I was so ashamed of the priesthood ban when working with the missionaries prior to 1978 because I never saw the reason for it. In fact, while serving a two week mission in San Diego prior to my real mission the following year, a woman answered the door and said I refused to join a church that open discriminate against blacks by denying them the priesthood.. I left my mission in August 1978 and so glad they lifted the ban but still very much embarrassed by it
I ask some of my friends to buy and read this telling them it wasn’t anti-Mormon. It was just history. One of them stopped, reading it about halfway through and said it was a testimony breaker.
Isn’t it something how for so many, the true history of the church is as your friend put it a “testimony breaker.” I don’t understand how the church can convince its members that learning its history is “anti Mormon.” Talk about ignoring red flags!
I don’t see how anyone can read it and claim any divine inspiration being given to the brethren. This book shows how the church makes decisions, on arguably the most important topic ever, in the church.
I’m sorry to hear that your friend stopped reading. I don’t think a sanitized history serves the church and unfortunately your friend has not been espoused to scholarship.
I missed this because I was ill but I do have a question if you are still reading these comments. As a convert in the early 70’s I was embarrassed by the ban because a lot of my family was opposed to Mormonism because of their race teachings. After the ban was lifted I was talking to a fellow co worker who was a convert like me and we were discussing about why it took so long to lift. (At the time we were being taught that someday God would lift the ban) We decided the reason was that the rank and file members wouldn’t have accepted it before. My husband went on a mission in the early 70’s to Georgia and he heard members say they would leave the church if back people ever got the priesthood.( As an aside they weren’t allowed to proselytize to black people.) So my question is:What do you think would have happened if DOM had lifted the ban in the 60s ? Do you think it would have caused more people to leave than waiting until the late 70’s?
I really mean that. Some of the best Latter-day Saints I know have managed to balance their faith with their religion. Sadly, they’re being punished for not conforming to what Clark Gilbert’s view of the gospel is.
@ so many names at BYU and church leaders I recognized from my dinner table, my dad circled around much of this while at BYU in the communications department, late 60s to the mid 70s
I was wondering if Matt has ever heard of the miracle @Sunset Junior high freshman class 1970-71. My class rebelled against the ban and elected Jimmy Smith to be our class president . He was thee most popular kid in school being the best athlete in every sport and was a friend to everyone. He just happened to be black. All of us kids went against our parents giving a big NEENER NEENER to the whole town!
Is there any evidence that Joseph Smith started or supported a priesthood ban on black men? Also how did Bruce McConkie justify his past doctrinal support of the priesthood ban?
Awesome interview! Love the book!
Yay for tha audio version coming out!
The book is amazing. Helped us understand and process so much history and culture and deconstruction. We owe Matt so much.
Thank you so much. This book consumed my life for 15 years. I’m pleased that you appreciate it.
I have loved this. I plan to buy the book
It is truly one of the best Mormon history books I’ve read!
People who are visually impaired, need the audio… like my husband!❤️
The audio is coming in February. Stay tuned!
I was so ashamed of the priesthood ban when working with the missionaries prior to 1978 because I never saw the reason for it. In fact, while serving a two week mission in San Diego prior to my real mission the following year, a woman answered the door and said I refused to join a church that open discriminate against blacks by denying them the priesthood.. I left my mission in August 1978 and so glad they lifted the ban but still very much embarrassed by it
I ask some of my friends to buy and read this telling them it wasn’t anti-Mormon. It was just history. One of them stopped, reading it about halfway through and said it was a testimony breaker.
Isn’t it something how for so many, the true history of the church is as your friend put it a “testimony breaker.” I don’t understand how the church can convince its members that learning its history is “anti Mormon.” Talk about ignoring red flags!
I don’t see how anyone can read it and claim any divine inspiration being given to the brethren. This book shows how the church makes decisions, on arguably the most important topic ever, in the church.
I’m sorry to hear that your friend stopped reading. I don’t think a sanitized history serves the church and unfortunately your friend has not been espoused to scholarship.
I missed this because I was ill but I do have a question if you are still reading these comments. As a convert in the early 70’s I was embarrassed by the ban because a lot of my family was opposed to Mormonism because of their race teachings. After the ban was lifted I was talking to a fellow co worker who was a convert like me and we were discussing about why it took so long to lift. (At the time we were being taught that someday God would lift the ban) We decided the reason was that the rank and file members wouldn’t have accepted it before. My husband went on a mission in the early 70’s to Georgia and he heard members say they would leave the church if back people ever got the priesthood.( As an aside they weren’t allowed to proselytize to black people.) So my question is:What do you think would have happened if DOM had lifted the ban in the 60s ? Do you think it would have caused more people to leave than waiting until the late 70’s?
Don’t want to speak go Matthew but from my reading the members were ready for the change long before the brethren were ready to accept the change.
“Faculty at BYU are the best the church has to offer”, and they STILL are not good enough 🤦♀️
I really mean that. Some of the best Latter-day Saints I know have managed to balance their faith with their religion. Sadly, they’re being punished for not conforming to what Clark Gilbert’s view of the gospel is.
@ so many names at BYU and church leaders I recognized from my dinner table, my dad circled around much of this while at BYU in the communications department, late 60s to the mid 70s
I was wondering if Matt has ever heard of the miracle @Sunset Junior high freshman class 1970-71. My class rebelled against the ban and elected Jimmy Smith to be our class president . He was thee most popular kid in school being the best athlete in every sport and was a friend to everyone. He just happened to be black. All of us kids went against our parents giving a big NEENER NEENER to the whole town!
I love this, and no, I hadn’t heard of it. I’d love to learn more.
Mormons: "Please don't study Mormon history!"
Eastern Orthodoxy: "Please DO study our Church's history!"
A quite striking contrast.
I’m from Idaho and served my mission in Maine!
That’s great to hear!
Commenting to help.
The church leaders gets “revelation” when the public move forward and beyond n the morals and norms of the church.
42:04 The Satan in the temple was described as having a skin of blackness. It was the minister who described him. He also said he had cloven feet.
Is there any evidence that Joseph Smith started or supported a priesthood ban on black men? Also how did Bruce McConkie justify his past doctrinal support of the priesthood ban?
Bruce justify his Priesthood ban stance due to him being an idiot.
Racism
if you remember in the following conference, McConkie stated, “ forget everything I’ve said on the subject in the past”
both my wife and I served in 1978 to to you 1980
No. There’s no evidence that Joseph Smith started the ban. It was Brother Brigham all the way.
Gods church can’t handle the truth!!!
Spencer Palmer played the preacher, not Satan.
That is correct! Thank you.
The church leaders gets “revelation” when the public move forward and beyond n the morals and norms of the church.