Is the Mormon Church Racist?
82Some Grounds for Understanding
I served a mission for the LDS (Mormon) Church a number of years ago in Canada. Like many LDS missionaries, one of the questions I found myself consistently answering regarded the policies and attitude of the LDS Church towards black people. Men who were of African descent were not allowed to hold the priesthood, nor were black people allowed to take part in temple ordinances until 1978, at which time LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball made a long-anticipated policy change which opened those privileges to all worthy members of the Church.
A simple reading of the paragraph above would most likely lead a person to one conclusion: The Mormon Church is racist. As a member of the LDS faith, I can understand the accusation. However, a deeper look and more understanding will reveal to the earnest seeker of truth another side of the story. I'm reminded of a scripture in Isaiah, chapter 55, verses 8-9:
8 ΒΆ For my athoughts are not byour thoughts, neither are your cways my dways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my aways bhigher than your ways, and my cthoughts than your thoughts.
This hub was created for non-members of the LDS Church as an aid in understanding the history of the church in relation to black people and all races in general. The commentary here does not represent any official viewpoint of the church, since I am not in a position to issue anything authoritative. However, I've had over 30 years of membership in the LDS Church, so my insights are based upon lots of experience.
What is racism?
In today's society, it is common to hear charges of "racism" thrown out towards politicians, religious leaders, and even average people whose words are taken out of context. The truth is that we live in a world where a lot of different kinds of people interact. Amid the tensions that exist today in business, popular culture, education, etc., the issue of race seems to complicate things. I remember growing up in the South. One day while I was in high school a black teenager from my school killed his white girlfriend. For a long time after the incident, security at the school was very tight. Racial tension was obviously high. I'm certain the feelings and environment at that school or anywhere else in this world has improved.
Racism is largely defined as a belief that a certain race is superior to another. Said differently, racism could be considered an affinity for one's own culture, upbringing, and way of life above a lifestyle that is not so familiar. When considered in this perspective, it's likely that there are very few people who would not be considered racist. The point here is that the term "racism" or "racist" have become nothing more than pejoratives used to insult or discredit. People who thrive on using those terms would be benefited by taking a closer look.
What is the Priesthood?
As understood by Latter-day Saints (Mormons), the priesthood is the God's authority. It is given to worthy men on this earth to use for performing saving ordinances (baptism, temple ordinances), to receive revelation to direct the church, to give blessings to others, and for other righteous purposes.
Latter-day Saints believe that the priesthood has existed on the earth since the time of Adam and Eve. Because this earth (a telestial world) is in a state in which sin and temptation are so rampant, limitations on who can hold the priesthood have existed during the history of the earth. During one long era in Old Testament times, the Levites (men who descended from Levi) were designated as temple workers.
Nobody Knows
I recently watched a documentary on the history of blacks in the LDS Church, and I was impressed with the accounts told by Darius Gray, Paul Gill, Ted Whiters, Tamu Smith, and other black members of the church. The documentary is called Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons. Being a white person, it's difficult for me to expound with authority on why the discrimination by the LDS Church against black people was necessary or acceptable. I'm including the trailer for the documentary below.
Nobody Knows Commercial
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Hi MasamiH. Congratulations on your baptism. One thing that you might be interested in knowing is that the church has more members outside the US now than inside, including many in Asia, South America, and Africa. I have always liked hearing talks from Yoshihiko Kikuchi, who is the first native Japanese to be a General Authority. While the world has a lot of problems with racism, inside the church I think there is a very different perspective on who everyone really is.
My experience with Mormons has been that they seem far less racist than other conservative denominations (with a few sad exceptions among the top ranks).
Nevertheless, the BoM contains several verses that are clearly racist--for example, in 2 and 3 nephi, re skin color.
Please explain why you think these are not racist.
(I tried to ask this question using the Ask a Question box but it did not seem to work.)
Hi Mr_skeptic. Thanks for your comments. I've heard people ask about those verses in the Book of Mormon before, including one in 2nd Nephi that you were likely referring to:
2 Nephi 5:21 - "And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them."
In today's society with its obsession political correctness, it seems like everyone is looking for a reason to be offended. Considering that verse from the Book of Mormon through the eyes of a society that thinks it's offensive to even refer to someone as "black", it would come across as fitting the modern-day definition of racism.
However, bursting through the clouds and mists of confusion about the nature of human beings in this world are these truths understood by Latter-day Saints: 1) Every person born on this earth, regardless of skin color or any other mortal factor, is a son or daughter of the same God; 2)Each person born on this earth has the same potential to become like God, to live in heaven with him.
Despite earthly conditions that cause injustice, inequality, favoritism, and other race-related adversities, those two doctrines dispel whatever other notions of racism might exist in regards to the LDS Church.
Explain how after 34 years there is still no diversity on the Quorum of Twelve Apostles? The Mormon Church very clearly threw in a bone - priesthood/temple - but said HELL NO to Apostleship. No Non-White need apply here.
The pictures of your General Authorities reveal only ONE African American. Since 1978 and it seems just like yesterday.
The best person to comment on whether the church is racist or not would be a non-white, sorry, brother.
MasamiH 2 years ago
Thank you for bringing up the topic here. I am Japanese national and have residency in the US. I've lived in the US for 9 years and I was baptized at LDS church in WA 2 months ago. I studied about ethnic and multicultural education, and about race/racism at college. Do anything about "race" is always complicated. Did you see the Olympic's ice-dance on TV? The Russian pair wore Aboligines costumes and considered as they offended their culture. This is the typical example if public view of racism. I thought this racism argument really never end as long as people see "color." I also believe everyone has some level of racism including myself. At first,I thought LDS was racist group because I rarely saw LDS member with darker skin in my city. All missionaries I have seen are all white until a couple months ago. I just moved to FL and this is my first time I have seen missionary who speaks spanish. When I was in Japan,I saw white missionaries everywhere. Honestly, I was uncomfortable in some level to join LDS just because I thought LDS was for white people at the beginning. Now, I am really happy that I am a LDS memeber and I know this is the true church for me;)