Priesthood Eligibility

Priesthood and Race may be the single issue upon which Mormon fundamentalists of all stripes have historically been most united. Fundamentalists in general have felt that the LDS decision to ordain black members in 1978 was a politically and/or financially motivated concession to worldly pressure, and that the will of God is to bar men with African blood from the priesthood just as much today as in any other year since Cain murdered Abel and through the (end of the) millennium. Recent events in one fundamentalist branch have sparked new and heated controversy within the fundamentalist world and will be thoroughly covered in this essay.

There is a prerequisite essay which is foundational to read before proceeding any further here. It can be read at blacksandthepriesthood.com. The first essay examines the historical and scriptural basis for and against the priesthood ban in great depth, and is addressed to a broader Mormon audience including LDS members. The first half of the essay is a historical examination which proves that Joseph never taught or enforced a race-based ban on priesthood or temple ordinances, and that Brigham’s decision to impose the ban several years after the martyrdom was a complete departure from the prior precedent established by Joseph; the second half of the essay is a scriptural examination which proves that Brigham’s policy to bar black latter-day saints from priesthood and temple ordinances directly contradicts the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the teachings of Joseph Smith. Having thoroughly examined the historical and scriptural evidence both in favor of and against the ban in the previous essay, this second essay will earnestly examine the question from a rational and revelatory perspective and will be specifically addressed to fundamentalist readers. Again, if you have not read the first essay please go read it at blacksandthepriesthood.com before reading further here. 

After the time I have spent researching, pondering, and praying about this question I have reached a point where all the doubt, darkness, and confusion that once plagued my mind on this issue has given way to the light and confidence of self-evident truth. These two essays together make a bold case that the priesthood ban was and is not of God at the very least in this dispensation, and are an invitation to all fundamentalists currently perpetuating the ban to repent. A man named Adrian Rogers once said, “It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error”; while true, Mormon fundamentalist history is an ongoing case study in division and infighting that has weakened the power and influence fundamentalists could have had if we had been able to unite rather than fracture and scatter. I would invite all of us to adapt the sentiment of Adrian Rogers to: It is better to be united by truth than to be divided by error. Whether I am successful in persuading anyone reading these words to change their position on the priesthood ban, I hope this statement at least is something all can agree is true and worth pursuing. 

“I believe it is good to investigate and prove all principles that come before me. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good, and reject that which is evil, no matter what guise it may come in. I think if we, as ‘Mormons,’ hold principles that cannot be sustained by the Scriptures and by good sound reason and philosophy, the quicker we part with them the better, no matter who believes in them or who does not. In every principle presented to us, our first inquiry should be, ‘Is it true?’ ‘Does it emanate from God?’ If He is its Author it can be sustained just as much as any other truth in natural philosophy; if false it should be opposed and exposed just as much as any other error. Hence upon all such matters we wish to go back to first principles.” 
John Taylor (JD 13:15)

A Rational Examination

“The glory of God is intelligence. Blessed is the man who develops his intellect by reason; because the man who will not reason is a bigot, the man who cannot reason is a fool, and the man who dares not reason is a slave.” 
-William Drummond, adapted by Joseph Smith

“Wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me. And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand; Let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face. Now, when a man reasoneth he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand.”
Doctrine & Covenants 50:9-12

While we have been exercising the power of reason throughout these essays in examining the history and scriptures, in this section let us take a moment to consider a few ideas from a more philosophical, psychological, and rational approach. I will occasionally cite scripture to support the ideas, but the principles I am advocating in this section will be presented as my own personal opinions and perspectives. I ask nobody to take my word for any of it, but only invite you to pray for the Holy Spirit to be with you as you consider the following ideas and try to identify/discern if there is any truth or value for you in them. 

1. The Myth of Worthiness
In Mormonism of all stripes, there is a word commonly used when determining whether or not to ordain someone to the priesthood: worthiness. I believe we should all honestly consider the question: who is worthy of the priesthood? After reviewing the next few scriptures I hope we will be much slower to throw up our own hands in response. 

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:19-24)

“For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.” (Mosiah 4:19-20)

To think of oneself as “worthy” of God’s priesthood is a prideful delusion. I know for a fact that I am personally unworthy to scrub God’s toilet. I am a very imperfect and flawed man. I am acutely aware of my weakness and imperfections, and I know for a fact that I would be lost forever if Christ hadn’t saved me from death and hell. Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted, and I know that God can take someone even as flawed and imperfect as me and work miracles through my feeble attempts to do His will and serve His children – because I have seen it happen with my own eyes. To suppose otherwise, especially on the grounds of race/lineage, sounds frighteningly reminiscent of the Jews when they were rebuked by John the Baptist “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:8-9) Or for another example consider the sacrilegious prayers of the Zoramites on the Rameumptom tower: “Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we… believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; …But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren…. And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.” (Alma 31:16-18) Anytime we find ourselves in company with the Pharisees or the Zoramites, I submit it’s time to reconsider our position! 

2. The True Criteria for Priesthood Ordination
In my opinion “worthy” and/or “worthiness” are a poor choice of words – because technically speaking, the scriptures are very clear that nobody is worthy. Personally, I prefer the word qualified when it relates to baptism, and the word justified as it pertains to considering whom to ordain to the priesthood and administer ordinances. 

