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Second only to plural marriage, the so-called priesthood ban, or racial restriction, is one of the most controversial topics in Latter-day Saint History. If we who hope to share the Restored Gospel with others, we have to overcome the unfounded charges of racism against the Church and acknowledge the imperfections of some of our leaders and the things they said from time to time. Removing American social constructs of “white” and “black” people, using modern science, and Hebrew intent with Restoration scriptures, this topic takes on a meaning the prophets of old intended. We’ll examine the Church’s Essay, “Race and Priesthood” as well. What is says and what it did not say.

What Latter-day Saints need to strongly emphasize is that some leaders have said some wrong things in the past and assert that doctrine is only doctrine when 1) a unified agreement exists between the prophet, First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve, and 2) if it already exists in canonized scripture. In this presentation you will see that race and skin color were not the factors behind the priesthood restriction, and gain a better handle on an ancient and awkward Old Testament curse.

Culture

Analyzing the First Presidency Message on COVID and the Vaccine – What It Says and What It Doesn’t Say

January 19, 2022June 20, 2025

There has been considerable frustration and division among members of the Church over the First Presidency’s statement encouraging COVID-19 vaccination. Some members had already decided

Culture

The Restoration & Progressivism – A Response to The Atlantic’s “The Most American Religion.”

January 13, 2021May 31, 2021

On December 16, 2020, McKay Coppins wrote an intriguing column on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in The Atlantic. The article included

Blacks & Priesthood

Is the Doctrine & Covenants Racist?

June 8, 2020

Blacks & Priesthood

Are The Books Of Moses & Abraham Racist?

June 8, 2020June 14, 2020

As part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints scriptural canon and companions to the Bible, are the Book of Mormon and the

Book of Mormon

Can God Really Change One Race Into Another?

June 4, 2020June 14, 2020

When historians for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published their Race and Priesthood essay, they stated, “Today, the Church disavows the theories

Blacks & Priesthood

Why Did Brigham Young Regulate Slavery Instead of Abolish It in Utah?

December 19, 2019June 21, 2020

This is part 9 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

Bible

Biblical Curses are Not Racist & Latter-day Saints Do Not Need to Apologize

December 5, 2019January 18, 2022

This is part 8 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

Answering Atheists

Patterns of Restoration – How Christ Offers Personal and Institutional Healing

November 14, 2019December 20, 2019

The thing about scripture is that though atheists seem to make it look easy by poking holes here and there or to point to awkward

Blacks & Priesthood

3 Issues That Still Haunt the Church & 3 Fatal Flaws In the Critics’ Argument

November 10, 2019December 20, 2019

This is part 7 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

Defend Faith

What Are Apologetics, and What Is My Role?

November 5, 2019December 20, 2019

I recently came across the following quote by Alvin Toffler: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write,

Blacks & Priesthood

A Tale of Two Interpretations

November 4, 2019June 14, 2020

This is part 6 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

Defend Faith

The Church’s REAL Name: Addressing Stumbling Blocks to the Restored Church

February 11, 2019December 19, 2019

Telling the world we no longer wish to go by “Mormons,” “Mormonism,” or the “Mormon Church,” names that were never accurate in the first place

Culture

Why every American should reconsider the SECOND Great Awakening

February 7, 2019October 23, 2021

After the War of 1812, a series of revolutionary changes emerged in society that would set off a chain of events that we’re still living

Blacks & Priesthood

Was Joseph Smith a criminal, a fraud, and a supporter of slavery?

March 24, 2018October 31, 2020

This is part 5 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

Culture

George Lucas – Why are there so many religions? (Part 2)

March 14, 2018December 19, 2019

In the first post, Lucas asked, “Mom, if there is only one God, why are there so many religions?” This is a question that has

Blacks & Priesthood

The restored Church of Jesus Christ was never racist – a response to Millennial Mormons

March 13, 2018December 19, 2019

This is part 4 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

History

Protestant Reformation at 500 Years!

