Why Race Is Still a Problem for Mormons

New York Times ^ | August 18, 2012 | John G Turner

[greyfoxx39]

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.................In a June 1978 letter, the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaimed that “all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.” Men of African descent could now hold the priesthood....

The revelation may have lifted the ban, but it neither repudiated it nor apologized for it. “It doesn’t make a particle of difference,” proclaimed the Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie a few months later, “what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June of this year, 1978.”

McConkie meant such words to encourage Mormons to embrace the new revelation, and he may have solemnly believed that it made the history of the priesthood ban irrelevant. But to many others around the country, statements of former church leaders about “the Negro matter” do, in fact, matter a great deal.

The church would benefit itself and its members — and one member in particular, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee — by formally repudiating the priesthood ban and the racist theories that accompanied it.

-SNIP-

The priesthood ban had sweeping ecclesiastical consequences for black Mormons. They could not participate in the sacred ordinances, like the endowment ceremony (which prepares one for the afterlife) and sealings (which formally bind a family together), rites that Smith and Young taught were necessary to obtain celestial glory.

-SNIP-

Most Protestant denominations, however, gradually apologized for their past racism

[OldEarlGray]

Any state-established religion, like Mormonism, would've been a problem for the folks who articlated this:

"...who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world, and through all time;

 

...

 

 that it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order; and finally, that truth is great and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them. "

 

"I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN"

--The Virginia Act For Establishing Religious Freedom
--Thomas Jefferson, 1786

http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/vaact.html

 

 

[StAnDeliver]

Ah, the Sunday Night Freetard bund meeting, complete with NYeT article...

[BurningOak]

Exactly, what is the purpose of posting blatant Obama propaganda?

[roylene]

What in the article is incorrect?

[Mike Darancette]

I am not a fan of the NYT and OGH is one of the nick names I use. Don’t sweat it.

[Mike Darancette]

So the discussion of race and religion is what America needs just now? I’m not voting for Pope and I’m not waxing nostalgic for the bad old days. We have something to get done

[BurningOak]

I question timing and motive, not veracity. If Santorum was nominated we would probably get dozens of stories of Catholic atrocities from the 12th century. Its a blatant attempt to get Obama reelected by smearing the opponents religion.

[newzjunkey]

Do you know what year it is? That policy change came thirty-four years ago. Get over it.

[greyfoxx39]

So the discussion of race and religion is what America needs just now? I’m not voting for Pope and I’m not waxing nostalgic for the bad old days. We have something to get done

As soon as you teach water to run uphill, let the NYT and the media know you disapprove of their stance.

This article is all over the internet because it is in the NYT, and there will be more.

The MittBots on FR must believe that if they don't see it, it ain't happening so they howl because they are faced with the facts of his mormonism.

As soon as Mitt distances himself from mormon doctrine and practices, I will try to be the first to bring the news to FR.

[roylene]

That was not my question, my question was: what in the article is incorrect?
If you don’t know, perhaps you should learn about Mormonism before you defend it or pretend it will not matter after the convention.

[greyfoxx39]

Its a blatant attempt to get Obama reelected by smearing the opponents religion.

Of course that is the timing and motive of the NYT! What else would it be? Are you just now becoming aware of the media's complicity with Obama?

Mitt and the GOPe forced his candidacy down the throats of conservatives and they are both going to have to deal with the consequences, as are we all.

Did FReepers really believe Mitt was going to be allowed to just waltz to victory? How naive. Mitt is the CHOICE of the Obama handlers.

[roylene]

Sorry, junkey, grey did not write the article they just posted it.
So get over and tell us what is in the article is incorrect.

[greyfoxx39]

Do you know what year it is? That policy change came thirty-four years ago. Get over it.

See if you can convince the Obama campaign and the media! They will laugh in your face.

[roylene]

This is only the beginning Mormonism will be laid bare and it will not be pretty.
Most people know nothing about Mormonism teachings, what they know is that nice family down the street.
Mormonism will be exposed.

[greyfoxx39]

Thanks for the post, OEG.

[OldEarlGray]

[So the discussion of race and religion is what America needs just now?]

Well see, the American Founders thought so much of the discussion of religion that they included the prohibition against state establishments thereof (like the fraudulent farce in the territory of Deseret) in no less than the FIRST amendment - lest folks end up on the short end of the “COMMERCE BETWEEN MASTER AND SLAVE IS DESPOTISM” stick, again.

It’s understandable that those on The Ladder might find that objectionable. Boo hoo for them.

[roylene]

After you contact the NYT contact these people
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/166693426.html?refer=y
and these
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021155932
and these
http://ewallstreeter.com/why-race-is-still-a-problem-for-mormons-3515/#
wait there’s more
http://lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=696608
http://www.topix.com/religion/latter-day-saints/2012/08/why-race-is-still-a-problem-for-mormons
http://news1800.com/2012/08/world-politics/why-race-is-still-a-problem-for-mormons-new-york-times/
Of course they all reference the NYT article, the point is this story is out on a wide range of political leaning sites and there are these plus dozens of other sites posting, IE getting the “word” out that Mormonism has a race problem.
Get used to it, Mormonism will be laid bare, for the first time maybe fully exposed.
Rather than get in a twitch about it, learn about Mormonism so you will know whats coming.
grey mentioned a few posts back that the GOPe was ignorant to run a Mormon against a black man, they did and its not going to be pretty.

[OldEarlGray]

No problemo FRiend.

[OldEarlGray]

And frankly, roylene, that's more than enough.

 

"Barrack Obama does not have the power to make conservatives compromise their principles. Mitt Romney does."
--Tom Hoefling

http://rightandwrongradio.podomatic.com/entry/2012-08-18T11_02_58-07_00

 

https://www.facebook.com/tom.hoefling

 

 

[Mike Darancette]

“Deseret” was never a territory of the USA.