Church HistoryracepriesthoodOfficial Declaration 2

Race and the Priesthood Ban

Why were Black members restricted from priesthood and temple, and what do we believe now?

Bible

The Bible answers

Bible · Acts 10:34–35

KJV + NRSVUE

God is no respecter of persons. That verse was always the destination.

King James Version
Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

NRSVUE
I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him.

Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon answers

2 Nephi 26:33
All are alike unto God.
He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female… and all are alike unto God.

Faithful answers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Race and the Priesthood

Gospel Topics Essays

Early Black Latter-day Saints such as Elijah Able were ordained. A ban developed under Brigham Young and was maintained until Official Declaration 2. The essay disavows theories that Black skin is a curse of Cain or a premortal failure. We do not have to defend the theories. We do have to receive the 1978 revelation as the Lord’s will for His Church now.

Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form.

Scripture already taught that all are alike unto God.
Racist folklore is disavowed; it was never canon.
Living prophets opened the priesthood to all worthy males in 1978.

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