This isn't really the place for an in-depth discussion of Mormon doctrine (and I don't really have the time today), so feel free to email me if you would like to continue the conversation.
But I will quickly correct a few of the mistakes in this conversation:
* There were black members of the Church before the lifting of the ban on the priesthood.
* Though Brigham Young characterized the priesthood ban as a "cursing" he was very clear that the priesthood would be available to people of African decent at some point in the future.
* Not being ordained to the priesthood never meant that blacks would be excluded from salvation. Through the practice of proxy ordinances for the dead, Mormon doctrine has always made clear that all would have the chance at salvation even if denied the opportunity to have the priesthood during this life.
* Limiting the priesthood, or even the preaching of the gospel, to a specific family is part of the Biblical pattern in both the Old and New Testaments.
* Though there was clearly some racism in the Mormon Church before 1978 (and probably still is today), the people I know who were part of the church at that time say it was limited. The official position then, as it is now, was of love and acceptance within the limitations they felt the Lord had set.
Conversations such as this one are valuable, but be aware that they tend to oversimplify complex topics.
A great book on the topic written by a black Mormon who joined the Church before 1978 is this one:
But I will quickly correct a few of the mistakes in this conversation:
* There were black members of the Church before the lifting of the ban on the priesthood.
* Though Brigham Young characterized the priesthood ban as a "cursing" he was very clear that the priesthood would be available to people of African decent at some point in the future.
* Not being ordained to the priesthood never meant that blacks would be excluded from salvation. Through the practice of proxy ordinances for the dead, Mormon doctrine has always made clear that all would have the chance at salvation even if denied the opportunity to have the priesthood during this life.
* Limiting the priesthood, or even the preaching of the gospel, to a specific family is part of the Biblical pattern in both the Old and New Testaments.
* Though there was clearly some racism in the Mormon Church before 1978 (and probably still is today), the people I know who were part of the church at that time say it was limited. The official position then, as it is now, was of love and acceptance within the limitations they felt the Lord had set.
Conversations such as this one are valuable, but be aware that they tend to oversimplify complex topics.
A great book on the topic written by a black Mormon who joined the Church before 1978 is this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Blacks-Mormon-Priesthood-Setting-Strai...