Race And The Latter Day Saint MovementEdit
Race and the Latter Day Saint Movement traces a complex arc from the church’s early 19th-century roots to its present-day, multiethnic presence. The rise of the movement in upstate New York and its westward expansion intersected with American debates over race, slavery, and national identity. Within that history, beliefs about skin color, lineage, and divine favor were invoked at times to justify social arrangements, while later leaders and scholars sought to reinterpret or repudiate those conclusions. The trajectory is still being debated within the church as it continues to address past teachings in light of contemporary understandings of equality, agency, and revelation.
The church’s handling of race has included moments of notable exception and, for many years, a binding policy that limited the priesthood to men of certain racial backgrounds. These policies were not simply “policy pronouncements” but were anchored in a broader theological framework that linked certain scriptural interpretations with organizational practice. The most consequential shift came with a late-20th-century change that opened priesthood and temple access to men of all races. Since then, the institution has worked to articulate a doctrine of universal worth and to acknowledge past explanations that rested on dubious or discredited racial theories. The discussion continues today as members, scholars, and critics alike weigh how much weight is given to past scripts, how much to revelation in the moment, and how best to reconcile inherited patterns with a growing, global membership.
Historical background
Origins and early race discourse - The Latter Day Saint movement emerged in a milieu where race and slavery were divisive forces in American society. Early leaders sometimes spoke in terms that reflected prevailing racial assumptions of the era, even as some members pursued a more inclusive outreach. The use of biblical or pseudo-biblical explanations for racial difference and social hierarchy is a recurrent theme in early church history, and it has been the subject of extensive historical study within Latter Day Saint movement scholarship and in broader religious history.
Black members and priesthood debates - The church’s early decades included Black members who participated in priesthood and temple rites in certain circumstances, though over time a more formal ban on priesthood for men of African descent developed in the mid-19th century. The interplay between individual examples of inclusion and institutional restrictions created a tension that persisted for more than a century. Notable individuals such as Elijah Abel illustrate that exceptions existed, even as broader policy moved toward restriction.
The Brigham Young years and the priesthood ban - Under leaders like Brigham Young, the church formalized a policy that barred most Black men from the priesthood for decades. This ban and the accompanying doctrinal justifications became a defining feature of church life for generations, shaping the experiences of thousands of members and shaping the church’s public image during a period when civil rights reform intensified in the broader society.
The path to change: 1978 and beyond - The watershed moment in official church policy came with the late-20th-century change often described as a revelation or administrative change that opened priesthood and temple opportunities to men of all races. This shift did not erase earlier debates or the scholarly work of explaining past policies, but it did remove the formal barrier that had limited participation for many years. For a number of observers, the 1978 change represented a dispensation toward a more inclusive practice aligned with evolving understandings of equality.
Disavowals and reinterpretations - In the ensuing decades, the church has taken steps to disavow certain historical explanations for racial stratification, most notably in official statements and essays that critique past theories about divine sanction of racial hierarchies. The Church has urged members to focus on individual worth before God and to recognize that issues of race can be understood in light of ongoing revelation and modern scholarship. The publication of such material has spurred further discussion among members, scholars, and external observers about how to interpret tradition in a contemporary setting. See Race and the Priesthood for a formal articulation of this shift.
Theological frameworks and scriptural interpretations
Scriptural inheritance and lineage - The church draws on the Book of Mormon as part of its scriptural foundation, including references to the Lamanites and their role in the spiritual history of the Americas. Over time, some readers connected those narratives to present-day ideas about race. Critics and supporters alike point out that the same text has been interpreted in divergent ways across generations, with some interpretations used to justify social hierarchies and others employed to argue for universal divine love and equal opportunity.
Skin color, curses, and the record of interpretation - The historical association of skin color with moral or spiritual status, and the use of terms like the Curse of Cain in late-19th and early-20th-century discourse, were part of a broader theological framework that connected race with righteousness in ways now widely challenged. The church’s more recent position emphasizes that such interpretations do not constitute permanent doctrine and that revelations and scholarly work should inform current understanding of human equality.
Lamanites, Native peoples, and doctrinal shifts - The Book of Mormon’s references to Lamanites have been read in multiple ways—historically, culturally, and theologically. Critics highlight how “Lamanite” language was once used to justify policy distinctions; defenders of the modern stance argue that contemporary readings emphasize conscience, agency, and the redemptive potential of all peoples, regardless of heritage. The church’s official materials now stress that racial identity does not determine divine favor or eternal potential.
Primary sources and reinterpretive guidance - Important primary sources include the writings and statements of early leaders, the 1978 policy reversal, and the later disavowals of earlier justifications. Contemporary efforts emphasize the need to avoid equating skin color with heavenly decree and to understand race within a broader doctrinal framework that centers agency, gospel principles, and the universal nature of salvation. See Race and the Priesthood for a contemporary, official synthesis.
Institutional policy and practice
Priesthood, temple, and race - The priesthood ban, now repealed, was the most visible institutional expression of race-related policy in the church’s modern era. Temple eligibility and access were also affected in practice during the period of the ban, though temple rites had varied in their application across different regions and timeframes. The 1978 change removed the most conspicuous barrier to priesthood ordination and temple involvement for Black members, while ongoing dialogue has sought to ensure practices reflect a doctrine of equal personal worth.
Global expansion and demographic change - As the church has grown beyond its historic American core, it has encountered increasingly diverse populations, including large communities in Africa and the Caribbean. This growth has influenced discussions about race, culture, and church culture. Proponents argue that a truly global church must reflect the diversity of its members, while critics caution that organizational culture sometimes lags behind demographic change. See Latter Day Saint movement and Race and the Priesthood for more on how official teaching and practice have evolved in global contexts.
Contemporary practice and ongoing debates - Today the church emphasizes equality among members and discourages prejudicial attitudes, while some see gaps between aspirational statements and lived experience in congregations. The ongoing debate covers how best to address past harms, how to integrate diverse cultural perspectives with doctrinal continuity, and how to balance respect for institutional boundaries with the desire for social reform. See references to Race and White supremacy for broader discussions about race in society and how religious movements respond to it.