What did Mormons used to believe about black people?

Answer 1

That they were the cursed sons of Ham. I remember one discussing it in the 1970s.

Answer 2

Simply put, the Mormon chruch was officially a racist organization prior to 1978.

The " Pearl of Great Price," one of four recognized Mormon texts, prohibits the inclusion of any african american or anyone with african american ancestry.

Statements like "And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites" (3 Nephi 2:15, The Book of Mormon) is not uncommon in MormonTexts.

In 1978 the church claims to have had another revalation from God that the church should lift its racial exclusion policy. In other words, it wasn't that they were wrong all those years, it was just that it took that long for God to accept African Americans.

Sidebar: Christopher Hitchens makes a compelling point: Mitt Romney was an adult in 1978, and therefore he should be required to explain how he reconciled these beliefs.

Answer 3

Most churches have a past history of discrimination (Catholics discriminated against Jews and Muslims in the middle ages, southern Protestants discriminated against African Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries, some Muslims have discriminated against "infidels" in recent years, etc). Unfortunately, in the past (before I was born), Mormons taught some of the same things about blacks that Southern Protestants taught (Curse of Cain/Ham, etc) and so did not allow blacks to hold leadership positions in the church. Unlike Southern Protestants, however, Mormons never segragated their congregations and always taught that blacks could go to heaven.

However, all that changed decades ago. Modern Mormonism is very much opposed to discrimination of any kind. Ironically, many who discriminate against us (professional anti-Mormons) hypocritically accuse us of being discriminators!

The Mormon Church is not a racist church. I'm Mormon, and my wife is black. We were married 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.

Many anti-Mormons, however, intentionally misrepresent Mormon teachings in an attempt to discredit Mormonism. I've written about this type of discrimination on my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com/brief_critique_anti-mormon_propaganda.php . Pay careful attention to the video at http://www.allaboutmormons.com/ENG_Video62.php .

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

Also, to see videos of black Mormons, visit these sites:

http://www.allaboutmormons.com/ENG_Video44.php
http://www.allaboutmormons.com/ENG_Video76.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6VOBVDcSec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8V0oh2lNA0

Answer 4

1st of all what God did to Cain was not necessarily a curse.
it was a mark. so that he was known as a murderer. and people would not kill him or be killed by him. it was a act of chastisement and an act of protection.
the LDS church are not racist, they did prohibit blacks from entering the priesthood.for several years, but in no way do they infer that they are inferior,as a matter of fact, in alot of instances they regard them as superior. and the reason for the PARTIAL prohibit in the priesthood was because they were considered descendants of Cain. they also prohibited alot of whites from the priesthood. and Some black men did hold the Mormon Priesthood before 1978! But except in the case of Elijah Abel and his descendants, and Walker Lewis, all men of Hamitic lineage (bloodline) were forbidden to hold the LDS Priesthood before 1978. However, black-skinned men of non-Hamitic lineages, like the Dravidians of India, the Aborigines of Australia, the Melansians of Fiji and Melanesia, and the Negritoes of the Philipines and Indonesia, all had a right to the Priesthood, and those who were worthy Members of the Church held it before 1978

Answer 5

We have always said that they were children of God, just like anyone. We don't really know what the curse of Cain was. Some speculate it was dark skin, but we don't know.

At the beginning of the church, blacks weren't permitted to hold the priesthood, at least those of African decent. I don't know why this is, I just know it happened.

Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") are often unfairly and improperly accused of being racists. Racist attitudes in various forms have permeated human civilization throughout the ages, and white Latter-day Saints in the past often shared the same assumptions and attitudes that were dominant among white Americans.

Yes, racist views have existed in the Church and among some of its members, especially in past days when it permeated American society, but for decades we have been moving past that and are more fully embracing the core doctrines of the Church in LDS scriptures: namely, that we are all precious children of a loving Heavenly Father, and salvation is open to all, regardless of race.

Answer 6

That people of African descent were cursed by God.

Not that it makes it any better, but many religions still believe that....we don't anymore.

As far as the priesthood is concerned, Joseph smith never said that blacks ought not hold the priesthood.In fact, he ordained several to the position. It was Brigham Young that said that, and he will pay one day for leading God's people astray, bank on that.

Answer 7

along time ago the Nephites and Lamanites lived in the America's one of the groups ( I am not sure which one) turned against God and he cursed them with dark skin. Later they came back to God and he made their skin light again. Later the LDS church did not let any dark skin people in their church, then later they allowed them but would not let them have leadership postions. Now it is not an issue at all.

Answer 8

Fathers sinned at one point. Lost priesthood.

Answer 9

They believe that because Cain murdered his brother Abel, blacks have the curse of Cain. That still remains in their documents, by the way.

God bless!

Answer 10

That they had dark skin because they were cursed. That they were the cursed descendants of Ham, more specifically.

Answer 11

This is a speach from Brigham Young a so called prophet of God. Then notice his first remark. "From a prophet"

http://209.85.173.104/u/utlm?q=cache:94Y1VUrKQgAJ:www.utlm.org/onlineresources/sermons_talks_interviews/brigham1852feb5_priesthoodandblacks.htm+blacks&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

Like the person below me, most of their followers dont even know what they used to teach.