A person is qualified for baptism (in other words the criteria have been met) when he or she has 

1) borne testimony that they believe being baptized is God’s will, 
2) repented of all their sins, and 
3) expressed a desire and commitment to obey the commandments. 

All such should be baptized, and no additional criteria should be imposed beyond what God has required (see D&C 20:37). 

When a man is baptized, he has entered through the gate (see 2 Nephi 31:17-18); but as Nephi goes on to explain in the very next verse “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.” In other words, there are additional criteria which must be met before a man should be ordained to the priesthood – namely, obedience, diligence, and faithfulness to the covenants entered into at baptism. 

“For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;” (Moses 6:59-60)

The man, or candidate, as well as the potential administrator(s) then independently ask for and obtain a witness by the Holy Spirit – at which point the man can be considered justified to be ordained and receive additional ordinances as directed by the Holy Spirit. 

When a man thus ordained and endowed continues forward on the path of righteousness and becomes sanctified (made holy) by the blood of Christ, it is then that the man can be said to have acquired power in his priesthood. 

I believe these are the essential criteria as laid out in the scriptures; and that to require any more or less than this is of men and not God. All of us are on equal footing because all of us are unworthy. We are often so paranoid about and obsessed with who NOT to ordain; but agency is always respected, and there is ample scriptural and historical precedent for true prophets giving the priesthood to men who turned out to be absolute scoundrels – even sons of perdition. Think about it: a son of perdition can’t even become a son of perdition if he hasn’t received the priesthood. Cain himself received the priesthood, under the hand of Adam/God. Was Adam wrong to ordain Cain? Consider the absurdity and arrogance of thinking God Himself made a mistake when he ordained His son Cain! Bottom line, Priesthood can be a curse to any man every bit as much as a blessing – it is a test to see what each man will do with it. And only by testing/proving a man can the truth about who he actually is become known. 

If we choose to focus on looking for reasons to not ordain someone, I guarantee we’ll always find them; but is this how we want God to judge and measure us? “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:2) I would submit that we should be looking for reasons to ordain a man rather than dwell on all the reasons to not ordain him. Again, the criteria are simply that he desires it, that he understands and is willing to fulfill the responsibilities, that he has kept his baptismal covenants and repented when he has fallen short: at which point, then as administrators we ought to plead his case before the Lord. That is, if we want Christ to plead our case before the Father at the judgment bar (see Matthew 7:2). If the Holy Spirit permits us to ordain/endow him and later he were to fall away, then that’s on him. Not us, and not God. Would you criticize or condemn Joseph for ordaining John C Bennett? Or William Law or any of the others involved with his murder? I certainly will not, and would encourage others to do likewise.

3. The True Significance of Race/Lineage
You may find it ironic, but despite my very bold stance against the priesthood ban, I actually do believe that lineage/race are extremely important – just for a very different reason than the Pharisees/many fundamentalists suppose. The reason I believe lineage is important is because it is about responsibility and accountability. Men are so quick to think that because they have been called of God they’re “the chosen” ones, the “special” ones – and they indulge in feelings of self importance. In reality, all being “the chosen” means is that when God comes down to take an accounting, He will know exactly who to visit and hold accountable. In that day, the men who are accountable – namely, the “seed of Abraham” and especially all who have received the priesthood – will bear the full responsibility for their failure to serve and administer to their fellow men who were worthy in every way except perhaps skin tone. Priesthood is not about exercising authority over anyone else, it’s about being a servant. Nothing more or less. 

“Let no man think he is ruler; but let God rule him that judgeth, according to the counsel of his own will, or, in other words, him that counseleth or sitteth upon the judgment seat.”
(D&C 58:20)

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile”
(D&C 121:41-42)

If we who hold the priesthood have any influence at all with others by virtue of the priesthood, it is because they have freely chosen to give us that influence. If any man uses coercion or manipulation or any other means than the principles contained in the above revelation, he is guilty of exercising unrighteous dominion and should speedily repent – and more importantly, the influence thusly wielded is not attributable to the priesthood of God but must come from some other source.

Consider the word “priesthood” as less of a Noun, and more of an Adjective. To illustrate this point, a “neighborhood” is just a “hood” or group, of “neighbors” or people who live by each other; a “brotherhood” is just a “hood” or group of “brothers” or  men who either share the same parents or feel an equivalent sense of connection. Consider that “priesthood” just means a “hood” or group, of “priests” – men who God has specifically called and ordained to do His will on the earth. And what is God’s will on the earth? To serve and bless mankind. Priesthood = servanthood in God’s holy name. If you don’t want to be a servant for the rest of this life and all eternity, then I would submit that the Priesthood probably isn’t what you want. And I believe that men who do not understand this principle and instead think that receiving priesthood makes them “special” or sets them above any other human, will never obtain power in the priesthood – rather, it will be a curse to them. “Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen.” (D&C 121:38-40)

