Jesus commanded the apostles: ‘Go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel unto every creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved.’ ‘Every creature’ means every human being, regardless of race;
and the right to be baptized was thus extended to every descendant of Adam. A
great number of passages of scripture could be quoted to show that the
privilege of baptism is universal, and that all who believe and are baptized
and endure will be saved in as high a glory as they are willing to fit
themselves for.
But the privilege of receiving the priesthood was vastly
different. By reading the Book of Abraham and Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews,
not to mention many other portions of sacred writ, we see that it was the
design of the Almighty to confine the priesthood to a certain lineage which ran
from Shem to Noah, and from him to Abraham, and thence down through certain
strains of blood to the end of the world. Deprivation of the priesthood was
part of the curse placed upon Canaan and his seed by Noah, who held the keys
that ‘bind on earth that it may be bound in heaven.’ From the Pearl of Great
Price, page 55, we learn that ‘the first government of Egypt was established by
Pharaoh, the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham;’ that this Pharaoh was
a righteous man, and that Noah ‘blessed him with the blessings of the earth,
and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the
priesthood.’ That is, forbade him and his posterity to hold the priesthood.
Noah had authority that the Almighty to designate which branches of his
posterity should, and which should not, hold the priesthood; and he was
undoubtedly directed in the matter by revelation. (Lester E. Bush Papers, MS
685, Special Collections, University of Utah)
January 13, 1912
First Presidency letter from Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H.
Lund, and Charles W. Penrose, of this date to “Elder Milton H. Knudson, Provo,
Utah” from ASS papers:
“Dear Brother,
This is in answer to yours of the 9th inst., containing
the following questions:
(1) What authority have we as Latter-ay Saints, in either
modern or ancient revelation, or in sermons of our brethren, for the statement that
the negroes are those who were neutral in heaven at the time of the great
conflict or war?
(2) It is a fact that a Negro cannot receive the
priesthood, and if so, what is the reason?
Answer to question 1: So far as we know, there is no
revelation, ancient or modern, neither is there any authoritative statement by
any of the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in
support of that which many of our elders have advanced as doctrine, in effect
that the negroes are those who were neutral in heaven at the time of the great
conflict or war, which resulted in the casting out of Lucifer and those who were
led by him, said to number about one-third of the hosts of heaven.
Answer to question 2: You are referred to the Pearl of
Great Price, Book of Abraham, Chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, going to show that
the seed of Ham was cursed as pertaining to the priesthood; and that by reason
of this curse they have no right to it.
While there is no written revelation going to show why
the negroes are ineligible to hold the priesthood, the Prophet Joseph Smith is
said to have explained it in this way, that by killing his brother, Abel, Cain
deprived him of posterity, and this without doubt was the intent of Saran in
tempting Cain to take his brother’s life. And the Prophet Joseph is said to
have added that until after Abel shall have had posterity, and that means until
after Abel’s posterity shall have obtained earthly tabernacles, otherwise the
children of the slayer would have advantages over those of the slain.
Your brethren,
/s/ Joseph F. Smith
Anthon H Lund
Charles W. Penrose
First Presidency” (Lester E. Bush Papers, MS 685, Special Collections, University
of Utah)
May 1, 1912
First Presidency letter to “President Ben R. Rich, New York
City” written this date, from ASB papers:
“Dear Brother:
“Your correspondence with Brother J. Wesley Harmon, a
colored member of the Church, was duly received, but had to be filed for a time
in consequence of a press of business matters and letters that had to be taken
up, compelling the temporary retirement of other things requiring our
attention. The subject of Brother Harmon’s letters and your reply thereto
involve a principle which he does not seem to fully comprehend, and which could
not be properly taken up without some care and consideration for him and the
race to which he belongs.
He makes a fundamental error in conceiving the idea that
because it is stated in scripture that ‘God is no respecter of persons,’ the
Almighty must of necessity grant to every person living the same rights,
powers, authorities and keys of ministration and dominion. The meaning which he
attaches to the saying of Paul and of Peter on this matter is not warranted by
the texts. Peter’s words, when he learned that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was
to be extended to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, were these: ‘Of a truth, I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons; But in every nation he that
feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.’ (Acts 10:34,35)
That covers the ground of the equality of all nations and races before the Lord.
