Mormonism taught for years that people were black because they were being punished for the sins of a past life. In recent decades however and during the civil rights era when people were boycotting BYU games because of such beliefs mormons suddenly dropped this belief.
This leaves one question: Does real mormonism really teach this and people who claim to be mormons deny what they really believe for the sake of convenience OR with this about face has Mormonism been proven to be a false religion?
I am glad they have dropped the openly racist attitude but the above question still begs for an answer.
2007-01-04 04:19:46 · 17 answers · asked by chuck3011 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
distind- Christians never taught that the earth was flat- secular scientists of the time did though. The Bible mentions at least twice the existence of a circular world.
2007-01-04 04:30:32 · update #1
I doubt our church changed its policy just because some people protesting at a football game. There really is no argument at all because Spencer W. Kimball our Prophet at the time. Received a revelation that worthy men of any race are now able to hold the priesthood. Modern revelation trumps earlier revelations. For example, Peter, after the Savour had been killed received a revelation changing the races that the early Apostles would take the Gospel too. Before that revelation recorded in the book of Acts (chapter 10) in the New Testament,
only members of the house of Israel (Jews) were considered worthy to hear the Gospel. Peter's revelation changed church policy at that time. Peter was commanded to take the Gospel to the Gentiles after that. Was Jesus a racist because he would not heal or preach to any other people except Jews? It wasn't their time yet for the Gospel just like it wasn't everyone time
to have the priesthood, until the Lord declared it was time. Anyone who says different doesn't understand the scriptures because this is plainly taught in the Bible about how the Lord changes his "programs and polcies" to fit the different people and the times they are in. The Lord changed the Law of Moses that was given to Moses centuries earlier. Does this make
Moses a fake? A false prophet? We have to realize that the Lord can and does change programs but the gospel never changes.
By the way, I will never convince someone who already has their mind made up so arguing with people is a waste of time. Remember what they are not interested in learning, they only
want to believe what they want to believe. All people see truth, not for what it is but how they are.
2007-01-07 17:36:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Chuck, perhaps you're not old enough to remember what happened at BYU and with the LDS church. I am.
The attempted boycott of BYU games by University of Wyoming athletes never took place, but it was in the 1960's. The revelation extending the priesthood to faithful men of all races was received in 1978, long after any proposed boycotts, and when the turmoil of the 1960s was but a memory. In short, political pressure was NOT what changed the church's policy.
Reasons for not ordaining blacks were not offered by God, and the gap was filled by several men, who proposed different explainations. The one you pick is the most inflamatory I've ever heard, and your post was the first time I've heard it -- and I've been investigating charges against my faith for decades! My own take? I just don't think the general membership was yet ready to treat blacks as full brothers and sisters.
Few churches have a great record on race relations, but at least The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints never established seperate denominations for blacks or attempted to use scripture to justify slavery.
Today, my stake president (the head of all the congregations in this part of the state) is a black man, who is a wonderful leader. I'd follow him anywhere, no mater what color his skin happens to be.
2007-01-08 02:41:06 · answer #2 · answered by Larry L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't have my books at work tonight but here are a couple of ideas. I have read "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R. McConkie (who died around 1985) and I believe what you are referring to is something about how Elder McConkie thought there were valiant spirits in the pre-earth life, and less valiant spirits. Whether or not someone is black or not is not 100% dependent on what someone did in the pre-earth life. Skin color is not even dependent on what you do in this life, either - that is a function of melanin. However, at some times, God has changed the skin color of small groups of people, usually as a distinguishing sign or to keep different family organizations distinct from other family organizations.
Regarding the extension of the Priesthood to the blacks in 1978, I know that Pres. Spencer W. Kimball spent a long time praying about that. To the person who said it had something to do with basketball - sorry, but at his age I don't think Pres. Kimball was concerned about basketball. I do have the biography of Pres. Kimball's wife Camilla at home packed away somewhere. It might be interesting to see what she had to say about that, or to read from Pres. Kimball's biography itself.
