The priesthood ban and William McCary

[_Runtu]

My friend Odell sent me this today, and I thought it was pretty interesting:

Prior to today, I never knew the story of William McCary. He was a black convert to the LDS church. Like other black men of his day, he was allowed the priesthood. However, after being ordained an elder in Winter Quarters in 1847 he claimed extra spiritual gifts of transfiguration and prophecy. Young excommunicated McCary.

McCary remained in the area and began his own movement including the practice of polygamy. His movement attracted some Latter-day Saints. McCary became sealed to several white women, which angered Young and other LDS church leaders. It was shortly after this incident that the LDS church began restricting black men from holding the priesthood, using the lineage of Ham as justification.

Some researchers believe it was the McCary incident that led to the priesthood ban.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McCary

What do you guys think? Is this incident where the priesthood ban originates?

[_moksha]

In the John Dehlin podcast, with Darius Gray and Margaret Young, it seemed like this event marked the delineation between accepting those of African descent into the Priesthood and the beginning of the racial barrier to the Priesthood. Those who were for the barrier had to do some story fabrications to justify their desired policy.