What, when and why did the Mormons change their belief that blacks could not get into heaven?

Question

This was stated by the woman leading a tour group on the Mormon Temple grounds in 1968 or 69 in my presence and three round eyed young black men who were undoubtedly well educated, well groomed and well mannered.

Answer 1

Here's the history of Mormons and "blacks":

1851
The first edition of the Pearl of Great Price, including the "Book of Moses" and the "Book of Abraham," is printed (see 1835d cross-dates). Moses 7:8 and Abraham 1:21-27 become "scriptural basis" for denying priesthood to Blacks of African descent (see 1854b cross-dates).

1854
Brigham Young speaks on those with a Black skin, the descendants of Cain, and the priesthood. "When all the other children of Adam have had the privilege of receiving the Priesthood...and have received their resurrection from the dead, then it will be time enough to remove the curse from Cain and his posterity" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 143). (See 1851, 1866a, 1945c, 1954b, 1958, 1978b, c, 1979a, b.)

1866
Brigham Young reiterates his stance on the Blacks gaining the Priesthood. "And when all the rest of the children have received their blessing in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse shall be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, p. 272). (See 1854b cross-dates.)

1945
Joseph Fielding Smith, who would become the tenth prophet, explains further about Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood. "Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. A curse was placed upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so while time endures. Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a black skin and have been denied the privilege of Priesthood and the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel" (The Way to Perfection, p. 101; emphasis added). (See 1854b cross-dates.)

1978
Spencer W. Kimball claims to receive revelation giving all "worthy males" the priesthood (Deseret News, June 9). This likewise grants permission to the Black race to be married in the Mormon temple and removes any built-in immunity Blacks had against becoming Mormons. (See 1854b cross-dates.)

In a speech to teachers in the Church Educational System, Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie dismisses former doctrine prohibiting Blacks from the priesthood, including his own statements, as mere human opinion: "There are statements in our literature by the early brethren which we have interpreted to mean that the Negroes would not receive the priesthood in mortality. I have said the same things, and people write me letters and say, 'You said such and such, and how is it now that we do such and such?' And all I can say to that is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world" (McConkie, All Are Alike Unto God; emphasis added). Interestingly, people deprived of "modern revelation" had for decades possessed sufficient "light and knowledge" to be urging the Mormon church to give up its racist policy. (See 1854b cross-dates.)

1979
God's "eternal laws of justice" (see 1958) having changed, McConkie is forced to publish revised edition of his book, Mormon Doctrine, to keep it current with the new "light and knowledge" concerning Blacks and the priesthood. (See 1854b cross dates.)

Despite its earlier exposure as a fraud, and despite the claimed revelation extending the Mormon priesthood to Blacks (the text of which has never been printed) the Church continues to publish as sacred scripture the Book of Abraham, containing the teaching (see 1851) on which the prohibition was based. (See also 1854b cross-dates.)

Answer 2

You didn't mention if they were members of the Morg. I had run into a few african americans prior to 1978 who were members. I couldn't understand why, though.

Also, I remember the after the 1978 'revelation', the general membership held two opinions: one was that "It's about time", and the other was "There goes the neighborhood.."

The church didn't go out of their way to recruit blacks before '78, and a friend of mine once remarked "If they had been members, they'd have ruined the church welfare system".

I'm impressed by what you saw in 69-69, but do understand that was a startling rarity considering the church's teachings and mindset.

Answer 3

In all the years that I was a good LDS young man never was it taught that anyone couldn't except LDS Baptism which was the entry key to the Celestial Kingdom. What was denied them was the Priesthood. I am thankful to the Lord God for pulling me out of that error ans showing me the true Way.. Jesus Christ.. It was eye opening to me to find out that the first non Jew to enter the Church was a black man.. God preformed a miracle to have him learn of Christ. I guess that goes to show that in God's site we are all more precious than fine Gold.. Personally we have to become like God and see each other to be of that same value... Jim

Answer 4

We never believed that blacks could not get into heaven. That's silly. Probably some Mormons did believe this, but it was NEVER taught by our prophets or apostles, or at least, it shouldn't have been. Just because they couldn't hold the priesthood until 1978 does not mean they could not get into heaven.

Answer 5

If you want further information about this, have a look at the book "Revelations of Convenience" by Floyd McElveen. It gives a good background to all the questions that you ask. Largely, it is because the missions efforts to the "Lamanites" were not meeting with many conversions.

Answer 6

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has never had any official doctrine that black folks are 'inferior' in any way, shape, or form to people of other races. In fact, The Book of Mormon says quite clearly:

"And he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness, and he denieth none that come unto him, black or white, bond or free, male or female, and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God." (2 Nephi 26:33)
Have some Mormon apostles believed that "Negroes" were inferior?

Yes, absolutely! Most Mormon apostles held the same general beliefs about black folks as did the vast great majority of white Americans for their day. Brigham Young, the second President of the Church, held essentially the same beliefs about black folks as did Abraham Lincoln.

Mormons do not believe that their Presidents and Apostles are infallible, nor all-knowing. They were the children of their times. Just about all Mormon Presidents and Apostles held the same views of black folks as did the vast great majority of white Americans for their day and culture. Today, we might call that a "moderately racist" view; as did the vast great majority of other white Americans who were Catholics and Protestants and Jews.

The same is true for white Mormons in general. Yankee (New England) Mormons held essential the same view of black folks as most other Yankee Americans. Mormons from Southern states generally held the same view as other whites from the South, and so on.

Today (2005 A.D.), the vast great majority of white Mormons hold the same view of black folks as do the great majority of white Americans; that black folks should live where they want, work where they want, get educated where they want, marry whom they wish, and enjoy all the same priviledges and rights as any American

Answer 7

1978 blacks were allowed the priesthood

PS Above I don't know about that, can you provide a link?
Mormons teach that those who fell with Satan never recieve a physical body, so knowing the color of their skin is impossible, and then no black person would be on Earth, since again those who fell with Satan can't come to Earth.

Answer 8

Blacks were allowed to receive the priesthood in 1978.

To find out more about this doctrine, visit:
http://www.Mormon.org

Answer 9

God made "All" People, he is Not prejudice nor is his Kingdom filled with one color or religion of man or woman. Anyone who misquotes the Bible does so to suit their own needs and thoughts and not those of God.

Answer 10

They also used to believe that people from African decent were from Demons/angels that fell with satan!
Can you believe it?
But of course they don't talk about this anymore.
†