Mormons, the mormons were kicked out of Clay County in 1836 for their pro slavery abolishment attitudes.?

Question

How did they later come to accept the revelation that black people could not recieve the priesthood?

Shorty, did you even read my question?

I think you guys are missing my point. I'm saying that mormons wanted to get rid of slavery. Other people in Clay County wanted to keep slavery, so they kicked the mormons out.
Then later, the mormons just accepted that it wasn't ok for black people to recieve the priesthood?

Answer 1

I think after the third or fourth wagon train they hijacked and destroyed they had a revelation from the Angel Macaroni.

Answer 2

Remember that Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was a Northerner and, thus, many of his initial followers were as well. Missouri was a slave state.

The Mormons were kicked out of the state of Missouri, not just Clay County, for a number of other reasons as well. For example, the governor at the time drafted an extermination order for all Mormons. That's why they fled to Nauvoo.

The irony of this is that the Kansas City area - Jackson County, specifically, and even more specifically, Independence - is considered holy land to Mormons.

To answer your second question, I'm not sure about the revelation regarding blacks and the priesthood. That decision was reversed in 1978.

Answer 3

Many faiths have been persecuted in the past; Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Mennonites (Ana-baptist), Amish, and Mormons. To say that the reason the Mormon were kicked out of Clay County because of the churches stance on slavery is missing a bigger picture. There was also the stance of polygamy, and the fear of other churches losing members to the new faith. Also, early historical accounts of blacks being refused the priesthood is a bit false. There were some black men that were given the priesthood. In an account given by Joseph Smith while atempting to confer the priesthood on a black brethren, he had an uneasy feeling about this and went to pray about it. I believe received a revelation that the time was not right for them to receive the priesthood. We as Latter Day Saints who raised their hands to sustain the president of the church as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, also holds all the keys of Priesthood. We believe that God will not allow a prophet or any other General Authority to lead his flock astray. Many of the black members accepted the reasons and lived amongst the other members happily knowing that in the future, their decendents would finally hold the priesthood. That came in 1978 when Spencer W. Kimball had a revelation and relayed it to all the members of the church, stating that all worthy males, regardless of color or race could hold the priesthood. Unfortunately, not every member of the church agreed and left the faith.

Answer 4

Mormons believe that slavery is wrong. They also believe that God wanted to withhold the priesthood from black people - at least until 1978. God loves all of His children, and He didn't withhold the priesthood because He doesn't love blacks. He didn't withhold the priesthood because He thought they were inferior to whites. We do not know the reason God does many of the things He does. The Mormons had no ill feelings towards blacks, and they did not believe blacks were inferior. All the Mormons I know were happy when God finally permitted blacks to hold the priesthood.

Answer 5

You are equating or confusing the two separate issues of slavery and blacks-and the priesthood. They are mutually exclusive. One can hold the position that slavery is not acceptable and against God's will for human kind and should not be accepted, yet also hold a position that God can give his priesthood to whomever he, God, chooses to give it to.

At the time in history you point out, the Mormons held that slavery was wrong, that one man cannot own another. Yet, they also held the position that God was not choosing to give the priesthood to blacks at that time.

As you know, in 1978, God revealed his desire to allow all mankind, if worthy, to be able to hold the priesthood.

In addition to supporting the no slavery position, they were "kicked out" of Missouri also due to their increasing political and economic power base. They "kicking out" was done violently with innocent lives being taken.

Answer 6

That's a very good question. My friend grew up mormon and he told me that the reason blacks could not receive the priesthood was because blacks were considered children of Cain and "inherently evil". Then in 1975, some dude had a dream (not MLK) that all men are created equal and the black priesthood ban was lifted. If what my friend tells me is true, then perhaps the flip-flopping can be attributed to the dreams (called revelations) they keep having.

Answer 7

Sorry, I will change it.

