[August 18, 1939]
Negroes
entering the Temples: A
case had been referred to us in which a woman whose father and mother had been
through the Temple was applying to go through the Temple herself. She was from
the Southern States Mission, and the Church records showed that opposite her
name someone had placed the endorsement, “negro blood.” Brother McKay talked
with me yesterday or the day before about it, and I suggested that he get her
patriarchal blessing and see what the patriarch said her lineage was. Brother
McKay did that, and found the blessing had been given by Elder George F.
Richards, that he had told her she was of the lineage of Israel through Joseph
and Ephraim. We decided that under those circumstances she could not be denied
admission to the Temple. Brother McKay tried to get in touch with Brother
Callis, but was not able to find him at the time. (J. Reuben Clark, Jr.,
Journal, August 18, 1939, in The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961,
Abridged, Digital Edition [Salt Lake City: 2015])