I’ve been thinking about the issue of race in the Church (and the history of the temple and priesthood ban in particular) a lot lately.\u00a0 As part of that thinking, I am working on a series of posts wrestling with the oft-proposed idea of an apology for the ban, but I did have something I wanted to share as a middle of the road approach before I get into the more in-depth discussions.<\/p>\n
One thing that could be done to help address the issue of both historical and ongoing racism within the Church would be to publicize a brief document treated with similar weight and importance as “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” or “The Living Christ: The Testimony of The Apostles” during general conference.\u00a0 The positive aspects of this approach are that: a) It doesn’t require Church leaders to say anything they haven’t already said, b) It makes it clear that they what has been said before is authoritative rather than a series of PR stunts, c) It gives members a concise resource to draw upon in understanding and representing the Church’s stance on issues of racism, and d) It sidesteps the thorny issues surrounding the idea of releasing an apology for the ban.\u00a0 As an exercise in curiosity, I tried to compile many of the most important statements of Church leaders and official statements of the Church on the subject into a document with a similar word count to “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (with some adaptation for inclusiveness and flow).\u00a0 I’ll share it below.\u00a0 Let me know what you think (both about the idea and the compilation).<\/p>\n
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In theology and practice, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces the universal human family. \u00a0Latter-day Saint scripture and teachings affirm that God loves all of His children and makes salvation available to all.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n We are brothers and sisters, each of us the child of a loving Father in Heaven. \u00a0His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, invites all to come unto Him.[2]<\/a> \u00a0The Church proclaims that redemption through\u00a0Jesus Christ\u00a0is available to the entire human family on the conditions God has prescribed. \u00a0It affirms that God is \u201cno respecter of persons\u201d\u00a0and emphatically declares that anyone who is righteous\u2014regardless of race\u2014is favored of Him.[3]<\/a>\u00a0 As the Book of Mormon teaches, \u201call are alike unto God\u201d (2 Nephi 26:33).[4]<\/a><\/p>\n The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God\u2019s children. \u00a0Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent![5]<\/a>\u00a0 No man or woman who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself or herself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he or she consider him or herself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ.[6]<\/a>\u00a0 White supremacist attitudes are morally wrong and sinful, and we condemn them. Church members who promote or pursue a \u201cwhite culture\u201d or white supremacy agenda are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church.[7]<\/a>\u00a0 We should hasten to prepare our attitudes and our actions\u2014institutionally and personally\u2014to abandon all personal prejudices.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n Admittedly, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have made mistakes. \u00a0There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.[9]<\/a>\u00a0 For example, in the past, many Saints wrongly viewed black people as inferior, believing that black skin was the result of God\u2019s curse on the biblical figures Cain and Ham.[10]<\/a>\u00a0 Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n We invite all people, organizations, and governmental units to work with greater civility, eliminating prejudice of all kinds.[12]<\/a> It behooves each of us to do whatever we can in our spheres of influence to preserve the dignity and respect every son and daughter of God deserves.[13]<\/a> We believe that it is a moral evil for any person or group of persons to deny any human being the right to gainful employment, to full educational opportunity, and to every privilege of citizenship, just as it is a moral evil to deny him the right to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience.[14]<\/a>\u00a0 We call upon all men and women, everywhere, both within and outside the Church, to commit themselves to the establishment of full civil equality for all of God’s children. Anything less than this defeats our high ideal of the family of humankind.[15]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (Edited 8 July 2020 and 10 July to remove phrases that, after discussing them, seemed in appropriate to include.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> “Race and the Priesthood,” Gospel Topics Essays, <\/em>https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/manual\/gospel-topics-essays\/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng<\/a><\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Russell M. Nelson, “President Nelson Shares Social Post about Racism and Calls for Respect for Human Dignity,”\u00a0Church Newsroom<\/em>, 1 June 2020,\u00a0https:\/\/newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org\/article\/president-nelson-shares-social-post-encouraging-understanding-and-civility<\/a>.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> “Race and the Priesthood,” Gospel Topics Essays, <\/em>https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/manual\/gospel-topics-essays\/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng<\/a><\/p>\n [4]<\/a> “Church Issues Statement on Situation in Charlottesville, Virginia,”\u00a0Church Newsroom<\/em>, 13 August 2017, updated 15 August 2017,\u00a0https:\/\/newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org\/article\/church-statement-charlottesville-virginia?__prclt=tNTTIVsb<\/a><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Russell M. Nelson, “President Nelson Shares Social Post about Racism and Calls for Respect for Human Dignity,”\u00a0Church Newsroom<\/em>, 1 June 2020,\u00a0https:\/\/newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org\/article\/president-nelson-shares-social-post-encouraging-understanding-and-civility<\/a>.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Based on Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Need for Greater Kindness,” Conference Report, April 2006, https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/general-conference\/2006\/04\/the-need-for-greater-kindness?lang=eng<\/a>.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> “Church Issues Statement on Situation in Charlottesville, Virginia,”\u00a0Church Newsroom<\/em>, 13 August 2017, updated 15 August 2017,\u00a0https:\/\/newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org\/article\/church-statement-charlottesville-virginia?__prclt=tNTTIVsb<\/a><\/p>\n [8]<\/a> Dallin H. Oaks, “President Oaks Remarks at Worldwide Priesthood Celebration,” Church Newsroom<\/em>, 1 June 2018,\u00a0https:\/\/newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org\/article\/president-oaks-remarks-worldwide-priesthood-celebration<\/a>.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> Based on Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come, Join With Us,” Conference Report, October 2013, https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/general-conference\/2013\/10\/come-join-with-us?lang=eng<\/a>.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> Based on\u00a0Saints, Volume 2: No Unhallowed Hand, 1846-1893<\/em> (Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), 71, https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/liahona\/2019\/12\/05-bowed-down-to-the-grave?lang=eng<\/a>.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> “Race and the Priesthood,” Gospel Topics Essays, <\/em>https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/manual\/gospel-topics-essays\/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng<\/a><\/p>\n [12]<\/a> Russell M. Nelson, cited in “First Presidency, NAACP National Leaders Call for Civility, Talk Possible Future Efforts Together,”\u00a0Church News<\/em>, 17 May 2018, https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/church\/news\/first-presidency-naacp-national-leaders-call-for-civility-talk-possible-future-efforts-together?lang=eng<\/a>.<\/p>\n [13]<\/a> Russell M. Nelson, “President Nelson Shares Social Post about Racism and Calls for Respect for Human Dignity,”\u00a0Church Newsroom<\/em>, 1 June 2020,\u00a0https:\/\/newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org\/article\/president-nelson-shares-social-post-encouraging-understanding-and-civility<\/a>.<\/p>\n [14]<\/a> Church statement read by Hugh B. Brown, in Conference Report, October 1963, p. 91.<\/p>\n