What do LDS generally believe about interracial marriage?

[_Jersey Girl]

That's it. That's my question.

[_truth dancer]

Well, like everything in the LDS church it changes from time to time.

It used to be prohibited and seriously condemned, but today it is not discussed much unless it comes up.

When one of my daughters was in seminary and dating a very fabulous young man from Belgium who had African ancestry, the seminary teacher gave a whole lesson on how horrible it was, and found every quote and teaching from LDS leaders to support her view. (Yes, I shared my opinion.

I think some LDS people have moved on from this but others, more fundamentalists still hold on to this idea. They are the ones who still believe blacks were "fence sitters", and less valiant in the pre-existence.

[_cinepro]

Here's what the Church currently teaches the Aaronic Priesthood (teenage boys ages 12-18):

“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).

Choosing an Eternal Companion

[_Dr. Shades]

It used to be prohibited and seriously condemned, . . .

In Brigham Young's day it was punishable by death.

[_Daniel Peterson]

In Brigham Young's day it was punishable by death.

Evidence, please?

[_Dr. Shades]

Evidence, please?

"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 110.)

[_SatanWasSetUp]

Evidence, please?

"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 110.)

He was just joking around. That silly Brigham and his racist jokes.

[_Dr. Shades]

He was just joking around. That silly Brigham and his racist jokes.

Oh yeah, sort of like how Joseph Smith was only joking about seeing Zelph the white Lamanite, right? :-)

[_antishock8]

Anyone have an idea who the last Mormon Prophet that condemned interracial marriage?

I know Mr. Hinckley was open to the idea...

[_Tom]

Here's what the Church currently teaches the Aaronic Priesthood (teenage boys ages 12-18):

“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).

Choosing an Eternal Companion

The CES student manual for Eternal Marriage (Religion 234-235) also features this teaching (p. 169).