Have a happy day.
2007-01-04 21:53:38 · answer #3 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kudos to neil_ritz - GREAT answer.
I have been a Mormon my whole life and have never been taught that. I think in the book "Mormon Doctrine" (which is by the way one member's opinions on the gospel and not actual "doctrine") he talks a little bit about the curse put upon Cain which could have been dark or black skin. I doubt anyone, besides God himself, knows for sure why black people are black or chinese are chinese or whites are white or whatever.
One thing you can be 100% sure of, the prophet will never "drop" a commandment or revelation just because the world wants him to. Any thing done in the church is direct revelation from the Lord, it is after all his church.
And revelation only proves revelation is still going on.
Let me ask you this:
Do you believe God spoke to his prophets of old?
Do you believe God gave commandments to his ancient prophets?
Do you believe He is still God, the same then as now?
Do you believe He loves us as much as the people in the bible times?
If you answered yes to all those questions...
Did God cease to be God when the bible was written? NO.
Does He loves us any less than those bible people? NO.
Then why would he not talk to a prophet in this day and age????
2007-01-04 13:41:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I thought they identified blackness with the "mark of Cain," not the wrongs of a past life. I'm pretty sure Mormons don't believe in past lives. In either case, the BYU basketball games were boycotted because they banned African American males from the priesthood, a policy the church changed in 1978.
I asked a Mormon about this. He said that church policies are decided through revelations from God. What this means is that, prior to 1978, God didn't want Blacks as priests, but then He changed His mind. Who knew He was paying attention to basketball?
Altogether ridiculous.
2007-01-04 12:26:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
We never teaches "black" is a punishment, you twist a lot of words.
We certainly do not teach "sins of past life", we do not believe in reincarnation as you implied.
Our church run by inspire revealation, not by any man's ideas.
How and when God instruct us is entirely his choice, we just follow.
If you could not accept our way, then why don't you ask, how come Jesus Christ was born among the Jews.
How come the gospel is not preach all over the world until the modern day?
The bottom line is, you hear it but understood not, you see, but you know not.
2007-01-04 15:58:04 · answer #6 · answered by Wahnote 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Mainstream Christianity taught for centuries that the earth was flat and everything else moved about it.
Has Christianity been proven wrong or is it true?
Wait, no.
And I'm fairly sure it was the Indian skin colors which were originally set to be the punishment. Since they were supposedly at one point white and then did ... something which I can't remember, which is all later read out of a hat by Smith.
2007-01-04 12:24:07 · answer #7 · answered by distind 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Mormons- Is being black a punishment for sins in a past life or has your religion been proven to be false?
This belief SUDDENLY Changed when the USA Government tipped them off that it was going to Prosecute for Racism.
Thy also changed PUBLIC face with need for two wives to attain heaven..........................now they have a secular wife and a Temple Wife!
Tricky Hay Wott!
2007-01-04 12:24:15 · answer #8 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I remember a story from our African elder here in Austria(JW), he was visiting another african woman for a bible study, when he arrived there was another visitor, a Mormon. The mormon politely said hello and invited the elder to join and ask questions if he would like. The elder complied and asked;"Is it true that black people cannot be ministers in your church?" The mormon fell silent and left afterwards.
I guess they still believe that about blacks....
2007-01-04 12:29:33 · answer #9 · answered by Tomoyo K 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think they stillhave the curse of cain being black skin, you will have to read a Mormon KJV to find out and I thinkl they still teach that when their war in heaven occured (preexistence)...let me back up. Satan and Jesus were suppose to be brothers and jesus wanted to let everyone have freewill, and satan wanted to force everyone to do what was right, God liked Jesus's plan. So Satan warred in heaven. The people that have whote skin were for Jesus, the onece that had light-dark skin were kind of for jesus and kind fo for satan and the once for satan were black. the curse of the Lamenite in their book of Mormon is still black skin. You will have to get one of their books and read that for yourself to.
2007-01-04 12:30:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