The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (often called simply as the Mormon Church) has a rich history of race relations. This is particularly applicable to Blacks in Mormonism. This article seeks to provide an accurate and impartial examination of the history of treatment for Black people within the Mormon Church as well as the restrictions on policy that were applied and how the Church has evolved to disavow traditional beliefs and practices that were which were associated with racism.

Blacks in Mormonism: Historical Overview

From 1852 until 1978 the Mormon Church issued a decree that prohibited blacks in Mormonism from being ordained priests. This was due to religious interpretations of scripture and the race-based beliefs at the period. Blacks were unable to take part in certain rites or perform certain duties in the Church. This resulted in discrimination in the Mormon community. It is important to recognize that this discrimination was not unique to Mormonism; rather, it revealed the widespread prejudices against race which were prevalent in American society at the time.

Mormon Black Peoples and the 1978 Revelation

In 1978, Spencer W. Kimball received what Mormons believe to be an enlightenment from God concerning the exclusions of Blacks from the priesthood. This revelation is considered as a turning point that changed the policy for a long time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints declared that Black individuals can now claim the priesthood and fully participate in the activities of the Church.

The Church today rejects racism, while also promoting the unity of all people and encouraging everyone to be a part of Jesus Christ, regardless of race. The doctrine today affirms that all people are equal insisting that God is a gracious God who accepts all people, regardless of gender, race, or social status.

Joseph Smith’s Fair Treatment of Black Individuals

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, treated Black people fairly despite the prejudices of the day. Joseph Smith may have ordained Black men to the Priesthood during his lifetime, according to historical records. This was in line with Smith’s stance on equality and inclusion within the Church. But, the next leaders put in place policies to exclude Black people from the priesthood, reflecting the changing attitude towards race within the middle of the 19th century. For more information, click Mormon Black People

Affronting Racism and moving Towards Unity

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints leadership has taken important steps to fight discrimination in the current and promote unity among its members. The Church’s leadership has issued statements which denounce the previous racial beliefs and practices. They emphasize that racism in any form is against the principles of Jesus Christ and the core doctrines of the Church.

The Church actively promotes understanding respect, and love across its diverse congregation in a way that affirms the value and worth of each person. The Church strives to help its members understand the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusion.

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Understanding the history of Blacks and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints development on racial matters is essential to promote equality and foster unity. This difficult policy, which prevented Blacks being ordained into the priesthood for over 100 years, is a significant element of Church history. However, the subsequent announcement in 1978 was a turning point, signaling the Church’s commitment to inclusion and equality.

The current stance of the Mormon Church rejects racism, recognizes equality, and calls for acceptance and love among the members of the Church. By addressing historical biases in the face of race, and taking actions in the direction of progress toward equality, the Mormon Church is moving towards a greater acceptance and understanding.