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How does it feel to be a Curse? Mitt Romney and the Continuing Problems of Race in LDS Church
By Dr. Darron T. Smith
On Tuesday, Randy Bott, a BYU professor of religion, told the Washington Post that the LDS Church’s historic prohibition on priesthood ordination for men of African descent was a “blessing” to blacks because they were not “ready” for priesthood authority. – Joanna Brooks, RD, 2/29/12
Just when we thought things had quieted down in Provo after several busy years of open and public displays of what can only be described as hatred for African Americans, up pops Brandon Davies, BYU Blackface, and now BYU professor of religion Randy Bott’s recent remarks underscoring the enduring LDS belief in black inferiority. “You couldn’t fall off the top of the ladder. So, in reality the blacks not having the priesthood was the greatest blessing God could give them,” the professor told the Washington Post, highlighting a significant problem for the Mormon faith.
Some years ago, I conceived of plan that had the potential to transform the way Black folk and other progressive thinkers within and outside the Mormon faith understood race. Black members are made to suffer by dealing with the continued belief among many well-intentioned Whites that having black-skin was an unequivocal mark of God’s disfavor. Yet, I believed that if enough like-minded white members could lend their voices and concerns to church authorities regarding this enduring pain and struggle, then we could cajole church authorities to issue a public apology in order to dispel the persistent racial folklore well-known in Mormonism. Unfortunately, the group I was trying to convince (Mormons for Equality and Social Justice) was not on board with my plan.
The folklore explains that the biblical counter-figure, Cain, was allegedly “cursed” with a skin of blackness for slaying his brother Abel. Despite official statements from LDS Church headquarters to the contrary, many active members still believe this to be the case. And this (mis)belief led to the many racial practices of the Church, such as those that denied black males the right to hold the priesthood and black women the blessings of the LDS temple ceremony. And though these practices were never official doctrine, through the many teachings from Brigham Young to Joseph Fielding Smith, these became assumed doctrine or pseudo-doctrine, if you will. In fact, many of these teaching still circulate today in published works (https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/126-34-35.pdf). White members are not the only ones, however, to believe in black Latter-day Saint inferiority. Surprisingly, many Black members of church actually believe the folklore as well (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/51976643-180/black-hamilto
Church authorities stubbornly sidestep charges that the predominately white faith is a racist organization. When racial issues arise such as with Randy Bott, it becomes significant enough to warrant an official statement by church authorities. However perfunctory it may be, it is still not enough. Mormons are not alone. African-Americans historically experienced similar racist encounters in other predominately white churches as well, which led to the creation of the Black Church and later caused Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to declare, “Sunday is the most segregated day of the week.” Regrettably, this fact has not changed much in America. Yet, the continued silence of the LDS Church implies that it is okay for black Mormons to bare the greater burden to defend the Mormon faith; a burden that is often turned inward in the psychological toll imposed on black members by white mythmaking which has an impact on mental wellbeing (White Parents, Black Children). The LDS Church must go further by issuing an official apology to all people of African descent.
Randy Bott’s comments made in this day and age in the 21st century are not unlike those of the white slave master who felt that slavery was ultimately good for blacks. Given his recent remarks, it would serve LDS Church authorities well to straightforwardly and unequivocally denounce all racist folklore ever uttered by any church authority on the matter. But to denounce these comments would be to openly admit that the Brethren made mistakes in their teachings and interpretations. Thus far, we have not seen anyone of authority in the church willing to take that stand.
This is Mitt Romney’s headache: to inherit and answer the definitive question (if he indeed gets the GOP nomination) of whether or not the LDS Church is or was ever racist. The truth is, the constitution states that there shall be “no religious test” to hold office. But Romney, must be prepared for a flurry of questions from media representatives and other political pundits as to how, if elected to the highest office in the land, can he actually be a president for all the people given his connection to the Mormon faith and its racial history.
Though Romney is not a church official and, therefore, should not be made to represent the church, he will be deemed a de facto spokesperson by the media and nation. Romney has thus far avoided bringing his faith into the political arena, but he may not be able to avoid these questions for much longer. All issues are fair game. The American people deserve to know the particular social, cultural and religious experiences that shape the character and ideology of their leader. The American people want to know does Romney feel the same as Professor Bott?