October 29, 2017November 14, 2019

Answering Atheists

Does God want you to boil and eat your children? Some critics take it there.

May 18, 2017December 20, 2019

As part of an ongoing effort to better understand the Old Testament and to challenge the critics, here is another strange passage that appears in 2

Answering Atheists

The Old Testament Said What? God condones rape and incest?

May 18, 2017December 20, 2019

In the social media world, there are ample opportunities to get involved in discussions like the one I was engrossed in recently about the Old

Bible

“One True Church” and the Intent Behind the Statement

March 10, 2017April 29, 2020

There is a Biblical theme that is so repetitive throughout ancient scripture that one might expect that a modern-day counterpart would be accepted with enthusiasm.

Misconceptions

A Common Misconception – Does the Church of Jesus Christ have an unpaid clergy?

March 2, 2017December 20, 2019

In January of 2017, a group known as ‘MormonLeaks’ – led by Ryan McKnight – released financial information regarding stipends, compensations, or salaries of General

Bible

Does the Bible warn against Joseph Smith’s angelic messenger?

December 14, 2016December 20, 2019

As my class was learning about the Second Great Awakening, one of my students reiterated a popular notion amongst Evangelical and mainline Protestant sects, that

Bible

What does the Bible say about a homosexual community, and is it time to privatize marriage?

November 30, 2016November 14, 2019

Fears of a Donald Trump presidency have sounded alarms that his VP, Mike Pence, has an agenda to overturn the SCOTUS decision legalizing gay marriage,

Culture

“The Story of God with Morgan Freeman” – Can we unite on our shared beliefs?

March 29, 2016December 20, 2019

Actor Morgan Freeman and the Executive Producer, Lori McCreary, appeared on Yahoo in an interview to discuss the upcoming National Geographic series “The Story of God

Culture

8 Biblical Parallels to Joseph Smith’s Seer Stone

March 28, 2016January 20, 2020

About a year ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a picture of Joseph Smith’s seer stone, the same stone that Smith

Politics

War & Peace – A Disciple’s Duty in the Land of the Free

March 5, 2016May 10, 2024

I have updated this article I posted below from that was in the context of the 2016 Presidential race among Republican candidates. This is not

Blacks & Priesthood

Is the Book of Mormon Racist?

October 19, 2015June 14, 2020

This is part 3 of a 9-part series on the topic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and race relations. See the

Bible

The Pope – A man of God, or just another man?

September 24, 2015January 20, 2020

This week’s historic visit from Pope Francis to the U.S., which included a speech before Congress and a visit to the White House, begs a few

Culture

Trendiness and Tragedy – the desensitization of sin and societal decay

July 21, 2015January 20, 2020

With all the talk of gay marriage and homosexuality being a sin, why don’t Christians take up the topic of drunkenness as a sin? This

Bible

Barriers to the Restoration & Reaching Fellow Bible Believers

May 29, 2015January 20, 2020

It would do well for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to reflect on the media coverage their faith received from

Bible

Pt. 3 – God’s Word and the Unpopular Notion of “One True Church”

May 14, 2015January 20, 2020

The following is part three of this three-part series. For part one click here. For part two click here. A recent Newsmax article highlighted an

Bible

Pt. 2 – God’s Word and the Unpopular Notion of “One True Church”

April 6, 2015January 20, 2020

The following is part two of a three-part series. For part one click here. For part three click here. Recall in part one that we looked

Bible

Pt. 1 – God’s Word and the Unpopular Notion of “One True Church”

April 3, 2015January 20, 2020

The following is part 1 of a 3-part series. For part 2 click here. It must be admitted that the least attractive contention in all

Plural Marriage

Sensationalism and Realities of Early Latter-day Saint Polygamy

December 19, 2014December 20, 2019

Below is an essay I wrote for a research assignment analyzing primary sources in my first semester of graduate school at Sam Houston State University.

Culture