How Joseph Smith treated people of color: Isaac Manning said Joseph treated Isaac Manning to “the best his house afforded” Isaac said he "would have laid down his life for the prophet if he could have done so."
“Other Black men converted in the early decades of the Restoration, but not all of them were ordained to the priesthood. That, however, was nothing out of the ordinary. No all white men were ordained, either, and no enslaved men were ordained in the South.17 In the nineteenth century, the purpose of ordination was to provide each congregation with leadership, not to ensure that all men held priesthood office. In 1842, the branch in Brandywine, Pennsylvania, for example, reported 124 total members, which included seven elders, two priests, three teachers, and two deacons, while the branch in Salem, Massachusetts, counted 66 members, with one elder and one priest.18 Not until the early decades of the twentieth century did the Church systematically ordain young men to priesthood offices.19 The fact that…
“Evidence suggests that enslaved people like John Burton were baptized of their own accord. In fact, in cases where white Latter-day Saints enslaved more than one person, there is no situation where all enslaved people were baptized, an indication that the enslaved were not forced to follow their enslavers into the faith.”
“If good people are suffering for the common necessaries of life, the scriptures say, “If a man having this world’s goods see his brother in need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” [See 1 John 3:17.] And in regard to those matters, we ought to look to the wants of everybody. . . . Do not let us make paupers of them; but let us treat them as brethren and sisters, as good, honorable men and women; let us see that they are provided for. I have seen some people who would get down upon their knees and pray most heartily for God to feed the poor and clothe the naked. Now, I would never ask the Lord to do a…
"I would like to suggest five specific actions we can take to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum. My dear brothers and sisters, I love you. I cherish this opportunity to speak with you today. I pray daily that you will be protected from the fierce attacks of the adversary and have the strength to push forward through whatever challenges you face. Some trials are deeply private burdens no one else can see. Others are played out on the world stage. The armed conflict in eastern Europe is one of these. I have been to Ukraine and Russia many times. I love those lands, the people, and their languages. I weep and pray for all who are affected by this conflict. As a church we’re doing all we can to…
***A quick note before reading this quote. By the 1900’s the term “Scotch” referring to Scottish people started to become a racial slur. President Taylor’s usage of the term here in this next quote was before the meaning of the word had changed to a negative meaning in the United States. Much like the extremely inappropriate “n” word used for Black people, the word “Scotch” is an insulting word today, should not be used, and no one should ever ask permission from a Scottish person to use it. “In speaking with a gentleman recently on some of the difficulties between the English and the Irish people, I told him that it was lamentable that such a feeling should exist. “Well”, said he, “they are two different races and they cannot…
“June 8, 1978, is no doubt an unforgettable day. On this day, priesthood and temple blessings were extended to all worthy male members of the Church. Memorable indeed, its impact affected the lives of uncountable multitudes—of millions who had full knowledge of its meaning and of many others who have not yet arrived, perhaps, to the knowledge of the full extension of its effects. On that date, the First Presidency announced to the whole world a new and special revelation of the Lord, which revelation was preceded by many prayers and much supplication for his divine direction. What great changes that revelation promoted in the lives of so many children of our Father in Heaven, and among them my humble family in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.” Elder…
“The restored gospel, he reflected at the start of 1869, “has sent forth its teachers to the ends of the earth, has gathered people of almost every tongue and creed under heaven, of the most varied educations and the most opposite traditions, and welded them into one harmonious whole. A creed that can take the heterogeneous masses of mankind and make them a happy, contented, and united people,” he stated, “has a power within it that the nations know little of. That power is the power of God.”
“When the missionaries confirmed the gift of the Holy Ghost, extra comfort came my way. …As I deepened my commitment to the gospel, with the encouragement of my bishop, I decided to go to the temple and receive my endowment. As I did so, I came to understand the importance of my personal relationship with the Savior. My ability to hear Him was of the utmost importance. It allowed me to weather hurtful comments made by others that opened old wounds. It helped me to deflect harmful remarks and slights from others as they tried to express their understanding of the priesthood ban. Without fail, a familiar, calming voice reassured me that their explanations were incorrect. I am a daughter of God; He loves me and is acutely aware of…
“There are some among us who feel marginalized because of differences. How can we move together as brothers and sisters toward our divine potential? Talking with one another about physical ailments such as colds, the flu, broken bones, and sprained joints can help us learn how to find healing. However, we also benefit when we address the challenges of incorrect thoughts and attitudes, including words and actions that harm others as well as ourselves. Some have felt the sting of being considered “the other.” It seems to me that such attitudes have increased in the world around us in recent years, perhaps due in part to the vitriolic language that has come to permeate political speech in various nations around the globe. Nothing could be further from the teachings of…