Follow me on twitter @DrDarronSmith
I served a voluntary LDS mission in the South Africa, Johannesburg mission when former Governor Bangerter was the mission president.
1. There is racism in many places of the world, true, but what makes LDS/Mormon Church the point of focus is that Governor Romney who is a Mormon is running for US Presidency. By this I am not suggesting to overlook racism in Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc churches where it might be found, but I am merely explaining why in my view Mormonism is an issue on focus.
2. I, like you spoke on the church’s racist past. I made a petition on Change.org and made a Youtube video asking the Mormon Church to denounce racist practices. My idea had two parts: that there are those who will follow what their leaders say despite what is written in the books and there are those who will not. Denouncing racism was more for the former.
3. I consider 2 to be a cosmetic approach that does not address the root cause of the problem. We can agree that the Mormons claim that the church has 100% truth is at the heart of the belief. If this statement is true, then it is also true that the church has ALWAYS guided its members under this truth. This almost makes it impossible for the church to say, oh ….at that time, the apostle made an error, for, if that were the case then the church’s 100% collapsed into its core.
The entire notion of folklore or policy appears to me to be the way the church is dealing with the contradictions that will and can pull the church down if not carefully managed. In the final analysis, calling these contradictions folklore does not seem persuasive given the 100% truth argument.
4. Governor Romney does not represent the church but at the age of around 10 he could get up and bear his testimony about the truthfulness of the church. He represented the Church while recruiting others into the organisation. No one questioned his representation then. By the way, sales people represent those whom they work for.
President Hinckley said called church members, the “ambassadors” of the church. When he was in South Africa, he said members of the church represent the church at “home, office and work”. To say that Mr. Romney does not represent church would be an equivalent of calling him a “flip-flopper” because in essence that would mean he can speak for the church to bring others into it in some places and not the others. I am sure he follows the directions of President Hinckley…. No?
5. I have a sense that the article suggests that Americans have a curiosity to be fulfilled. Let me know if I am wrong. I think there is more than a curiosity because Governor Romney still has to debate the competing interests of the Laws of Concencration and the US Constitution, the former being the Higher Law.
Thank you for letting me participate on your website.
Hi Victoria, please let me know your actually received this reply? Did you participate in the survey? https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NBCKY7N Please send to all LDS contacts to complete. You argument is good and I am not sure if there is much I can add.
You are kind. Yes, I read about the survey in Salt Lake Tribune in an article authored by Ms Fletcher. She is a great journalist. Your work is in good hands at Salt Lake Tribune!
I am 51 years old and was born and raised in Sacramento, California and have been a member of the LDS church all my life. While I have heard the folklore about why blacks were denied the priesthood, it was extremely rare, never taught in church and only mentioned by some members as their beliefs or stated reasons as to why they thought black members were denied the priesthood. I have never in my adult life heard any of this folklore taught or even mentioned and I, along with an almost universality of those whom I have ever talked about this within the church have all felt that it was due to the white members not being prepared, certainly not because blacks were ever unprepared or unworthy. That being said, I have never heard taught in church or even from any member that the church has 100% truth. Where did this come from? I have now lived in Utah for the past seven years and have never heard anything like this my entire life. I believe we are the true church, but that does not mean that other churches do not have truth or that everything in our church is 100% true. I think this has been the difficulty with people trying to come to understand just what people in the church believe as if we are some lockstep organization where everyone believes exactly the same thing which is preposterous. We do have our official doctrine in our standard works and official statements from the church set out as doctrine but people, even and especially leaders all have their own way of interpreting these doctrines which I believe is as common as people are diverse. I’ve lived here in Utah long enough to perceive that there is what many would call racism or racist ideas. However, I believe what I have seen and heard is more of a result of ignorance and the unknown since there is not a significant black population here in Utah. Some of that ignorance comes from what the media portrays as the culture of African Americans as exemplified in the values portrayed in music and athletics for example or the sensationalism that comes from racial strife like the Trayvon Martin tragedy that makes national headlines. I will say that I have not seen or experienced anything here like the animosity I experienced between the races in California. People here whether LDS, some other faith, black, white, Hispanic or otherwise are much more accepting and tolerant of others and their culture than was my experience in California.
