Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Excerpts from the Lester E. Bush Papers

  

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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