Mormon Dilemma 231

21 April

Race Issues in the Mormon Church

I was given a heads up about an article in the Deseret News published at the end of February.  (Thanks Sue!)  The link will be provided so you can read it for yourself sufficeth to say it culminated into the comment that racist theology was only the opinion of past leaders and considered to be “folklore” for future references. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765555339/LDS-Church-condemns-past-racism-inside-and-outside-the-church.html

My theory on this is that they’ll totally ignore their statements of folklore and do nothing with their beloved scriptures or they’ll quietly begin to change little things here and there like they did with 2 Nephi 30:6.

The article in Church owned Deseret News was in response to an article published in the Washington Post about racism in the Mormon Church when they interviewed a high profile BYU professor by the name of Randy Bott.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-genesis-of-a-churchs-stand-on-race/2012/02/22/gIQAQZXyfR_story.html The Church has done with him as they’ve done with others and thrown him under the bus. Below is their official response to what he said about the teachings in the Pearl of Great Price. Reminder: this guy is a professor of religion at BYU.

“29 FEBRUARY 2012 Church Statement Regarding ‘Washington Post’ Article on Race and the Church

The Church issued the following statement today in response to news media requests:

The positions attributed to BYU professor Randy Bott in a recent Washington Post article absolutely do not represent the teachings and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU faculty members do not speak for the Church. It is unfortunate that the Church was not given a chance to respond to what others said.

The Church’s position is clear—we believe all people are God’s children and are equal in His eyes and in the Church. We do not tolerate racism in any form.

For a time in the Church there was a restriction on the priesthood for male members of African descent.  It is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction began in the Church but what is clear is that it ended decades ago. Some have attempted to explain the reason for this restriction but these attempts should be viewed as speculation and opinion, not doctrine. The Church is not bound by speculation or opinions given with limited understanding.

We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church.”http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/racial-remarks-in-washington-post-article

Also see their comments and following links in the newsroom on race:

“Recently, the Church has also made the following statement on this subject:

“The origins of priesthood availability are not entirely clear. Some explanations with respect to this matter were made in the absence of direct revelation and references to these explanations are sometimes cited in publications. These previous personal statements do not represent Church doctrine.””  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/race-church

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/topic/race-relations

The statements from the Church that is anything less than an apology and outright prostration on the floor before God to repent means nothing.  For those who’ve either joined or were born into the Church aren’t fooled by the trickery being pulled off today.  

And then for those of us who are less than “white and delightsome their statements are nothing but a slap in the face.  I for one did not imagine those horrific things taught to me as a child in Sacrament meeting after meeting.  These things were/are taught to degrade and control. 

3 Responses to “Mormon Dilemma 231”

  1. Plant Electrician April 21, 2012 at 11:02 pm #

    Thanks for bringing up the change to 2 Nephi 30:6. I have a copy of the Book of Mormon published in 1950 and one published in 1994. The verse in the 1950 book ends like this: “…they shall be a white and delightsome people.” The same exact part in the 1994 book reads: “…they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.”

    • lifeafterministry April 21, 2012 at 11:54 pm #

      Isn’t it sad how they just brush it under the carpet with narry a word? When I first got out of the Church my jaw stayed in an open position for the first few years. All the lies, all the cover-ups…how sad for the people who are still ensnared and continue to think it’s just their imagination. Thanks for your insight!
      Michelle

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