IT simply signifies that the people of all tribes and tongues will be accepted
by the Lord when they receive and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words,
salvation is not confined to one people, one family or race. It is the same
with regard to the judgment, which is to come to all. On this matter
Paul said, ‘For there is no respect of persons with God.’ (Romans 2:11) What
was Paul touching upon? Simply the fact that in the judgment God would ‘render
to every man according to his deeds.’ (See whole chapter) Now, does this imply
that every individual is to have the opportunity to become a priest, a king, a
ruler? Not at all! Paul asked the question, when writing to the Corinthians: ‘Are
all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?’
The answer to all these queries is, ‘No for the gifts of the spirit are divided
to every man severally as He, (the Lord) will.’ (1 Cor 12).
As the Priesthood, noting can be clearer from holy writ
that the fact that Priesthood, which means divine authority to minister for and
in behalf of Deity, was from the beginning conveyed through a certain lineage.
The promise was made to Abraham that in him and his seed all nations should be
blessed. This was to be through the Priesthood handed down from father to son
in the line of the firstborn as may be seen by reading the Book of Abraham in
the Pearl of Great Price. This has special reference to the Priesthood after
the Order of the Son of God, commonly called 'after the order of Melchizedek.'
When it became necessary that the keys of this High Priesthood should be still
further restricted in operation and the Lesser Priesthood introduced and
subsequently left to alone administer in the things of God, it was confined to
the House of Aaron through the line of the firstborn; none others were to receive
it. Indeed, anyone else attempting to officiate in it was liable to extreme
penalties. Did this prove that God was a respecter of persons? Yes, in one
sense of the term, but not in the proper and rational sense. The same might be
said concerning the restriction in relation to the priesthood, confining it to
the one sex. Women are not ordained to any office in the priesthood, yet they
are 'heirs of salvation' and will enter into glory to a fullness and will enjoy
all that they are entitled to according to their works. Thus in their case it
might be argued that God is a 'respecter of persons,' but the term would be
improperly applied viewing the matter in the light of the divine laws.
The great Creator understands his own purpose and designs
and the conditions of humanity and what is needed for the greatest good to the
greatest number; and that he respects the good in preference to the evil doers
needs no argument, nor, when we consider his dealings with his people in
ancient or in modern times, does it appear unjust or unreasonable that He
should designate certain tribes or nations or races through whom he would
specifically operate in the accomplishment of HIs plans. ON this subject Paul,
in his writing to the Romans, speaks of his kinsman according to the flesh in
this way: 'Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth adoption and the glory and the covenant and
the giving of the law and the service of God, and the promises.' (Romans 9:4-5)
He also speaks of the 'Advantage to the House of Israel,' declaring that it is
'much every way; chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of
God.' (Romans 3:2) The Doctrine and Covenants gives frequent references to the
inheritance of the Priesthood by lineage. The Patriarchal office, bearing the
Evangelical Priesthood, is very clearly set forth in Section 107, verses 39 to
57. It is there stated that 'The order of this Priesthood was confirmed to be
handed down from father to son and rightly belongs to the literal descendants
of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.' This descent began on this
earth with our father Adam and has continued to the present dispensation. If we
follow the reasoning of our friend Harmon we would conclude that 'God is the
respecter of persons,' which in his mind would be contrary to the sayings of
Paul and Peter; but the Almighty knows his own purposes and has his own reasons
for selecting certain races, or tribes among those races, or special families in
those tribes to perform special services and hold authority to perform
ordinances or other works in His name. In the same section, verses 68 to 76, is
explained the order that the Lord has established in reference to important
offices in the Lesser Priesthood, showing that it rightly belongs to a
particular line of descent. Those quotations might be multiplied to a great
extent, but that is not necessary.
The revelations received in these latter times, not only
designate certain lines of lineage in which the authority of the Priesthood is
specially bestowed, but shows how the race to which our Brother Harmon belongs
is excluded from the offices of the Priesthood. The seed of Ham, through
Cainan, formed the origin of the negro race, and the Pearl of Great Price gives
particulars on this point that are very pertinent to the subject. (See Book of
Abraham 1:21, 27) These texts show that while men of the negro race may be
blessed of the Lord both temporally and spiritually, with early power, with
wisdom, with salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in these and
other similar respects participate in the great redemption brought about by the
Savior of mankind, yet there are not eligible to the Priesthood, which belongs
particularly to the seed of Abraham.
