Why is the Mormon church so viciously racist?

Question

Why is the Mormon church so viciously racist, as evidenced here? http://realmormonhistory.com/god&skin.htm

Answer 1

There is no racism taught in the Church.
The Church is a worldwide Church and is striving to bring all of the world to Christ regardless of race.
There are more members of the Church now living outside of the USA than in the USA.

the Church has varying degrees of growth among its members throughout the world. For example, the Church has relatively slow growth in Northern Europe, where many other churches are declining. It has steady and manageable growth in the United States, and is expanding rapidly in Africa, the Philippines, and South America.

Church Diversity Breaks Stereotypes
In Harlem, an African-American bishop leads his congregation in prayer. In Miami, neighbors enter a bright yellow chapel and greet each other in Haitian. In Salt Lake City, a teacher instructs her New Testament class in Chinese.

This picture is a striking contrast to the stereotypical image many have of members of the Church in the United States as white, middle-class people from Utah. Yet it accurately portrays the changing face of Church membership, which is becoming increasingly diverse, mirroring a wide range of cultures and experiences.

For example, in the United States, more than 150 Latter-day Saint congregations speak a total of 20 different languages, including Polish, Navajo, Russian, Spanish, and German.

Much of the Church’s growth is attributed to the global volunteer missionary program, the largest of its kind in the world. More than 52,000 missionaries teach in 347 missions in more than 140 nations.

The Church is also growing more diverse internationally. More than half of all Church members now reside outside of the United States, a milestone that was reached in February 1996.

Such growth among diverse cultures and nations has become the Church’s primary challenge. To help meet it, the Church translates scriptures, conference proceedings, satellite broadcasts, curriculum manuals, magazines, software, Web site information, and other materials into more than 100 languages. As a result, the Church’s translation system is one of the largest in the world.

With dramatic growth comes the challenge of unifying Latter-day Saints of many cultures. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that the growing diversity among the members is simply a condition, not a Church goal. The real goal is unity, not diversity. “We preach unity among the community of Saints and tolerance toward the personal differences that are inevitable in the beliefs and conduct of a diverse population,” he said.

As a result, efforts are made to teach Latter-day Saints around the world the doctrines of the Church and to train local leaders without imposing American culture.

“Sometimes our culture and the Western culture are very different,” said Seung Hwun Ko, a Church member from Seoul, Korea, “but when we talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ, we meet.”

Answer 2

Ironic.....

"Viciously racist".......that's the KKK, not the Mormons.

The website you reference is one made by people who are actively trying to slander Mormons. Not a great place for unbiased information.

In the old testament only the Levites could hold the priesthood. Does this mean God hated everyone else?

Women can't hold the preisthood in Mormonism as well as many other churches.....are you saying that God hates women?

You clearly don't understand modern revelation, prophets, or what the priesthood is. You should learn before you post things you know little about.

Additionally, Utah sided with the North during the Civil war (...where was the "Bible Belt" on that issue anyway???) There were not slaves in Utah.

The ironic thing is that you're viciously attacking Mormons generically while accusing them of doing the same (which they're not)...

..........Isn't that called HYPOCRITICAL?????

Answer 3

I am not aware of any viciously racist acts committed by Mormons. In fact, blacks have been welcomed as members of the Church since the earliest days of its existence.

I will point out a few things, however, which I think are worthy of noting. Most of the quotes from your linked website are pulled from racist times in U.S. History. It was probably considered "normal" until about 1970 or so for white people to be racist and prejudiced against black people. That's just the way society was. Even after the civil rights movement, racist tendencies persisted.

Another comment I'd like to make is that none of the quotes in your website are considered Church doctrine (with the exception of the Book of Mormon quotes, but in this case many scholars agree that the dark skin spoken of is metaphorical, not literal; this is evidenced by one of the quotes cited from Juvenile Instructor). Leaders of the Church are free to speak anything from the pulpit, but unless it is canonized, it is not official Church doctrine.

As far as the denial of priesthood to blacks is concerned, we do not know why this was done. My personal opinion on this matter (and remember, this is not doctrine) is that God knew the Church would never survive its early years if blacks were granted priesthood authority in racist America, and when God decided that the white people were humble enough, he allowed blacks to be given the priesthood. Imagine the chaos that might result if a black slave was the priesthood leader over his white owner, for example. I am one who believes Brigham Young was racist (just look at some of his comments), but for a white man living in the 1800s this was perfectly fine.

What is also interesting to note is that the Mormons accepted blacks into their church while other predominately white churches excluded them completely. The ban on the priesthood only made it more obvious, because in LDS churches every worthy male is able to have the priesthood, while in other churches such authority is only possessed by the pastor.

I've said enough now, but to sum it up... racism is not a part of Mormon doctrine, although some members of the Church did have racist attitudes. Remember, most if not all of these quotes come from individuals who lived in a racist society.

Answer 4

My brother is black and he not only holds the Melkezdiek (I think I spelt it wrong) Priesthood but he also worked as a the Branch Clerk. Never in the four years of being involved in the Church have I ever detected a hint of racism.
I can assure you that it is not racist at all, and that site is not accurate.

Here's a better one:

lds.org

Hey jae, I go to the bright yellow church in Miami :P, and I speak Haitian Creole, and youre absolutely right. We sing in hymns in french and have all of the classes including sacrament meeting in Creole. We also use a Creole and or French Book of Mormon.

Answer 5

I don't believe they are NOW, but from what I've read, I think that in the past, some of the leaders had racist tendencies. I'm not an authority on Mormonism, but I think the facts will bear that out.

Answer 6

I doubt so many blacks and Asians and Pacific Islanders and other minorities would ever join our church if we were racist, but the way they are joining, puts lie to that statement.

I know that there are some Mormons who are racist. Every church has some. It's sad and unfortunate. But a fact of life.

Answer 7

I hate to break it to you, but a website set up by anti-Mormon bigots is not "evidence" of anything. Have you ever thought about asking Mormons what they believe instead of asking Mormon haters about Mormons beliefs? I'm Mormon, and my wife is black. We were sealed in a Mormon temple, where the officiator told us that God approved of our marriage. My wife is treated well at church, as are the other African American members of our congregation. I've had a black bishop in several different Mormon congregations of which I've been a member.

To learn more about racial diversity in the Mormon church, visit http://www.allaboutmormons.com/racial_diversity_mormon_church.php .

Answer 8

Then why is the majority of Mormons non-white minorities? Sorry, but an antimormon site isn't real evidence.

Answer 9

Well, you can give us anti-Mormon sites, or you can listen to us. One of my best friends is black. I have other black friends who are Mormons. I am not racist.

Answer 10

Hey, are you related to Ed Decker?

Biased sites are going to offer biased views.