People can try to downplay this issue into these milder connotations but Professor Bott’s statement is but one sample of the greater LDS community’s view regarding people of African heritage. I firmly believe that the “folklore, speculation, myth, and opinion” surrounding Mormonism and blacks was, indeed, presented and practiced as true, God-breathed DOCTRINE. It will endure and will continue to be viewed and considered doctrine by most LDS until it is officially repudiated, denounced, expunged, done away with.
The most sensible advice I’ve heard to date on the matter.
Sam I totally agree with your statement.
It can be repudiated by mortals but one has to wonder why the doctrine came down under the banner of scripture. For if that is the case, no mortal can undo it.
Hard to swallow, but it is the truth.
I am grateful to hear these differing experiences than my own. In my experience, I’ve just never been able to find that scripture that teaches this cultural practice as doctrine and it has always, in my experience, been understood to be a cultural practice and not an official doctrine of the church. I’ve read many of the, what to me are outrageous statements from the past. I mean, read the bible about the teachings of how slaves should respect their masters. The Lord must often weep when his children give him so little to work with and are just so hard hearted to learn. I’m grateful to be living in these times when these traditions are being overcome and done away with.
The church has never been willing as far as I know to admit that they were wrong on anything. I don’t think that they ever officially apologized for the Mountain Meadow Massacre. As a member of the church I find it a bit amusing that the church instructs me to confess my sins and ask forgiveness for wrong doings but they refuse to do likewise when the tables are turned.
It seems like a remember Jesus talking about these kind of attitudes. I believe that he used the word hypocrite!
I could not agree with you more.
You know if the church is set on teaching its member to repent and atone for sin through the blood of Jesus then its pretty important for the institution to model the behavior. That is all I am saying really is practice what you preach. If folks are hurt by the history of race, racism, and black priesthood denial, for example, and part of the healing process begins with an apology.
As a white parent of black children, I’m curious about the reference you make “White parents, black children”. Can you explain your thoughts further?
I’d like to reference my question with this: I understand that I am white and that my children are black. My husband and I want to raise our children to be proud of who they are, of their culture, we don’t want to hide the fact that they are black and understand that they will face a different world than we do simply because of their skin color - although we wished it weren’t so. Insight from others is considered very helpful to us.
Greetings,
I understand that white parents have the very best intentions for their children which has never been questioned. Rather it’s the feeling that black children’s culture is somehow being deracinated in the process. The larger question is what are white parents doing to unlearn the racism(s) that reside from having centuries old privilege? This seems to be at the crux of the issue for many. What can white parents do to teach their children how to cope with race-based discrimination? I have some thoughts on that topic.
Election 2012: It’s all coming down to an epic battle between the rich elite war dogging but worthy “white and delightsome” and the current leader of the free-world who prefers not to see people without health care “dark and loathsome”.
Why would black members endure such treatment is my question. I find it appalling that they feel too good to apologize. This I say clearly extend its legacy of racism, rather it now allows blacks to accept the priesthood, it’s members, and new converts enter the LDS church with stained hearts, with that comes racism, they very well know the churches history, therefore it is the churches responsibility to govern it body. I feel the notion that church is separate then the state has allowed the church to continue it legacy in the back ground. By this I means it shows it leaders are still racist, but due to public scrutiny they lifted the ban on blacks. Ironically it has come back as their curse now. The LDS leaders should understand, it was because of their silence, and not teaching the churches true history, that the burden they continued to place on blacks is now their burden. The church has no record to show it corrected it teachings regarding the mindset it taught in the past, and as it stands today they have never apologized, and paid tribute to reparations to does African Americans that were directly linked to those abuses against them due they were black. The white LDS do discuss these things in secret, and they have held on to the past record overall.