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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/opinion/sunday/racism-and-the-mormon-church.html?_r=0 This is a good article summarizing the issue of race and the priesthood in LDS history. I think it’s fair and thorough considering its length. If I were in the position of needing to explain why LDS did not give the priesthood to blacks until 1978, I would use this as an outline in the explanation. An honest answer is certainly better than “we don’t really know.”
I agree–I think it’s a pretty fair treatment. (And it might be nice to point out that the author of the article, John G. Turner, is not LDS–some may view that as good, while others won’t.) More history than I was taught in my first 20 something years growing up in the church. And yet a fair tone about it. Also I think lots of people forget that those prejudices were once mainstream. The church just can’t get past the need to protect the façade of perfection erected around past prophets and admit it was wrong.
Maybe someday…
Unfortunately the church’s unwillingness to admit to error and to admit the prophet actually WILL sometimes lead people astray means they are digging themselves a hole. I think the revised introduction to OD2 goes a little way towards acknowledging the misjudgement made. I’ve spent a lot of time studying the black priesthood issue recently. It has completely killed off the remnants of confidence I had in them as mouthpieces of God.
I consider them to be well-meaning men who share thought-provoking opinions. Some of these are based on the writings of people before them. Others are based on their skewed worldview.
I don’t think God told BY to introduce the black priesthood ban. I think it was his own idea and perhaps those around him. And yet, this error (and SWK called it an error privately, it’s in the quotes thread). And yet, despite the lack of any evidence of it being revealed and despite prophets before him saying/doing differently, it was perpetuated for about 130 years (1840s to 1970s).
Conclusion. I don’t accept any of the words of prophets as ‘doctrine’ any more. Why should I? They were wrong for 100+ years on this count. What else will turn out to be an error perpetuated by prejudice and ignorance.
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