Official Declaration 2Edit

Official Declaration 2 is a landmark pronouncement in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued in 1978. It announced that all worthy male members could hold the priesthood, regardless of race, and it signaled a broad revision in the church’s approach to race, temple rites, and global expansion. Coming amid broader debates about civil rights and the church’s own internal governance, the declaration reshaped the church’s membership, missionary work, and public profile around the world.

The declaration was issued by the church’s unified leadership—the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles—and presented as a revelatory change that aligned with the church’s ultimate beliefs about the worth of all souls before God. In practical terms, it removed a long-standing restriction on the priesthood for black members and, by extension, opened access to priesthood responsibilities and temple ordinances that had previously been out of reach for many believers of African descent. The formal text is included in the Doctrine and Covenants, and the moment is often treated within church history as a decisive turning point that reflected a broader, globalized vision of membership.

Background and timeline

  • The priesthood ban, which had restricted eligibility for men of African descent, had been a source of intense debate within the church for decades. Proponents argued that the church must avoid changes that could be perceived as compromising doctrinal integrity, while critics urged a more expansive interpretation of equality in the body of the church.
  • The 1978 change occurred within a context of rapid social change in the United States and overseas, where churches were reexamining race, governance, and inclusivity in light of evolving civil rights norms. The church’s leadership framed the shift as a fulfillment of divine instruction, rather than a political concession, and connected it to a long-standing conviction that God’s children are capable of worthiness and service irrespective of ancestry.
  • The change was announced from the leadership’s platform and then implemented across church programs, temples, and missionary operations. It was accompanied by ongoing spiritual assurances that the church’s core teachings about faith, obedience, and temple ordinances remained intact.

Official declaration and doctrinal framing

  • Official Declaration 2 is presented as a formal pronouncement that empowers all worthy male members to enter the priesthood. The wording emphasizes divine sanction, continuity of doctrine, and the universality of spiritual potential among church members.
  • Critics have debated whether a revelation should be read as a matter of policy or as something more akin to doctrinal reform. Supporters argue that the change harmonized practice with the church’s eternal principles of equality before God, while maintaining continuity with long-standing church teachings about priesthood, temple rites, and righteous living.
  • The declaration did not alter the church’s teachings about the role of women in priesthood duties, which remains a separate and ongoing topic within church discourse.

Controversies and debates

  • Within the church, there was considerable discussion about timing, sequencing, and the process by which such a change was announced. Some critics argued that the church should have acted sooner or that the decision reflected external pressures rather than divine guidance. From the perspectives of many faithful observers, the timing was less important than the alignment of policy with core beliefs about divine worth and universal potential.
  • Outside observers highlighted racial history and civil rights concerns. Proponents of the change argued that it removed an unjust barrier to service and worship, helping the church better reflect a globalized membership. Critics contended that the revelation could be seen as capitulation to social fashion; supporters countered that enduring religious truth is not captive to shifting public opinion and that the church’s decision was rooted in its doctrinal framework.
  • In the broader religious landscape, the move was compared with reforms in other faith communities facing similar questions about race, authority, and inclusivity. From a practical standpoint, the shift widened the church’s missionary field and helped integrate new adherents into church life more fully, especially in regions with growing populations of African descent and in areas of rapid church growth such as the Africa and Latin America regions.

Impact on church governance, growth, and culture

  • Governance: The change was presented as an expression of divine guidance within the church’s hierarchical structure. It reaffirmed the central authority of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in interpreting doctrine and implementing policy for the global church.
  • Growth: The declaration facilitated broader missionary work and increased the church’s appeal in countries with sizable populations of black believers. It also prompted denominational conversations about race, belonging, and leadership within local wards and stakes, which had to adapt to a new reality of priesthood eligibility.
  • Culture: The shift accelerated a reexamination of lingering cultural norms within the church. For many members, it affirmed a view that spiritual worth and opportunity in church service are not contingent on race, aligning church practice with a universalist strand of its theology.

Historical assessment and ongoing debates

  • From a perspective that emphasizes tradition and order, the declaration is seen as a reaffirmation of core values—namely, the belief that divine authority and the opportunity to serve are extended to all worthy members. Proponents emphasize continuity with doctrinal principles about the worth of souls and the universality of divine invitation to participate in church life.
  • Critics have argued that such reforms should come with transparent processes and clearer consideration of historical context. Proponents counter that the most important issue is adherence to doctrinal principles and the practical benefits of a more inclusive church in preserving vitality and mission relevance.
  • The discourse around Official Declaration 2 often centers on the balance between doctrinal consistency and adaptive governance in a church that prides itself on clear revelation and authority. Supporters contend that the change reflects both mercy and doctrine, while detractors may view it as a controversial moment of reform within a long arc of church history.

See also