Blacks and the Priesthood

Important Dates
Essential Articles to Read
Essential Books to Read

Summary of Important Dates

1836: In March, Elijah Abel, a black man, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1836: In December, Elijah Abel, is ordained to the office of Seventy.
1844: Walker Lewis, a black man, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1846: William McCary, a black man, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1900: Enoch Abel, the son of Elijah Abel, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1935: Elijah Abel, grandson of Elijah Abel, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1958: All black Melanesians (Fijians) are given the priesthood (blacks in the Philippines even earlier)
1978: Revelation on Priesthood gives the priesthood to all worthy men regardless of color.
1990: Helvecio Martins becomes first black General Authority Seventy.
Additional blacks were ordained in the early years of the church.
For more information see the History Timeline.

Essential Articles

I find the following articles from the FAIR website to be the best in covering this topic. I believe it is essential to read these articles if you want to have an understanding of this issue.

  • Dispelling the Black Myth, by Renee Olson
    As a black Latter-day Saint and former anti-Mormon, Renee Olson has a unique perspective on the issues relating to black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In her humor-laced, 2002 FAIR Conference presentation, Olson educated attendees on the history of the priesthood ban, race issues that still exist in the Church, and ideas of how and where we should go from here.
  • The LDS Church and the Race Issue: A Study in Misplaced Apologetics, by Armand Mauss
    This talk was given by Armand Mauss at the 2003 FAIR Conference. Its strength is the simple question and answer format that Dr. Mauss uses which makes his position very clear and easy to understand. His book is also listed below as one of the essential books to read on this topic.
  • Blacks and the Priesthood, by Marvin Perkins
    A 2002 talk given by Marvin Perkins in Los Angeles. This talk discusses the official Church position. See also his 2008 paper How to Reach African-Americans and his Feb 2011 article regarding scripture headings and footnotes.
  • Mormonism 201: Chapter 16, by Juliann Reynolds
    This is a review of Mormonism 101, Chapter 16: Lamanites, the Seed of Cain and Polygamy. This is a book review of one chapter from an anti-Mormon book. This article has a completely different take on the subject and puts the issue into context. It compares the Mormon position on blacks with those of other denominations.
  • The Charge of “Racism” in the Book of Mormon, by John A. Tvedtnes
    Some critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints charge that the Book of Mormon itself contains racist statements and doctrine. Tvedtnes responds to these charges by looking at how the Book of Mormon comments can be taken in context to refer not to skin color, but to the attitudes, traditions, and level of righteousness of the Book of Mormon people. The white and black imagery is used in the Book of Mormon to contrast purity and virtue with idleness, unrighteousness, and sin. He shows the Book of Mormon makes it clear that God considers neither race nor skin color when dispensing blessings or offering salvation to His
    children.
  • Elder Holland – PBS Interview – March4, 2006
    The following excerpt is part of his response to questions on this topic: “… One clear-cut position is that the folklore must never be perpetuated. … I have to concede to my earlier colleagues. … They, I'm sure, in their own way, were doing the best they knew to give shape to [the policy], to give context for it, to give even history to it. All I can say is however well intended the explanations were, I think almost all of them were inadequate and/or wrong. …”
  • President Gordon B. Hinckley – April 2006 General Conference Talk
  • BYU Studies 2008 article on Spencer W. Kimball and 1978 Revelation
  • Race and the Church – Feb 2012 Church Statement
  • Race and the Priesthood – Dec 2013 Church Statement

Essential Books

These books are recommended:

  • Standing on the Promises trilogy, by Margaret Blair Young and Darius A. Gray
  • All Abraham's Children: Changing Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage, by Armand Mauss
  • Neither White Nor Black, by Lester E. Bush and Armand L. Mauss. (This classic book is available online and is highly recommended.)
  • Abraham in Egypt, by Hugh Nibley
  • The Dawning of a Brighter Day, by Alexander B. Morrison
  • David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A. Prince and William Robert Wright

These books (and many more) are available at the FAIR bookstore.

5 thoughts on “Blacks and the Priesthood”

  1. There is also “Blacks and the Priesthood” by Marcus Martins. A black Brazilian religion professor from BYUH.

  2. My name is Mark Kirton I hove been a member of the Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints for over 17 years I love the Church
    dearly this Gospel is true.
    I am a person of colour I dislike being called Black because I am not just as I would say that white people are not white they are also people of colour.
    The reason I am highlighting this that in terms of colour Black and white are diametrically apposed in the colour spectrum hence because of this causes derision in the Lords eyes there is no black or white we are all just people .
    Before I close these are the components that make me Mark Kirton
    my great great grandfather was Scottish from Glasgow who was a sailor who settled in South America my mother is Indian my father was also mixed race with Portuguese to look at me some people think I am Indian or Brazilian some people also think I am
    Mauritian if Negroes like to be called Black I don’t because one size does not fit all.
    We are all children of a Heavenly Father who sees us as people and not segregated by colour.

  3. I like this site and its contribution to a much needed change. I wholly agree with this course of actions and when I am ready will to add my hand to this cause, which belongs to all members of the church. I wish to add that there are many things to address in this subject. We have issues that are being affected by non members and members alike. There is so much to sift through. I am very excited for the challenge. Thank you for this.

  4. Just a quick remark about what Mark Kirton said, a long time ago.
    What makes the United States so unique is that we are a “melting pot” of all cultures from around the world. The plaque on the Statue of Liberty reads, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” These famous words of a poem are what makes This country great! We’ve endured Civil War for freedoms that No Other Country has! This War as sad as it was, happened to abolish slavery and mobocracy towards religious organizations like the early saints endured during the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s Church. So, our responsibility is to take the “gospel” message to ALL God’s Children…What an awesome and difficult task. We are to bring these Blessings to our brothers and sisters. I don’t think Joseph Smith’s government would have came to the rescue like our government did in 2008 to protect the Temples in California during the controversial “Prop 8” passing in California. God Bless President Lincoln- he was truly an instrument in God’s hand to perform what he did! We are all Red, White, and Blue-Blooded Americans. I am actually a little upset when I hear, Asian-American, Mexican-American, African- American…No, maybe this is true for 1st generations who immigrate here…but after that—-Americans. Like I said, “Melting Pot”–I’m not trying to disrespect or tell you to forget your heritage…on the contrary that’s what makes the United States great….bring your heritage, your culture, your foods, your stories of valor, everything that is great and share it! I think if we segregate into classes, people, cultures, languages we are being divided for conquest. My family ancestry come from many countries…
    The 4 most prominent are Scottish, Danish, Norwegian, and Mexican…I thank God for my family! They are what make up– Me…a “Heinz 57” I thank God for my ancestors who were touched by the Holy Ghost to embrace the gospel when they heard it. Just like we are all Americans…We are also, Latter-Day Saints. It doesn’t matter if we live in Utah, California, New Zealand, Taiwan, or Brazil…we are One in People! I got your back…let’s go–

  5. Thank you so much for providing this information. We all need to study this important issue.

Comments are closed.