1978 RevelationEdit
The 1978 Revelation refers to a watershed moment in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when, in June 1978, church leaders announced Official Declaration 2. This revelation extended the priesthood to all male members of black African descent, ending a policy that had barred them from priesthood offices and from temple ordinances. The announcement, presented as divine guidance received by the church’s leadership, reshaped the church’s membership, governance, and internal culture, and it remains a focal point in discussions about race, religion, and the limits of institutional reform within a faith tradition that emphasizes ongoing revelation.
Supporters describe 1978 as a necessary correction that better aligned church practice with its broader moral commitments and with the evolving ethical norms of American society. They emphasize that the church is built on continuing revelation to its presidents and sustaining authorities, and that the change was framed as a spiritual renewal rather than a political concession. The move also coincided with a period of rapid global growth for the church, especially in Africa and Latin America, where local members could now participate in the full range of priesthood responsibilities and temple ordinances. In this framing, the revelation is presented as a practical expression of religious liberty and doctrinal adaptability, preserving doctrinal continuity while removing a policy that many members had come to view as incompatible with the church’s emphasis on universal divine love.
The following sections provide context, implementation, and ongoing debates surrounding the 1978 Revelation, while keeping in view the broader questions raised by religious communities that operate under the belief in ongoing divine authority.
Historical background
- The church traces its governance to a hierarchical structure led by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with doctrinal development historically framed as guided by revelation to selected leaders. The events of 1978 occurred within a wider American and global conversation about race, civil rights, and equality of opportunity.
- For decades prior, the church maintained a policy restricting black men of African descent from holding the priesthood, a position that also affected eligibility for certain temple rites. The roots and enforcement of this policy have been the subject of extensive historical analysis and debate among members and observers.
- In the years leading up to 1978, church leaders publicly affirmed a belief in revelation and divine guidance while navigating complex social expectations about race and inclusion. External critics argued that the church’s stance reflected broader cultural pressures, while supporters insisted the church was following a spiritual direction consistent with its understanding of scripture and prophecy.
- The change was announced by the president of the church, who, along with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, attributed the shift to new revelation designed to harmonize church practice with its core teachings about equality before God and the sanctity of all souls.
The Revelation and its implementation
- Official Declaration 2, as presented to the membership in 1978, stated that the long-standing restriction on the priesthood was no longer applicable to black members of African descent. This opened priesthood offices and temple blessings to all eligible male members, regardless of race.
- The implementation involved adjustments to church policy, training for local leaders, and communications to members around the world. It also prompted a wave of missionary activity and local leadership changes, as congregations reorganized to reflect the new priesthood access.
- The church reinforced that the change did not alter the essential doctrinal framework, including beliefs about revelation, temple worship, and family eternal progression. Women, who do not hold the priesthood in this tradition, were not affected in terms of their own priesthood status, though the broader cultural conversation about gender roles within the church continued in parallel.
- The declaration was framed as the result of divine direction rather than a mere social adjustment, part of a broader pattern in the church’s history of seeking spiritual alignment with its members’ lived experiences and contemporary realities.
Controversies and debates
- Within the church, debates centered on questions of time, authority, and the nature of revelation. Critics argued that the policy had been justified on theological grounds, and some questioned whether the change represented a true doctrinal correction or a pragmatic response to secular pressure. Proponents contended that the church’s approach to revelation allows for reform that remains faithful to core principles while correcting past misapplications.
- Critics outside the church sometimes framed the change as evidence of a church forced to “catch up” with modern social movements. Supporters countered that religious institutions deserve space to interpret faith and apply revelation in ways that reflect their beliefs about divine guidance, rather than adopting secular standards as a proxy for religious orthodoxy.
- The broader discourse touched on issues of racial justice, historical accountability, and what constitutes legitimate reform within religious communities. From a perspective sympathetic to traditional religious autonomy, arguments against the change were sometimes dismissed as resisting spiritual renewal, while those praising the shift highlighted the moral clarity of casting aside a policy that had proven painful for many members.
- Critics also noted that the change did not address all dimensions of racial tension within the church, including ongoing conversations about leadership representation, cultural diversity in congregations, and how historical narratives are taught and remembered. Supporters emphasized that the policy shift was a meaningful step toward inclusion that reflected a mature understanding of divine guidance in a global church.
Aftermath and legacy
- The 1978 Revelation is often cited as a turning point that diverse members remember as a restoration of religious equality in temple and priesthood access. It is discussed in the context of continued debates about how religious institutions adapt to changing social norms while maintaining doctrinal continuity.
- The church’s growth pattern in the subsequent decades included expanding missionary efforts in regions where members had previously faced barriers to priesthood access, contributing to demographic shifts in the church’s global footprint. This has influenced how the church engages with communities in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and parts of Asia.
- In the long term, the episode is used in broader conversations about race, religion, and reform in American religious history. It is often cited by supporters as an example of principled adaptation grounded in revealed guidance, while critics point to the complexities of racial reconciliation within religious institutions and the need for ongoing humility and accountability.