Blacks weren't allowed to pray in church

[_Buffalo]

But the "priesthood ban" wasn't about racism. :)

[_Willy Law]

I just heard that on the new ME podcast on my way to work. Is this documented anywhere?

[_ldsfaqs]

That is simply FALSE.....

The Priesthood is not required to pray in Church, and never was.
Blacks prayed all the time. Not only that, but they were leaders in the Church in positions that didn't require the Priesthood.

[_Darth J]

That is simply FALSE.....

The Priesthood is not required to pray in Church, and never was.
Blacks prayed all the time. Not only that, but they were leaders in the Church in positions that didn't require the Priesthood.

That is right. Black men before 1978 were in no worse a position in the Church than women are today. The Church is neither racist nor gender-racist.

[_Darth J]

To help those unfamiliar with the Church understand where everyone stands relative to each other:

White men (only ones ever to be in the top 15)---->adult men generally--->adolescent boys---->adult females/pre-1978 adult black men--->children in Primary or nursery--->gays

[_Jaybear]

That is right. Black men before 1978 were in no worse a position in the Church than women are today. The Church is neither racist nor gender-racist.

Could black men marry in the temple prior to 78?

[_Darth J]

That is right. Black men before 1978 were in no worse a position in the Church than women are today. The Church is neither racist nor gender-racist.

Could black men marry in the temple prior to 78?

No.

[_Willy Law]

That is right. Black men before 1978 were in no worse a position in the Church than women are today. The Church is neither racist nor gender-racist.

Could black men marry in the temple prior to 78?

I can see the church's rational in not allowing black men to marry in the temple since you need the priesthood to go through and take out your own endowment, but what was the rational for not allowing black women to marry in the temple?

[_Darth J]

I can see the church's rational in not allowing black men to marry in the temple since you need the priesthood to go through and take out your own endowment, but what was the rational for not allowing black women to marry in the temple?

It would mean they were marrying white men. Duh!

[_Buffalo]

I can see the church's rational in not allowing black men to marry in the temple since you need the priesthood to go through and take out your own endowment, but what was the rational for not allowing black women to marry in the temple?

It would mean they were marrying white men. Duh!

And of course, they couldn't do baptisms for the dead or enter the temple for any other reason either. But the church wasn't racist. :)