gaysocialistmormon

That's a good thought - when I have money to spare I should get that DVD. Thanks!

This topic of the Priesthood and Temple restrictions led to me to cut contact with the Church after I had first been learning with missionaries for about a month. Anyway I was not even close to being alive in 1978, but I have some great stories from a senior missionary who recently left my area. He too describes it as one of those "where were you when" moments for those who remember. This missionary friend knew Ruffin Bridgeforth well and had the privilege of attending some of those early Genesis Group meetings, so the Priesthood being available to black men was something always on his mind. In '78 he was serving as a ward missionary somewhere in the Eastern US. On June 8th, driving home after helping with a lesson, with the car radio on, he found out from the (secular) radio station that the Mormons would soon begin ordaining black members as priests. It was told with matter-of-factness as if it was some small bureaucratic matter, then they moved on to another story. When he got home he called the local young missionaries and asked, "Elders! Is it true?" and they replied "We just heard as well!" Apparently that's how every conversation seemed to go for a while. You'd never have to explain what you were talking about, just: Have you heard? Isn't it great news? etc. He also remembers hearing that in Provo on June 8th/9th people being so happy and excited that they hugged strangers and honked their car horns randomly. Ah and then he told me the story of a black woman who was studying at BYU. The student paper, 'The Universe', ran a pretty snappy headline on June 9th 1978: BLACKS GET PRIESTHOOD. So her roommates got some sticky tape, crept into her room, and stuck that front page on the ceiling above her so that that would be the first thing she saw on waking up.

Margaret Blair Young in her articles and talks often refers to Len Hope, a black man with quite a wonderful story, which was recorded on tape, who was baptised after World War II. She has the transcript of his witness on her patheos blog [link]. Does anyone know where I can listen to the recording itself? I won't lose sleep over it or anything -- I'd just love to hear this brother's voice!