Blacks weren't allowed to pray in church

[_just me]

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.

Oh.my.GOD.

I have also heard experiences from missionaries that their MP's instructed them not to teach black people.

Oh.my.GOD. (but lucky them, they dodged a bullet)

[_Darth J]

You know what would help us understand some of this?

If a person who was employed in church education during the time that the priesthood ban was in place had written an apologetic book about it.

(No, I don't mean "I'm sorry" apologetic.)

[_Quasimodo]

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.

I guess that's true. I can only think that being taught from little girls to be obedient to the males makes their willingness to fall in line understandable.

[_Darth J]

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.

Another vicious anti-Mormon LIE by a disaffected, feminist apostate.

“Lesson 13: Women and the Priesthood,” The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A,

[_Fence Sitter]

I guess that's true. I can only think that being taught from little girls to be obedient to the males makes their willingness to fall in line understandable.

I just finished reading "Answer Them Nothing, Bringing Down the Polygamous Empire Of Warren Jeffs"

Even after girls would go through a harrowing escape to get out of that cult, even after the cult would try and take their kids back, even after the teenage boys had been driven out in the desert by their families, dropped off and told there were no longer part of the family and doomed to hell, it was nearly impossible to get these abused people to testify in court against the FLDS.

By the way it was a fascinating read. Thanks Beastie for the recommendation.

[_Willy Law]

Another vicious anti-Mormon LIE by a disaffected, feminist apostate.

“Lesson 13: Women and the Priesthood,” The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A,

We also honor the priesthood when we treat our husbands with the same gentleness, kindness, and love they should maintain as bearers of the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph Smith counseled the Relief Society to “teach women how to behave towards their husbands, to treat them with mildness and affection. When a man is borne down with trouble, when he is perplexed with care and difficulty, if he can meet a smile instead of an argument or a murmur—if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul and soothe his feelings; when the mind is going to despair, it needs a solace of affection and kindness” (History of the Church, 4:606–7).

Surprised Joseph didn't tell the Relief Society to have their husbands slippers and a hot meal ready for them when they return home.

[_RayAgostini]

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."

If you keep believing what you see posted here, you're going to end up with a distorted and unbalanced view, and lots of generalisations.

Helvecio Martins: First Black General Authority.

[_Quasimodo]

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."

If you keep believing what you see posted here, you're going to end up with a distorted and unbalanced view, and lots of generalisations.

Helvecio Martins: First Black General Authority.

I read your link, Ray, and I'm happy that GA Martins was able to rise to that level. It doesn't really address the situation for blacks in the LDS before 78, though, does it?

I don't think you can really defend the attitude towards and treatment of blacks before that in the church. Brigham Young's statements about blacks (you know them) tainted the Church's view for over a hundred years. I'm just puzzled why any black person would have considered membership in a church that held them as "less than valiant".

As I understand it, the Church still considers them as "less than valiant" but God has changed his mind and has given them a pass to priesthood. If I were black, I would find that offensive.

[_RayAgostini]

I read your link, Ray, and I'm happy that GA Martins was able to rise to that level. It doesn't really address the situation for blacks in the LDS before 78, though, does it?

A very close friend of mine (I originally come from the Caribbean, and so did he) was in the same situation (Black ancestry). He served a building mission, and though inactive for many years (not because of the "Black issue") is now trying to make his way back into the church. Good luck to him. I have no such interest. He joined along with me in 1975.

I don't think you can really defend the attitude towards and treatment of blacks before that in the church. Brigham Young's statements about blacks (you know them) tainted the Church's view for over a hundred years. I'm just puzzled why any black person would have considered membership in a church that held them as "less than valiant".

As I understand it, the Church still considers them as "less than valiant" but God has changed his mind and has given them a pass to priesthood. If I were black, I would find that offensive.

The second paragraph of your post is very unfortunately true. I have believed, for a long time now, that the Church should issue a formal apology, and until this is done, the stigma will continue. That is what we should focus on, not what happened pre-1978.

[_ldsfaqs]

There was no "treatment" against "blacks".....

It was simply a policy that those of African decent were not allowed to have the priesthood.
Further, plenty of "blacks" WERE given the Priesthood, those who were not primarily of African lineage, Central/South America, Islands, India, etc. Once lineage was determined, the Priesthood was given.

The ban had nothing to do with racism by Mormonism itself. If it had anything to do with racism it was because of the racism that existed in the world itself toward the black African.

Anyway, I don't expect all you ignorant anti-mormons to understand. You prefer your drive-by truth judgments rather than really understanding God's truths, history, etc. I know because I was you briefly. Willingly stupid to believe the lie that the Church must have been racist. Judging it according to modern social convention and the prejudices of youth, rather than actual truth and fact.