If you are a Political Mormon you blog about your Mormon view of Politics. If you are a Feminist Mormon you blog about the feminine aspects of Mormonism. But if you are a Black Mormon you tend to blog about the Black side of Mormonism. I try not to focus so much on the Black Side of Mormonism too much but since it is black history month I feel slightly compelled.
This past Sunday in Gospel Doctrine the Substitute Teacher ended the talk on the subject of: The Curse.
She stated that that the Curse of Cain wasn’t the color of a persons skin, it was the mark of the curse. Well, that’s a relief. She wasn’t really talking about that Curse but the Curse the Lamanite were faced with. Some of the people in attendance hailed Indian leaders as being the nicest people they have ever met. I sat there all amazed. I smiled, looked down at my skin and kinda felt strange. What did they think about my skin color. If this is the Mark of the Curse am I still Cursed? Or was I even Cursed to begin with?
Even though some people claim the Mark of the Curse wasn’t a mark of color, many still see it that way, Mormons included. I have to impart the fact that the Real Gospel Doctrine teacher is a Native American- A Lamanite in Mormon eyes. Would she have ended the class in this same way? I don’t think so.
I think people today still think Blacks and Native Americans are cursed. Which causes this teaching to continue to invade our hearts and minds. The first time I ever heard of this Curse business was when I was a kid. A grandmother of a friend of mine believed God made black people black because they were full of sin. My friend tried to explain it to me one day and I just said nothing and went on my way when he was finished. Needless to say I wasn’t allowed to go over to his grandmothers house. His father didn’t trust her around me.
One of the speculations is that black people are evil. And adversary of the devil. Maybe it’s because a past President of the Church stated:
And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham’s wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God. (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 22 page 304).
Above all else we are commanded to love on another. I just can’t believe that God made me different because thousands of years ago an ancestor sinned against God. We also believe that we will be judged from what we do and not because of another’s transgressions. Being cursed for someone else’s sins just doesn’t fit into the Articles of Faith now does it?
We all are children of God. Disliking me because of my color, no matter what it might be, isn’t Gods way. What would Heavenly Father do? Besides that wasn’t in the plan was it. What if racism was in the plan:
And some of you will be cursed. For those who want to be cursed please stand in this line. And the ones who don’t want to be cured stand in this line.
If that was the case maybe the ones who stood in the wrong line were not that smart of a people. But that doesn’t hold true either. Did you know many smart Black people invented things we use every day?
- The Folding Chair (like the one you use in Relief Society)
- Hair Brush (like the ones we use today)
- Leather Shoe Maker
- Disposable Syringe
- Improvements to the Lawn Mower
The list go on and on and on. Although prejudice and racism prevails. If you were wondering about the graphic at the top of this post. Read this from President Hinckley First.
I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ, How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color, is ineligible?
Those are powerful words. The picture of the shirt at the top of this post that reads “I can’t I’m Mormon”. But it should:
I Can’t Be A Racist Because I’m A Mormon
Jamie Trwth
Talking about inventions, you didn’t mention everything useful you can do with a peanut.
Getting back to the real theme of this post, I agree that President Hinckley’s comments are incredibly to the point and precise.
Stephen M (Ethesis)
February 24th, 2008
I have to say that we mormoms do have race sensitive people among us. Take it from a black mormon who has experienced the other side of the shirts logo.
By the way, the peanut has endless uses.
Ronald
May 20th, 2008
The Curse of Cain ‘doctrine’ was taught by the Protestants long before the church came along. They used it to justify slavery.
The first black man ordained to the priesthood in our church was a man named Elijah Abel and he was ordained by none other than Joseph Smith. He was even in the quorum of the seventy and served a mission. There were other black men given the priesthood as well. Something happened along the way though, after Joseph’s death, that seems to have changed things. We don’t really know what exactly happened but remember, this ‘doctrine’ seems to have appeared in our church around Brigham’s time and this was still during the slavery years. I don’t believe Brigham was a racist, but think of it from their perspective: black had been in slavery for hundreds of years and there were still slaves. One could assume that our church leaders, all from Protestant backgrounds, just went along with what was currently accepted in the world. It may have even made sense at the time.
It’s easy to look back and say “Well they should have known.” Maybe God didn’t reveal the answer to them even when they asked. Could they have just turned to the scriptures and made some assumptions based on the current world status of blacks? You’ll notice that there never was a revelation ‘banning’ anyone from the priesthood. Historically, the priesthood was only held by the Levites and even still, only by certain tribes in the House of Israel. Not every male held the priesthood yet. McConkie once said about the subject that “we spoke with limited understanding”. I don’t know that we’ll ever really understand why the priesthood was kept from some during those years. But I think the Lord has wisdom in why he lets things happen. When I study how the church came to Africa and how the Lord prepared people there and gave them visions and taught them the doctrine long before missionaries arrived. How their faith was tested in that they believed in a church that wouldn’t give them the priesthood. How could you believe something like that? The only ones that did, were the ones that knew it was true by the spirit. Maybe that’s how the Lord filtered the weak from the strong and found his leaders. When you read the Bible, you’ll see plenty of things that seemed ‘unfair’ or ‘unjust’ and it’s only now in our day that we are beginning to understand the wisdom of the Lord in all of it.
Corey
September 10th, 2008