In TRUE L.D.S. HERALD, President Joseph Smith III writes: "We are pained to learn that some few Elders are making an unnecessary distinction between the white and colored races in regard to gospel ordinances and fellowship....It is unjust to the Church for one, two or more Elders to teach, preach, or advise a distinction and exclusion from church fellowship and communion upon the ground of race or color; while the 'articles and covenants of the Church' nowhere warrant such exclusion, and the practice of the Church has never sanctioned it....We think it derogatory to the teaching of Jesus, as found in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants to insist upon a separation of the races." The RLDS (Community of Christ) Church differs with The Utah Church on race relations.
[Source: E[lisha]. W[oodward]. Vanderhoof (1832-?), Historical Sketches of Western New York (Buffalo, New York: Printed for private distribution by the Matthews-Northrop Works, 1907), 138-39., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Elisha W. Vanderhoof Account]
full text of JS-3 statement is in True L.D. Saints Herald Vol. 22:112 (Feb.15,1875), at the link below:
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?id=4nHUAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA373&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://books.google.com/books?id=4nHUAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA112&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false
ReplyDeleteThe following are the names and dates of ordination of the very first black men to be ordained as Elders into the Priesthood of the 3 largest restored gospel churches:
ReplyDeleteEmanuel Eaton (Oct.7,1889 - RLDS church), per HC 4:634.
George Washington (Oct.1898 - The Church of Jesus Christ, WHQ: Monongahela, Pennsylvania), per HC 1:95.
Joseph Freeman, Jr. (June 11,1978 - Salt Lake LDS church), per Deseret News 1979 Church Almanac, pp.5-6.
full text of JS-3 statement:
ReplyDeleteALL ONE IN CHRIST.
We are pained to learn that some few Elders are making an unnecessary distinction "between the white and colored races in regard to gospel ordinances and fellowship.
It is high time that the prejudices of gospel believers were laid aside, and the right to receive and enjoy the blessings of the "covenant of peace" conceded to "all men" —"every creature."
It is unjust to the Church for one, two or more Elders to teach, preach, or advise a distinction and exclusion from church fellowship and communion upon the ground of race or color; while the "articles and covenants of the Church" nowhere warrant such exclusion, and the practice of the Church has never sanctioned it.
"We want no Elder to misunderstand us on this point. While we believe that all men should meet in church fellowship and communion, we are not to be called an "Amalgamationist," a "Miscegenationist," nor one who is willing to sacrifice the dignity, honor and prestige that may be right fully attached to the ruling race, so rapidly becoming the absorbent one of all the races of men. But if the Anglo-Saxon or white race is the dominant one, it is a very humiliating and doubtful evidence of superiority to insist that any weaker race shall fee excluded from heavenly graces, gospel privileges, church communion and the common fellowship of the Spirit, simply "because it is a weaker race.
Peter said well when he announced: "I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him."—Acts 10:34, 35.
Paul struck the key-note of human freedom when he said: "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord^ if haply they might find Him."
Acts 17: 26,27.
If they who are of one blood, but of different nationalities, seek God and find him ; will they find him in places and in societies where they are excluded?
We think that this question is decidedly answered in the Book of Mormon:
"But all men are privileged, the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden."— 2 Nephi 11:15.
"And he hath said, Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved."—Moroni 7:3.
We think it derogatory to the teaching of Jesus, as found in the New Testament Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants to insist upon a separation of the races. The same God that made the white man white, made also the black man black,, and if he chooses to say to all, "There is neither male nor female, bond nor free, black nor white; but ye are all one in Christ Jesus," we think his ambassadors should not let dislike of race, or prejudice against color, influence them in their ministrations.
We think it would be well for those Elders who may have been instrumental in stirring up this distinction against their colored brethren, to counsel with their confreres in the ministry and authority, that there may be a unity of action.
Obedience to gospel truth; observance of gospel ordinances and commands; the cultivation of Christian graces, and the practice of Christian virtues should, and must be the only requirements to gospel fellowship and church communion; the lack of these should, and must be, the only rule of exclusion.