Be Accurate About the Spirit of History - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
How Tolerant Are We?
in response to reader comment: Inaccurate Point

Submitted by Thad Barkdull, Mar 27, 2007 21:33

I am a faithful and practicing Mormon, and feel that both the doctrine and history of my church is one of greatness. However, suggesting that we were pioneers in equal rights to black people, as suggested by Mr. Hannig, is not truly accurate. In 1832 a few members of the church, most prominently a man named Elijah Abel, were ordained to the priesthood. They fulfilled their duties in this voluntary lay priesthood that is found in the LDS church for a number of years. However, when the 2nd prophet of the LDS Church, Brigham Young, found out that they were indeed black (apparently these men were light skinned, probably of some mixed heritage, and their ancestry was not obvious at the time), he asked them that they no longer use their priesthood authority. This policy was maintained in the LDS church until 1978.

The great story here is that for some reason that we don't fully know, there was a group of people who were denied access to the priesthood (similar to 11 tribes in Israel--remember that only the Levites held the priesthood in the Bible--as well as all of the "Gentiles" until after Christ's resurrection), and that was kept in place until a prophet in our day (Spencer W. Kimball) received revelation from God to change things, and allow all worthy men to be allowed the opportunity to receive the priesthood.

If we are going to expect true accuracy from journalists, we must also share the true story of our church, with all of its warts and blemishes, along with its beauty and dynasty.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
So at a Harvard student forum questions were asked? This is supposed to mean that bigotry is going to keep... [MORE]	Mark	Apr 10, 2007 14:40
The Mormon Church (properly known as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" - "LDS") presents a huge problem... [MORE]	Charles Snedecor	Apr 7, 2007 00:59
"There is a looseness to it and almost a disrespect of it that if it were applied to Catholicism or... [MORE]	Jonathan Kimball	Apr 6, 2007 11:46
Having an axe to grind is not a phenomenon unique to former Mormons. I imagine every group that could be... [MORE]	Aric	Apr 8, 2007 18:28
It may be that the method of attack on Romney's faith is business as usual for politics. But most of... [MORE]	Lizzie Nelson	Mar 15, 2007 12:49
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints first ordained Blacks to the priesthood in 1832, which means Blacks were... [MORE]	Mark Hannig	Mar 15, 2007 11:31
I am a faithful and practicing Mormon, and feel that both the doctrine and history of my church is one...	Thad Barkdull	Mar 27, 2007 21:33
As a political scientist, public administrator, and former elected municipal official, it seems to me that all those who want... [MORE]	E. Odell Miner, Ph.D.	Mar 14, 2007 18:33
The previous comments are all intelligent and helpful as is the article, but they all miss the point--the people publicizing... [MORE]	Joshua Steimle	Mar 14, 2007 00:04
It's interesting that much of the intolerance toward Mormonism that I've thus far read about are intolerance to their past... [MORE]	Sam	Mar 13, 2007 19:54
Actually Joseph Smith Jr. also ran for President (just to get that record straight). This is a very good article highlighting... [MORE]	jason preston	Mar 13, 2007 14:57
Could Mitt Romney be more "Christian" than Evangelicals? Of course all Protestants and Catholics subscribe to the Nicene creed, which... [MORE]	Bot	Mar 13, 2007 07:45
It's unfortunate that Mitt Romney, who's obviously a man of achievement and excellent capabilities, is being pulverized simply on account... [MORE]	virgil crespus	Mar 13, 2007 07:01

Reader comment on:How Tolerant Are We?in response to reader comment: Inaccurate Point

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Reader comment on:
How Tolerant Are We?
in response to reader comment: Inaccurate Point