1978 was when Mormons began changing racist policies -- but couldn't alter their "scriptures" on skin color-as-a-curse...tho they did alter one Book of Mormon verse in 1981 from "white and delightsome" to "pure and delightsome" (as if Joe Smith made some "error" there in 1830!
In his "Faith in America" speech on Dec. 6, 2007, he [Mitt Romney] said, "I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs."
Source: Mitt Romney Religion
So, key linkage #1 -- we know Mitt Romney stands by what his leaders -- his "fathers of the faith" have said.
What have they said kinda close to what Chris Rock was intimating?
Quote #1, from 3rd 'prophet' John Taylor, who followed Brigham Young: Why is it, in fact, that we should have a devil? Why did not the Lord kill him long ago? Because he could not do without him. He needed the devil and a great many of those who do his bidding just to keep men straight, that we may learn to place our dependence upon God, and trust in Him, and to observe his laws and keep his commandments. When he destroyed the inhabitants of the ante-diluvian world, he suffered a descendant of Cain to come through the flood in order that he might be properly represented upon the earth."
NOTE: Mormon leaders taught that blacks had the "mark of Cain" as a curse. Brigham Young taught it. 'Prophet' Joseph Fielding Smith taught it. 11th 'prophet' Harold B. Lee taught it. Many Lds 'apostles' taught it.
Quote #2, from 10th 'prophet' Joseph Fielding Smith: NO NEUTRALS IN HEAVEN. There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:61)
Quote #3, from Lds rep John Lund: Question: Were Negroes neutral in the great war in heaven (Rev. 12:7) and therfore denied the Priesthood during morality; Answer: No. There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. An individual was either on the side of Christ or the side of Lucifer...The Negroes were not neutral; they were sufficiently valient to be promised the Priesthood, if worthy, after their mortal existence" (John Lewis Lund, The Church and the Negro, 1967, p. 103)
OHMAN Copying and Excepted article.