As to the reasons why the Lord foreordained the 'times
before appointed and the bounds of the habitations' of all the children of men,
selected certain families and their descendants to hold his divine authority
called Priesthood, they are in His own mind and purpose, and no human being has
the right to question His authority and wisdom and justice in regard to this
matter. Our pre-existence, if its history were fully unfolded, would no doubt
made the subject much plainer to our understanding than it is shown at present.
As to 'eligibility;' no person is eligible to authority
or office in the Priesthood simply on his own idea of his fitness in any way.
No person of any race is 'eligible' to anything but that which is of divine
appointment. The notion that one who cannot receive the Priesthood is an
'outcast from all the grand dominions of heaven and eternity,' which seems to
be entertained by our colored friend, is a gross error, for the glories of
salvation and eternal happiness and progress are secured to all the posterity
of Adam, through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died for all, no
matter what heir color or race may be. Our friend takes some comfort in the
claim that he has 'some of the blood of Ephraim' in his veins. Does not that on
its very face show that he conceives, to some extent at least, the effect of
lineage as it relates to the Priesthood? But there is this to be said, which
ought to be understood, and that is no one is to be ordained to any office in
the Priesthood simply because he is on the lineage which may receive that
authority. There are thousands of persons of the seed of Abraham, and even of
the lineage of Aaron, who cannot receive the Priesthood, nor is anyone entitled
to it simply and merely because of that lineage. Everyone called to hold any
office in the Priesthood, whether of Aaron or Melchizedek, must be called by
prophecy and by the laying on of hands to such ordination and be accepted and
sustained as such by the proper order of the Church of Christ.
'My house is a house of order, saith the Lord.' One of
the principles of that order is that persons of the order, saith the Lord.' One
of the principles of that order is that persons of the negro race may not be
ordained to the Priesthood, but they may and do receive the blessings of
salvation in time and eternity, which imply glory, honor, everlasting progress
and position for which they are prepared and which are beyond human power to
describe, but it must be evident to every clear thinker of every soul receiving
salvation cannot be endowed with the power and authority of 'kings and priests
unto God and His Christ,' or where would be the people to constitute the
kingdoms, and the conditions needing ministrations and regulations for the
maintenance of that order prevails in the Kingdom of the Father. Our friend
should be comforted and rejoice in the fact that he has been so much
enlightened by the spirit of truth as to receive the ordinances of the
everlasting Gospel, and should be content to use the talents and powers with
which the Lord has greatly blessed him, to aid in the redemption of his own
race and people, among whom he may become a bright and shining light, gaining
more honor and glory and bliss than he ever anticipated.
Your brethren,
/s/ Joseph F. Smith
Anthon H. Lund
Charles W. Penrose" (Lester E. Bush Papers, MS 685,
Special Collections, University of Utah)
October 11, 1958
Joseph Fielding Smith reportedly made the following
remarks, as quoted in “Digest of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Patriarchs
of the Church with the General Authorities” included in “Instructions to
Patriarchs” from the Tanners’ Mormonism—Shadow or Reality, p. 586:
“Now here is a problem which to me is serious. A
Patriarch gave a blessing to an individual who had Negro blood in his veins and
said you are of the House of Israel and entitled to all of the blessings of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A Negro cannot hold the priesthood and not holding
the priesthood they cannot, until the Lord removes the restriction, enter into
the exaltation of the kingdom of God and that would not entitle them to all of
the blessings of Abraham., Isaac and Jacob. That is a very serious matter and
we should be extremely careful to know the Lord is speaking to us because
Negroes cannot receive the fullness. . . . he does not get exaltation, but as I
understand it, the Lord will, in due time, remove the restrictions. Not in this
world but the time will come. . . . We would like to hear from some of the
other General Authorities but we do not have time as we desire to give you time
to ask some questions you may have in your mind.
Q. We have a young man who joined the Church and there is
a question as to his lineage. Is there any reason why they couldn’t call upon
the patriarch to see if he could give it to them, to see whether or not they
have colored blood?
A. A patriarch as the right to have inspiration in a case
of that kind. In a case where there might be a person suspected of having Negro
blood, but it is not certain, they could go to a patriarch. He has the right to
inspiration. In such a case the bishop should have the right of inspiration too.
There are some cases where I suppose no one could tell but the Lord.” (Lester E.
Bush, “Supplement to Compilation on the Negro in Mormonism,” pp. 39-40, Lester
E. Bush Papers, MS 685, Special Collections, University of Utah)
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