Blacks And The Priesthood

[CrimsonKairos]

Snow, I could see people saying to themselves: "We got kicked out of Missouri for being abolitionists, Joseph Smith was assassinated while running for President of the USA as an abolitionist...perhaps we should back off on this issue until the climate cools down."

Not saying that's what happened, just that I could see a reasonable person making that conclusion after counseling with the Lord.

But I certainly don't think the ban had anything to do with a curse, regardless of what was preached to the contrary. But what do I know, anyway? I'm just one man with one opinion.

[pushka]

What the heck, here's a discourse of BY's outlining the curse of Cain:

“I will remark with regard to Slavery, inasmuch as we believe in the Bible, inasmuch as we believe in the Ordinances of God, in the Priesthood and order and decrees of God, we must believe in Slavery. This colored race have been subjected to severe curses, which they have in their families and their classes and in their various capacities brought upon themselves. And until the curse is removed by Him who placed it upon them, they must suffer under its consequences; I am not authorized to remove it. . . . The African enjoys the right of receiving the first principles of the Gospel, this liberty is held out to all these servants, they enjoy the liberty of being baptized for the remission of sins, and of receiving the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands; they enjoy the privilege of living humble before the Lord their great master, so as to enjoy the spirit of the Lord continually; in short, as far as the common comforts of life, salvation, light, truth, enjoyment, and understanding is concerned, the black African has precisely the same privilege as the white man. But they cannon hold the Priesthood, and inasmuch as they cannot bear any share in the Priesthood, they cannot bear rule, they cannot bear rule in any place until the curse is removed from them, they are a ‘servant of servants’. . . . [N]ow suppose that we should have a servant, and he should be a Negro, it is all right, it is perfectly reasonable, and strictly according to the Holy Priesthood. . . . When the Lord God cursed old Cain, He said, ‘Until the last drop of Abel’s blood receives the Priesthood, and enjoys the blessings of the same, Cain shall bear the curse,’ then Cain is calculated to have his share next, and not until then; consequently, I am a firm in the belief that they ought to dwell in servitude.” (The Teachings of President Brigham Young, Vol. 3. 26-28)

I've got 80 pages of this stuff. Let me know if you want to read more.

I think it's quite sad that BY and possibly others used these apparent curses in order to justify slavery.