1879: Abraham Smoot and Zebedee Coltrin Claim Joseph Smith Instituted the Priesthood Ban

Smoot, who owned two slaves, and Coltrin claim that Joseph Smith instituted the ban in the 1830s and dropped Abel from the priesthood. (L. John Nuttal diary, May 31, 1879, p. 170, Special Collections, BYU). Coltrin is working from an old memory and makes several factual errors. Joseph F. Smith provides the two certificates indicating Abel's status as a Seventy, which contradict Coltrin's claims, as does Abel's patriarchal blessing, which is read aloud at the meeting. Joseph F. Smith says he thinks Brother Coltrin's memory is incorrect.

One interesting note that may be relevant if accurate: Both Coltrin and Smoot claim to have asked Joseph Smith what to do with the "Negroes in the Southern States." "[The Prophet] said I could baptize them by the consent of their masters, but not to confer the priesthood upon them." (Above sources as quoted in Neither White nor Black, Bush and Mauss, Signature Books, pg. 60.)

1895: Joseph F. Smith Claims Abel was Ordained Under Direction of Joseph Smith
The Quorum of the Twelve discuss the black issue again. Joseph F. Smith is a strong advocate that Joseph meant for blacks to received the priesthood. In contrast, George Q. Cannon asserts that Joseph Smith instituted the ban, but says it is second-hand information he heard from John Taylor.

1900: President Lorenzo Snow Expresses Doubts On the Issue.
On August 18, 1900, President Lorenzo Snow states that he isn't sure whether the existing explanations for the ban had been personal opinions or actual revelations. This is recorded in the minutes of the Council of the Twelve.

1908: Joseph F. Smith Changes His Position Relative to Blacks
Joseph F. Smith abandons his former position on Elijah Abel's status and now claims that Joseph Smith declared Abel's ordination "null and void." (Council Minutes, 26 August, as quoted in Neither White nor Black, Signature Books, pg. 140) Historians today don't understand this reversal, as Smith had Abel's ordination certificates which supported his earlier (strongly held) position and don't support his new views.

1949: First Presidency Statement on Blacks and Priesthood
"The attitude of the Church with reference to the Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time."

In their defense of these privileges the members of the Church will stand." (Answers to Gospel Questions 2:185)

Smith goes on to say "if a ***** is baptized and remains true and loyal, he will enter the celestial kingdom." But he also says, "but we cannot promise him that he will receive the priesthood."

I hope I did better this time! Other than this, I just don't know.

Answer 8

It is commandments to love your enemies, and people that are considered "inferior" in some ways. That is, you are supposed to love even the “descendants of Cane”. And with that love, try to help in whatever ways you can, even if that means being anti slavery.

It’s just like when someone sins, that makes them un-temple worthy, but not necessarily jail worthy.

I think Josephs thinking went something like this: While Gods’ decree makes’ them un-priesthood worthy, it doesn’t necessarily make them slave worthy.

Of course being born in the Northern anti slavery states may of had something to do with it to.

Answer 9

The Mormons believe we all lived in Heaven with Heavenly Father, several Heavenly Mothers, and 20 Billion Heavenly Siblings before we were born here on Earth. Then there was a war. The good guys won and were born White. The bad guys lost and became demons. Those who were neutral or did not fight bravely were born with non-white skin. The bravest of the brave were born to Mormon families.

We all know that Romney must have been a "Valliant Warrior" in the "War in Heaven" during the "Pre-Existence". How else could he have been born "White and Delightsome" to an LDS family here on Earth? Heck, he was probably one of the Commanding Generals . Now , America needs a President with valuable military experience like that to get us through our war in Iraq. Could you please ask "The One and Only True Prophet", Gordon Hinkley, to please release those valuable records to the public? We need to know what battles he fought in. How many medals he won. How many of the "Less Valliant Soldiers" he recommended being born with black skin when they got their chance to be born on Earth. Was Al Sharpton one of THEM ? How about Jesse Jackson? Mormons, this is your chance to show the world the light of the everlasting gospel. Dont miss out. We have General Romney running for president of the USA and we need you badly right now!

Answer 10

What can we say about the Mormons that has not been said before? They follow a false prophet in the form of Joseph Smith, and write their own doctrine. Fortunately for them they have not fully discarded the Holy Bible.