White Mormon Bishops: No racism in the Church!

[_Daheshist]

I've asked many white Mormon bishops over the years if racism exists in the Church. They told me, "No, I've never seen it".

There you go! If a white Mormon has not "seen" racism in the Church, then no racism exists in the Church. If you can't see something with your own eyes....it does not exist.

[_KevinSim]

On the other hand, if a black Mormon mission president sees racisim in the Church, then there probably is racism in the Church. A few months back I read the autobiography of Helvecio Martins. It turned out he was a bishop for a while, of a ward in southern Brazil, and didn't see any racisim in the Church there. But he was later called as a mission president to the Brazil Fortaleza Mission in northern Brazil, and came face to face with racism up there. A member of the Church there basically told him that he was going to go inactive for the entire space of time that Martins was mission president.

My impression is that racism is alive, but not well, in the LDS Church. There are some racists still in it, but I'm pretty sure they're on the decline.

My wife and I have a common friend in southeastern King County in Washington State, who was carrying on a long-distance relationship with a man on the East Coast. She pretty much fell in love with him over the Internet and over the telephone, before she got around to asking him to send her a picture of him so she could know what he looked like. When the photo finally arrived, to Tracy's dismay this guy was black.

She commiserated with my wife over her dilemma; how could she have a future with this guy when her family had what she described as strong feelings about blacks in general and in opposition to interracial marriage in particular? My wife calmly talked her through it. Did the fact that Scott was black really matter that much when she thought about the important issues? What her family thought was important, but what she realized she needed to do with her life was in a way more important.

Scott and Tracy eventually eloped across the border in Idaho. In a way I think it was poetic justice that Tracy's father ended up having to deal with a black son-in-law. As far as I can tell the father-in-law ended up making his peace with them; at least if he disowned Tracy, Tracy never told us he had disowned her. At any rate the local ward was supportive; her bishop threw a reception for Scott and Tracy that was well attended, so Scott and Tracy didn't feel completely alienated. We've kept in touch with them over the years by telephone, and they still seem to be doing okay.

[_Daheshist]

Actually, my post was not about how there is some lingering racism in the Church. My post was about how stupid and ignorant Mormon bishops tend to be. A few exceptions, but not many.

[_sunstoned]

Dude, what's with the 16 point font? It's iike you are screaming or something.

[_Daheshist]

I can't read the smaller font on my computer, so I use "large" font so I can read what I wrote. Not blind, just have a crappy browser.

Dude, what's with the 16 point font? It's iike you are screaming or something.

[_bcspace]

It's not the Church's fault if one of it's members is racist. Such an one needs to keep going to Church.

[_Yoda]

On the other hand, if a black Mormon mission president sees racisim in the Church, then there probably is racism in the Church. A few months back I read the autobiography of Helvecio Martins. It turned out he was a bishop for a while, of a ward in southern Brazil, and didn't see any racisim in the Church there. But he was later called as a mission president to the Brazil Fortaleza Mission in northern Brazil, and came face to face with racism up there. A member of the Church there basically told him that he was going to go inactive for the entire space of time that Martins was mission president.

My impression is that racism is alive, but not well, in the LDS Church. There are some racists still in it, but I'm pretty sure they're on the decline.

My wife and I have a common friend in southeastern King County in Washington State, who was carrying on a long-distance relationship with a man on the East Coast. She pretty much fell in love with him over the Internet and over the telephone, before she got around to asking him to send her a picture of him so she could know what he looked like. When the photo finally arrived, to Tracy's dismay this guy was black.

She commiserated with my wife over her dilemma; how could she have a future with this guy when her family had what she described as strong feelings about blacks in general and in opposition to interracial marriage in particular? My wife calmly talked her through it. Did the fact that Scott was black really matter that much when she thought about the important issues? What her family thought was important, but what she realized she needed to do with her life was in a way more important.

Scott and Tracy eventually eloped across the border in Idaho. In a way I think it was poetic justice that Tracy's father ended up having to deal with a black son-in-law. As far as I can tell the father-in-law ended up making his peace with them; at least if he disowned Tracy, Tracy never told us he had disowned her. At any rate the local ward was supportive; her bishop threw a reception for Scott and Tracy that was well attended, so Scott and Tracy didn't feel completely alienated. We've kept in touch with them over the years by telephone, and they still seem to be doing okay.

