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

[Sherman Logan]

I am perfectly well aware of BY’s position on the issue.

My post was to defend the Bible against the implication that it is racist.

Which it is not.

That’s the problem with “living prophets.” Their prophecies, which oddly enough tend to fit the prejudices of the times, often become a little more difficult to swallow when those prejudices change.

[Cubs Fan]

just how many media outlets do you honestly believe are going to join you in this "debunking" crusade? I'm sorry that the facts are not to your liking.

you have that backwards don't you? You seem to think the only "facts" that matter are the ones the liberal media will let through their filter.

lots of freepers have mentioned the dems history on the '64 civil rigthts bill, romneys fathers marching for civil rights when al gores father and other dems were opposing them. Theyve also mentioned Jeremiah Wright's sermons, and the hypocrisy of the left trashing mormonism while they stick up for the worlds most hateful religion, islam.

These are the facts that will come out on fox, through conservative poundits and talk radio etc. These facts which you have dismissed over and over, obviously not to YOUR liking

[martin_fierro]

Why Journalism Is Still A Problem For The NYT

[mnehring]

I am going to give you one more little piece of information on why posting these things without due diligence or debunking doesn’t help. When you Google the title of this article, the article you posted just an hour ago, this thread is already #3 in Google rankings.

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Why+Race+Is+Still+a+Problem+for+Mormons%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Right below the original NYT article and the Democrat Underground reprint.

You may not want it, but FR has a powerful responsibility to push for truth versus spread the lies of the left.

In the past, propaganda hit pieces from the NY Slimes would have a ‘Barf Alert’ in the title and be followed by a lot of debunking by the OP. Not, bolding and cheering the propaganda like you did.

[af_vet_rr]

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.

If they apologize, then they admit that the Church and its founders/leaders were wrong, and they will not do that.

[greyfoxx39]

Well, for example, the Romney family's own history of fighting for civil rights.

What about all the many Romney's who were not running for President?

[greyfoxx39]

You may not want it, but FR has a powerful responsibility to push for truth versus spread the lies of the left.

Point out the lies in the article.

[mnehring]

You tell me. If you care to keep pushing this leftist narrative, find an example as specific as I posted against it, showing some other Romney close to Mitt opposing Civil Rights- not just generic guilt by association.

If we don't stop this bull, the next person this attack is used against will be someone we like. How long until our next Baptist candidate is painted with the same brush due to the history of the SBC? What about all the Pentecostal churches with their racist history; should that damn any Pentecostal candidate in the future?

[Sherman Logan]

Jimmy Carter, a Southern Baptist, was elected President in 1976.

His church was specifically set up in the 1840s when southern Baptists seceded to protect black slavery. IOW, a position far more activist in racism than the Mormons, who were generally at least opposed to slavery.

Many of the SBC’s members and leaders continued to defend racist policies into the 60s and quite possibly up to Jimmuh’s election.

The SBC did not specifically denounce and apologize for its racist past till 1995, 150 years after its foundation to defend slavery and long after Jimmuh was out of office.

Yet I recall little criticism of Jimmuh for being associated with a “racist church.”

The president in 1995 was Bill Clinton, also a Southern Baptist. I don’t recall the racist past of his denomination being an issue in 1991, 4 years before its apology.

[roylene]

Let's see if I can get this correct.
Post in the Religion Forum about Mormonism and people bitch that's an attack on Romney and you are a bigot Obama supporter.
Post in the News Forum about Mormonism and people bitch that's an attack on Romney and you are a bigot Obama supporter.
Post in the General Chat or Smokey Back Room Forums about Mormonism and people bitch that's an attack on Romney and you are a bigot Obama supporter.
So apparently the history of Mormonism exposed is an attack on Romney and you are a bigot Obama supporter.
Wouldn't it be nice to actually address the issue or issues in the post and not attack the poster?
One can dream I suppose.

[greyfoxx39]

If we don't stop this bull, the next person this attack is used against will be someone we like.

Take up the censorship question with JR.

This "leftist narrative" lies on the heads of the people that pushed Mitt Romney down the throats of conservatives, and on Romney himself who knowingly had this issue in his past.

Are you on the NYT website with your complaints?

[roylene]

Which part of the article is incorrect when talking about Mormonism and race?

[greyfoxx39]

So apparently the history of Mormonism exposed is an attack on Romney and you are a bigot Obama supporter.

Post anything that doesn't kiss Mitt's butt and you are in for a.....

[roylene]

Are you not just amazed how many Romney supporters on FR are opposed to free speech and free exchange of ideas if you don't tow the GOPe line.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

“Are you not just amazed how many Romney supporters on FR are opposed to free speech and free exchange of ideas if you don’t tow the GOPe line.”

It depends. Are you including the ones that have been banned from this site for expressing their opinion or just the ones still here?

[Tennessee Nana]

The GOP had to drag the ‘RATS, kicking and screaming, to the dance during many civil rights battles.
_____________________________________________

Well the Democrats must have had a Romney-like miracle conversion because in 1978 Jimmy Carter “had to drag the Mormons, kicking and screaming, to the dance”

Comsequently the Mormons bloc voted for their hated enemy Ronald Reagan in 1980...

My old enemy who is the enemy of my new enemy is now my friend...

[greyfoxx39]

Are you not just amazed how many Romney supporters on FR are opposed to free speech and free exchange of ideas if you don't tow the GOPe line.

Not really...most of the posters have seen the hatred against any FReeper that refuses to follow the ABO line and are just keeping silent to avoid the attacks.

Remember Rogue Yam??

In all his glory..

Scroll down for his posts to DJ MacWoW.

I suppose he's back with a new handle by now.

[mnehring]

Did I say censorship?
No, but you know full well that Romney’s family has a history of fighting for Civil Rights. That was the environment he was raised in.

This NYT article falsely paints Romney into a blanket group damnation based on a belief of his Church almost 40 years ago.

It is dishonest at best.

[mnehring]

The implication of damning all mormons for one belief of the church that ended almost 40 yeas ago.

It is no different than damning all SBCs or Pentecostals for the history of their church on the same subject.

[roylene]

First thing, who has been damned?
Second, you still did not address any inaccuracies in the article.
So again, what in the article is incorrect?