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| Black people and the Latter Day Saint movement |
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The 1978 Declaration on Priesthood was an announcement by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) that reversed a long-standing policy excluding men of Black African descent from ordination to the denomination's priesthood and both Black men and women from priesthood ordinances in the temple. Leaders stated it was a revelation from God.
Beginning in the 1850s, individuals of Black African descent were prohibited from ordination to the LDS Church's priesthood—in other cases held by all male members who meet church standards of spiritual "worthiness"—and from receiving temple ordinances such as the endowment and celestial marriage (sealing).[1][a] LDS Church presidents Heber J. Grant[2] and David O. McKay[3] are known to have privately stated that the restriction was a temporary one, and would be lifted at a future date by a divine revelation to a church president.
In 2013, the LDS Church posted an essay about race and the priesthood revelation.[4]
- ^ Prince & Wright (2005), p. 73.
- ^ Kimball (2005), p. 227.
- ^ Prince & Wright (2005), p. 97.
- ^ Peggy Fletcher Stack (December 16, 2013). "Mormon church traces black priesthood ban to Brigham Young". The Salt Lake Tribune.
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