Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted.
That being the case how would the following be tagged?
"...another doctrine of the Church (to keep) in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existance has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which spirits take on mortality, and while details of this principle have not been made known, the principle itself indicates that coming to this earth and taking on mortality is a privilege...the worth of (which) is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps...(is) deprivation as to holding of the priesthood by the negroes" (The First Presidency, 8/17/51) From, Mormonism and the Negro (Walmart. E. Berrett)
Of course, besides the "handicap" of a black skin, all and every physical/mental/emotional challenge that one might be born with, as well as what circumstances one will be born into, is determined--according to this "Official declaration & proclimation"--by pre-existance "faithfulness"... Thoughts, comments???