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. :)
The church was no more racist than the rest of the country. If you follow the church's racist beliefs, they tend to reflect the racial attitudes of the time. God likes to follow the crowd.
"We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die." - Captain Moroni - 'Address to the Inhabitants of Canada' 1775
Buffalo wrote:But the "priesthood ban" wasn't about racism. :)
Interesting corollary: the First Presidency banned women from offering prayers in sacrament meeting from July 1967 until September 1978.
"Moving beyond apologist persuasion, LDS polemicists furiously (and often fraudulently) attack any non-traditional view of Mormonism. They don't mince words -- they mince the truth."
-- Mike Quinn, writing of the FARMSboys, in "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," p. x (Rev. ed. 1998)
Buffalo wrote: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. :)
Here is a brief quote from Greg Prince's excellent bio of David O. McKay, discussing the decisions made by McKay in the 1960's with respect to blacks' participation in Church callings and temple work:
Could black men serve in leadership roles in the Church auxiliary organizations? Yes. Could temple ordinances, not available to blacks because priesthood ordination for men was a prerequisite, be performed by proxy in behalf of deceased blacks? No. Could black children who are legally adopted by white church members be "sealed" to them? Yes. Could black children enter the temple in order to participate in proxy baptisms in behalf of the deceased? Yes.
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, p. 95 (the footnotes state this information came from McKay's journals)
I couldn't find anything on the prayer issue.
"Moving beyond apologist persuasion, LDS polemicists furiously (and often fraudulently) attack any non-traditional view of Mormonism. They don't mince words -- they mince the truth."
-- Mike Quinn, writing of the FARMSboys, in "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," p. x (Rev. ed. 1998)
Darth J wrote: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'm a little stunned that there were any black people in the church before 1978. What were they thinking? Talk about low self esteem. "We're happy to have you here with us in God's true church. Now, sit in the back and don't say anything."
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
Quasimodo wrote: I'm a little stunned that there were any black people in the church before 1978. What were they thinking? Talk about low self esteem. "We're happy to have you here with us in God's true church. Now, sit in the back and don't say anything."
I have heard experience after experience from missionaries serving pre 78 that they were instructed not to tell blacks about the priesthood ban before baptism. I have also heard experiences from missionaries that their MP's instructed them not to teach black people. I would like to see if there were any written policies about how to instruct blacks before 1978.
It is my province to teach to the Church what the doctrine is. It is your province to echo what I say or to remain silent. Bruce R. McConkie
Quasimodo wrote:I'm a little stunned that there were any black people in the church before 1978. What were they thinking? Talk about low self esteem. "We're happy to have you here with us in God's true church. Now, sit in the back and don't say anything."
Why is that surprising? Women still get the same instruction.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.