That is really great to hear that.

My oldest daughter's boyfriend is black. She was a little apprehensive telling us about him when they first started dating, although, I don't really know why. We have made it very clear that as long as he treats her well, race is not an issue, and never has been.

He is a wonderfful young man...very sweet...Computer Science major...they are both very focused on school right now, but I would be very happy if they married. My daughter wants to get through her undergraduate program first since she only has a year to go.

[_Drifting]

On the other hand, if a black Mormon mission president sees racisim in the Church, then there probably is racism in the Church. A few months back I read the autobiography of Helvecio Martins. It turned out he was a bishop for a while, of a ward in southern Brazil, and didn't see any racisim in the Church there. But he was later called as a mission president to the Brazil Fortaleza Mission in northern Brazil, and came face to face with racism up there. A member of the Church there basically told him that he was going to go inactive for the entire space of time that Martins was mission president.

My impression is that racism is alive, but not well, in the LDS Church. There are some racists still in it, but I'm pretty sure they're on the decline.

My wife and I have a common friend in southeastern King County in Washington State, who was carrying on a long-distance relationship with a man on the East Coast. She pretty much fell in love with him over the Internet and over the telephone, before she got around to asking him to send her a picture of him so she could know what he looked like. When the photo finally arrived, to Tracy's dismay this guy was black.

She commiserated with my wife over her dilemma; how could she have a future with this guy when her family had what she described as strong feelings about blacks in general and in opposition to interracial marriage in particular? My wife calmly talked her through it. Did the fact that Scott was black really matter that much when she thought about the important issues? What her family thought was important, but what she realized she needed to do with her life was in a way more important.

Scott and Tracy eventually eloped across the border in Idaho. In a way I think it was poetic justice that Tracy's father ended up having to deal with a black son-in-law. As far as I can tell the father-in-law ended up making his peace with them; at least if he disowned Tracy, Tracy never told us he had disowned her. At any rate the local ward was supportive; her bishop threw a reception for Scott and Tracy that was well attended, so Scott and Tracy didn't feel completely alienated. We've kept in touch with them over the years by telephone, and they still seem to be doing okay.

That is really great to hear that.

My oldest daughter's boyfriend is black. She was a little apprehensive telling us about him when they first started dating, although, I don't really know why. We have made it very clear that as long as he treats her well, race is not an issue, and never has been.

He is a wonderfful young man...very sweet...Computer Science major...they are both very focused on school right now, but I would be very happy if they married. My daughter wants to get through her undergraduate program first since she only has a year to go.

Is he from the same racial background generally? Of a similar intellect? In a similar economic bracket? Has a similar social outlook and a member of the Church?

If not, you need to counsel her to dump him - the Prophet says so.

[_Yoda]

Is he from the same racial background generally? Of a similar intellect? In a similar economic bracket? Has a similar social outlook and a member of the Church?

If not, you need to counsel her to dump him - the Prophet says so.

CFR

Edited to add---nothing from JoD...something recent..as in the prophet of today.

[_Drifting]

Is he from the same racial background generally? Of a similar intellect? In a similar economic bracket? Has a similar social outlook and a member of the Church?

If not, you need to counsel her to dump him - the Prophet says so.

CFR

Edited to add---nothing from JoD...something recent..as in the prophet of today.

From the current Aaronic Priesthood manual 3
Lesson 'Choosing an Eternal Companion'

Quotation and discussion
Compare the results of the vote with the following statement by President Spencer W. Kimball. Have a young man read it.

“We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background (some of those are not an absolute necessity, but preferred), and above all, the same religious background, without question” (“Marriage and Divorce,” in 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year [Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1977], p. 144).

• Why is it so important for a couple to be worthy members of the Church? Ensure that the following points are discussed:
1. Exaltation cannot be attained without celestial marriage.
2. Religious values are powerful, and conflicting values can cause continual stress.
3. President Kimball quoted a survey showing that “only about one out of seven non-member spouses would be converted and baptized into the Church” (“Marriage and Divorce,” p. 152).
4. When one spouse is not converted to the gospel, the children are caught between the differing values of the parents.
• Why is it important for a couple to have a similar economic, educational, and cultural background?