "Negroes are made to feel their inferiority" etc.

The younger Apostles (under age 60) I doubt are "racist" but they are probably certainly "Elitists" (i.e. educated people are superior to those with less education). "Elitism" has replaced "racism" as the "in" thing among the wealty and educated.

In actuality, the Book of Abraham does NOT say that Negroes are "inferior". It says that the Canaanites were "blessed with wisdom" but "cursed as pertainig to the priesthood".

The Canaanites are the Lebanese, and the Carthagians, and the Ancient Egyptians. All of these people were NOT "Negroes" but in fact of what is called the "Semitic" race. Look at the Lebanese of today, and you're looking at "Canaanites".

The Egyptians invented civilization, and the Phoenicians "spread" writing and sailing and other forms of civilization first to the "Sea Peoples" then to the Greeks, and from there the Greeks to the Romans, and the Romans to most other Europeans, and the Europeans to the Africans and Pacific.

The entire Canaanite/Negro connection was a MISTAKE! It was based upon the speculations of Paracelsus (a Catholic philosopher in the 13th century) and also the "revelations" of a female English "prophetess" in the 18th century named Southcott.

The point is...Church leaders DO NOT CARE how many African-Americans stay in the Church. Sure, they'd like to see better "numbers" on pieces of paper, but ultimately they simply don't care. What they DO CARE about is how the outside world "sees" them. And they don't wish to be "seen" as "racists" so they feel it is better for 97% of African-American converts to go inactive within one year of baptism, RATHER THAN providing their own wards, own stakes, own black leadership, and retaining them as active Member BUT YET be called "Racists" by the Media because the Church is "segregating" black Members.

But....providing African-Americans their own wards and stakes is not "segregating" them, but empowering them. But, of course, the Brethren DO NOT CARE about that. They CARE about NOT being called "racists" in the Media (and, in FACT, most of the Apostles over age 60 are IN FACT "racists" but they don't want to be called such). And that's all they really care about.

daheshism wrote:The Egyptians invented civilization[.]

Actually, the Sumerians did.

Dr. Shades wrote:

daheshism wrote:The Egyptians invented civilization[.]

Actually, the Sumerians did.

Seems to me that civilisation is still evolving, and we have many mountains to climb before we ever reach the valley of peace and love for all. Just the Wednesday thoughts of a pessimistic optimist.

Church leaders are afraid of what the Media may "think" of them if they allow all-black Wards and Stakes. That is the only reason they don't allow them. But, if they did, they retain most converts, because people are simply more comfortable around those most like themselves.

Wow, this is crazy stuff Dah.

First, how many non-black members do you think participate in South African wards? Does the church not allow these wards to exist?

Secondly, what makes you think black members want their own ward or stake? Have you asked them all? I highly doubt you would find even one black member who would ask for such a thing.

It sounds like YOU are more comfortable with folk just like you but it doesn't mean others share your stance. I think most folk in first world countries have moved beyond segregation.

And, why in the world are you concerned with the LDS church keeping black members if, as you say, LDS members are so messed up and all female members are liars, and all male members are.... you know your mantra. Why not let this go and focus on your own church?