How the church began
Race and the priesthood
From 1852 until 1978 men of black African descent could not be ordained to the priesthood. The Church today disavows the theories once used to justify it.
In the Church's words
The Church's essay describes how Brigham Young announced the restriction in 1852, how later leaders also restricted temple access, and how a revelation in June 1978, now Official Declaration 2, extended the priesthood to all worthy men. It disavows the past explanations.
Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form.
The Church's own words Gospel Topics essay, "Race and the Priesthood" · source
What the Bible says
For 126 years a church claiming a living prophet taught what it now calls error. Scripture had already spoken: in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, and people from every nation, tribe and tongue stand before the throne. God shows no partiality. We are glad the Church now condemns racism, and the lesson is that no prophet replaces the written word.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 (WEB) · context
34Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
Acts 10:34-35 (WEB) · context
9After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9 (WEB) · context
Sources
- Gospel Topics essay "Race and the Priesthood"; Official Declaration 2 (churchofjesuschrist.org).