On this date in 1978, the Mormon
Church stunned the world by announcing that God would finally permit “worthy”
African men to be ordained to its priesthood. This “revelation” by Mormon
prophet Spencer W. Kimball defused decades of anger and controversy, and opened
new doorways of privilege to members whose access to church leadership and
secret temple rituals had always been denied.
It also cleared the way for the
Mormon missionaries to seek converts across Africa. On April 13th of this year
the New York Times featured an article
on the church’s increasing missionary work in Uganda, noting that fully a third
of its members here have been converted in just the past year.
But the church’s announcement in
1978 left something completely unchanged by its leaders—men with the same
authority as the prophets and apostles in the Bible, who direct “the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth.”
For more than a century, Mormon
prophets and apostles openly taught that Africans are black because of a divine
curse—the dreaded “mark of Cain.” This is not obscure folklore or opinion, but
doctrine stated plainly by some of the church’s highest spiritual officers in
formal conferences and respected publications.
What have revered Mormon leaders
taught about the African race? Space only allows for four examples among many.
In 1859, Mormon prophet Brigham Young identified
Africans as the descendents of Cain (Genesis 4), declaring: “Cain slew his
brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to
that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark on him,
which is the flat nose and black skin. Trace mankind down to after the flood,
and then another curse is pronounced upon the same race—that they should be the
‘servant of servants,’ and they will be until that curse is removed….”(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 290)
Mormon prophet Joseph Fielding Smith clarified this
view in 1931, stating: “Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of
his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. A curse was placed
upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so
while time endures. Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a
black skin and have been denied the privilege of Priesthood and the fullness of
the blessings of the Gospel.” He added: “This doctrine did not originate with
President Brigham Young but was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith....we all
know it is due to his teachings that the Negro today is barred from the
Priesthood.” (The Way to Perfection, pp. 101–102, 110–111)
Mormon apostle Mark E. Petersen asked in 1954, “Who
placed the Negroes originally in darkest Africa? Was it some man, or was it
God?” His answer: “The Lord segregated the people both as to blood and place of
residence. At least in the cases of the Lamanites [i.e., Native Americans] and
the negroes we have the definite word of the Lord Himself that He placed a dark
skin upon them as a curse—as a punishment and as a sign to all others.” (“Race Problems—as They Affect the Church,” an address given at Brigham Young University)
Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie further explained in
1966 that “Cain, Ham, and the whole negro race have been cursed with a black
skin, the mark of Cain, so they can be identified as a caste apart, a people
with whom the other descendants of Adam should not intermarry.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 114)
In recent years the Mormon Church
has converted famous athletes and entertainers of African descent. In 2009 it
elevated a Kenyan to the upper levels of its authority structure.
But on this date we are reminded
that the Mormon Church has never
renounced or changed its oft-stated doctrine that Africans are black because
God Himself has cursed them. The Mormon Church should either publicly embrace
its leaders’ racist teachings, or openly renounce them.
Hoping that we will not notice is not enough.
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