Elijah Abel and the Mormon Church's Treatment of Minorities

The ban on blacks holding the priesthood in the Mormon church may have been lifted by Spencer W. Kimball in 1978, but most Mormons may be surprised that the first man to hold the priesthood. While there is no evidence to support the assertion, it is believed Joseph Smith himself did the ordination. Elijah Abel is one shining light in the otherwise dismal history of the church when it comes to their treatment of minorities.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a long history of racist doctrines and practices, but it would be remiss to say they were not improving. While the Book of Mormon may not have been the most "correct" book on Earth as Joseph Smith asserted, it did at least make one change after 1980. The text used to read that Lamanites - who the church believes are descendants of ancient Isrealites - had the curse lifted and their skin became "white and delightsome." It may be shocking to us today, but the idea more or less meshed with the people in the days of Joseph Smith. The text has been changed to read "pure and delightsome."

While Smith may be remembered by those outside of the Mormon faith as a con artist and a charlatan, he was actually quite liberal for his day. It was not until the reigns of power shifted to Brigham Young that the policy of excluding blacks from the priesthood stopped. The doctrinal reasons can be found in the Pearl of Great Price as the curse of Caine was carried through the seed of Ham after the Biblical flood of Noah.

Various pronouncements of Brigham Young and later prophets justifying the position of the Church can be found in sources that do not constitute official doctrine of the church. Perhaps the most controversial book written on the topic was The Church and the Negro. The book is no longer in publication and if sold to a Mormon or Anti-Mormon historian can fetch quite a sum.

I am only aware of its existence because my father owned two copies of the work in question. I read through it briefly and while my memory may be faulty, the reasoning was simply as the 1978 revelation would reveal the time is not yet right. The Mormon general authority quoted said something along the lines that the Mormon could offer them more than any other religion because only the Mormon faith could bring the Celestial kingdom to them.

It may be tempting to pick on the Mormons for their outlook, but as a religion and a conservative organization they are generally slow to change. While they are still wrong about many things including their positions on homosexuality, the seeds of change are there. It may be that 30 years down the road the opinion of the leadership will reflect those today. As with any human organization they are trying to keep all the people underneath them happy and keep the organization alive. Cynics may point out the the Brethren cannot really believe the Mormon doctrine, but whether they do or not is simply not the issue. In the minds of the leaders, it is a delicate game of balance in order to fulfill the need for change while keeping the more conservative elements of the rank and file happy.

Sources:

http://www.blacklds.org/mormon/abel.html