Interracial Marriage

I am so grateful that we have a prophet on the earth to guide us in THESE DAYS and that what we hear from our leaders today supersedes the words of those that came before them. We, as a church, may sometimes not be ready to receive truths that Heavenly Father has for us. He has "yet to reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
We are often blinded by our mortal culture and narrow views. This is what I believe happened with how the LDS church treated and preached about Blacks and intermarriage. I know that while it came from an inspired and anointed man, the following was NEVER an inspired teaching, nor were those teachings like it.

“God has commanded Israel not to intermarry. To go against this commandment of God would be in sin. Those who willfully sin with their eyes open to this wrong will not be surprised to find that they will be SEPARATED FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD in the world to come. This is SPIRITUAL DEATH… To intermarry with a Negro is to forfeit a Nation of Priesthood holders… It reminds me of the scripture on marriage, ‘what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ Only here we have the reverse of the thing – what God hath separated, let not man bring together again.”

(Apostle Mark E. Peterson, Race Problems – As They Affect The Church, Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, August 27, 1954, emphasis added.)

This was in the 50's! Preaching the physical or spiritual death penalty as punishment for interracial marriage was heard from laymen, to apostles, even to many of our prophets.

“And if any man MINGLE HIS SEED WITH THE SEED OF CAIN the only way he could get rid of it or have Salvation would be to come forward and HAVE HIS HEAD CUT OFF and spill his blood upon the ground- it would ALSO TAKE THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN.” (Wilford Woodruff Journal, emphasis added)

Yes, EVEN CHILDREN were not safe from the punishments of this sin and were used in the argument against it.  These children would be born with a death sentence in the eyes of the Church.

“Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is DEATH ON THE SPOT. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE SO.”

(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 10, page 110, emphasis added)

They believed it to be unchangeable doctrine. Cemented into the laws of the universe as much as gravity or the law of tithes. If asked if this would ever change, I'm sure they would have answered, "No, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Some church members even felt that if it ever DID change, that this would no longer be the true church of Jesus Christ.

These ideas were taught as doctrine for MORE THAN A CENTURY. When all blacks were finally granted the priesthood in 1978 there were many letters sent to the Church from members who no longer wished to be a part of a church that they considered had gone against God's will. Indeed, the LDS Church still receives letters from members and former members who are angry because they feel Blacks should not be allowed to hold the priesthood.

I cannot help but recognize the similarities between interracial marriage then and same-sex marriage now. I know many would disagree that these two issues will eventually be resolved in the same way, but, nevertheless, the similarities are there in all the arguments. I do not know if same-sex marriage will travel the same path as interracial marriage in the Church, but this gives me hope that SOMEDAY, the leaders will realize the damage they have done to these very real and loving same-sex families and their children. Maybe SOMEDAY they will see that they can stand for their families without trying to destroy others.