8/13/2019 Letter of First Presidency Clarifies Church's Position on the Negro

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Letter of First Presidency Clarifies Church sPosition on the Negro

December 15, 1969

To General Authorities. Regional Representatives ofthe Twelve, Stake Presidents, Mission Presidents, andBishops

Dear Brethren:In view of confusion that has arisen, it was decided

at a meeting of the First Presidency and the Quorumof the Twelve to restate the position of the Churchwith regard to the Negro both in society and in theChurch.

First, may we say that we know something of thesufferings of those who are discriminated against in adenial of their civil rights and Constitutional privi-leges. Our early history as a church is a tragic storyof persecution and oppression. Our people repeatedlywere denied the protection of the law. They weredriven and plundered, robbed and murdered by mobs,who in many instances were aided and abetted bythose sworn to uphold the law. We as a people haveexperienced the bitter fruits of civil discriminationand mob violence.We believe that the Constitution of the United Stateswas divinely inspired, that it was produced by wisemen whom God raised up for this very purpose,and that the principles embodied in the Constitutionare so fundamental and important that, if possible,they should be extended for the rights and protec-tion of all mankind.

In revelations received by the first prophet of theChurch in this dispensation, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the Lord made it clear that it is not rightthat any man should be in bondage one to another.These words were spoken prior to the Civil War.From these and other revelations have sprung the

Church s deep and historic concern with man s freeagency and our commitment to the sacred principlesof the Constitution.

It follows, therefore, that we believe the Negro, aswell as those of other races, should have his fullconstitutional privileges as a member of society, andwe hope that members of the Church everywherewill do their part as citizens to see that these rightsare held inviolate. Each citizen must have equal op-portunities and protection under the law with refer-ence to civil rights.However, matters of faith, conscience, and theology

are not within the purview of the civil law. The firstamendment to the Constitution specifically providesthat Congress shall make no law respecting an estab-lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercisethereof.The position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-

day Saints affecting those of the Negro race whochoose to join the Church falls wholly within thecategory of religion. It has no bearing upon mattersof civil rights. In no case or degree does it deny tothe Negro his full privileges as a citizen of the nation.

This position has no relevancy whatever to those whodo not wish to join the Church. Those individuals, wesuppose, do not believe in the divine origin and na-ture of the Church, nor that we have the priesthoodof God. Therefore, if they feel we have no priesthood,they should have no concern with any aspect of ourtheology on priesthood so long as that theology doesnot deny any man his constitutional privileges.A word of explanation concerning the position of the

Church:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owes

its origin, its existence, and its hope for the future tothe principle of continuous revelation. We believeall that God has revealed, all that He does now re-veal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many

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great and important things pertaining to the Kingdomof God.From the beginning of this dispensation, JosephSmith and all succeeding Presidents of the Church

have taught that Negroes, while spirit children of acommon Father, and the progeny of our earthly par-ents Adam and Eve, were not yet to receive the priest-hood, for reasons which we believe are known toGod, but which he has not made fully known toman.Our living prophet, President David O. McKay, has

said, The seeming discrimination by the Churchtoward the Negro is not something which originatedwith man; but goes back into the beginning withGod. . . .Revelation assures us that this plan antedates man smortal existence, extending back to man s preexistentstate.

President McKay has also said, Sometime in God seternal plan, the Negro will be given the right to holdthe priesthood.

Until God reveals his will in this matter, to himwhom we sustain as a prophet, we are bound by thatsame will. Priesthood, when it is conferred on anyman comes as a blessing from God, not of men.We feel nothing but love, compassion, and the deep-est appreciation for the rich talents, endowments,and the earnest strivings of our Negro brothers andsisters. We are eager to share with men of all racesthe blessings of the gospel. We have no raciallysegregated congregations.Were we the leaders of an enterprise created by our-

selves and operated only according to our ownearthly wisdom, it would be a simple thing to actaccording to popular will. But we believe that thiswork is directed by God and that the conferring ofthe priesthood must await his revelation. To do other-wise would be to deny the very premise on which the

Church is established.We recognize that those who do not accept the prin-ciple of modern revelation may oppose our point ofview. We repeat that such would not wish for mem-bership in the Church, and therefore the question ofpriesthood should hold no interest for them. Withoutprejudice they should grant us the privilege affordedunder the Constitution to exercise our chosen form ofreligion, just as we must grant all others a similarprivilege. They must recognize that the question ofbestowing or withholding priesthood in the Churchis a matter of religion and not a matter of constitu-tional right.We extend the hand of friendship to men everywhereand the hand of fellowship to all who wish to jointhe Church and partake of the many rewarding oppor-tunities to be found therein.We join with those throughout the world who praythat all of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christmay in the due time of the Lord become availableto men of faith everywhere. Until that time comeswe must trust in God, in his wisdom, and in histender mercy.Meanwhile we must strive harder to emulate his Son,

the Lord Jesus Christ, whose new commandment itwas that we should love one another. In developingthat love and concern for one another, while awaitingrevelations yet to come, let us hope that with respectto these religious differences, we may gain reinforce-ment for understanding and appreciation for suchdifferences. They challenge our common similarities,as children of one Father, to enlarge the outreachingsof our divine souls.

Faithfully your brethren,THE FIRST PRESIDENCY/SS/ Hugh B. Brown/SS/ N. Eldon Tanner

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