4. The Psychology of Conformity vs. Unity: aka “One Man-ism”
During Joseph’s lifetime he made many statements and recommendations to destroy American slavery and racial inequality, especially among the church membership. For anyone coming into the church and bringing prejudicial or racist baggage with them, that may have been really difficult but out of respect for Joseph they likely would have kept their opinions to themselves at least in his company. For this reason, I believe it is impossible to claim there was a “consensus” on this issue among the saints during Joseph’s lifetime. However, in the years after Joseph’s death when Brigham came down hard in favor of the priesthood ban, it would have emboldened anyone with racist feelings/tendencies to begin to speak out. Even for saints who may not have previously held racial prejudice, after the William McCary fiasco it certainly could have created or fed harder feelings. And by the 1860s it appears safe to conclude that church leadership and probably membership reached a very broad consensus against blacks holding the priesthood – especially given Brigham’s vitriol on the subject. In acknowledging this, we must consider the great pressure this consensus would place upon everyone to “get with the program” and conform to Brigham’s position, whether or not each individual actually felt, believed, or had a testimony of it. It’s possible that even John Taylor harbored some doubts – since although he did not overturn the precedent set by Brigham, after Brigham died and before John became the president of the church he did go around gathering affidavits from people like Zebedee Coltrin and Abraham Smoot to “check receipts” on the status quo. 

Joseph Smith was a strong leader, but he never wanted people to simply conform to his opinions. In a Relief Society meeting held 26 May 1842 “Prest. Smith rose; read the 14th Chap. of Ezekiel—Said the Lord had declared by the prophet that the people should each one stand for himself and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish Church—that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls—applied it to the present state of the church of Latter Day Saints—Said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall—that they were depending on the prophet hence were darkened in their minds from neglect of themselves—envious toward the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.” (TPJS p237)

About a year later on 8 Apr 1843, Joseph spoke on interpreting the meaning of the book of Revelation by a man named Pelatiah Brown and that he was hauled up for trial by the High Council over it: “Elder Brown… one of the wisest old heads we have among us, has been called up before the High Council on account of the beast. The old man has preached concerning the beast which was full of eyes before and behind and for this he was hauled up for trial. I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like methodism and not like Latter day Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good not to be tramelled.“ (HC 5:340) All of us are very familiar with Joseph’s sentiments he expressed in Article of Faith 11 “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

Samuel Richards, editor of the Millennial Star, printed in the 13 Nov 1852 edition the following sentiments attributed to Joseph Smith “We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them [even] if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told do by their presidents they should do it without any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves.” (Millenial Star 14:393-395)

Even Brigham Young said “What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purpose of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders did they know for themselves by the revelations of Jesus that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves whether their leaders are walking in the path the lord dictates or not. This has been my exhortation continually.” (Deseret News, February 12th, 1862)

Having established the principle that nobody should ever outsource personal responsibility to obtain revelation on the mind and will of God for him or herself, let’s examine some other quotes which conflict these principles completely and which, to be frank, I find absolutely disgusting and degrading:

“Let us rise up as a people and turn unto the Lord our God with full purpose of heart, and, peradventure, our sins may be remitted and forgiven, and blotted out. This is what the Lord has placed men to lead you for. You cannot see God, you cannot behold Him and hold converse with Him, as one man does with another; but He has given us a man that we can talk to and thereby know His will, just as well as if God Himself were present. …Am I afraid to risk my salvation in the hands of the man that is appointed to lead me, and to lead this people? No, no more than I am to trust myself in the hands of the Almighty. He will lead me right, if I do as He says in every particular, in every circumstance, in poverty, in riches, in sickness, and in death. That is the course for me take; and if that is the course for me to take, it is the course for brother Grant to take, and for the Twelve Apostles, for the Seventies, for the High Priests, for the Elders, and for every person in the Church and Kingdom of God. We should be like the clay in the hands of the potter. Bless your souls, that is just as true a figure as can be presented before a people, if they ever saw a potter work; but if they never saw one work, they do not know what course he takes, any more than a person knows about a mill that never saw one.” (Heber C. Kimball, 21 Sept 1856 JD vol 4 discourse 8)

“As President Young has said, this is the household of faith, this is his house, and this is his people, and he is our leader, our Governor, he is our Prophet, and he is our Priest. As I have said in other places and in other meetings, when speaking to the Elders, when they are sent from this place, they are sent forth by the shepherd that God has stationed here; he is the head shepherd that is visible on earth, under the direction of Joseph, and he sends forth the Elders as shepherds to gather up the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and bring them home to put them into the fold. I have said that you have no business to make a selection of any of these sheep, or to make a choice of them, or make any covenant with them, until they are brought home and placed in the fold, and then if you want a sheep or two, ask the shepherd for them, and if you choose a sheep without taking this course you will get your fingers burnt. Why? Because they are his sheep—mark it. How would you like it, were I to go and take one of your sheep without permission, would you ever think of such a thing? One is just as right as the other. You will learn these things by and by. I would rather have my head laid upon a block, and severed from my shoulders, than ever make a proposal to any woman living upon the earth and marry her, unless I had permission from the chief shepherd.” (Heber C. Kimball, JD 1:207)

This slurpfest is what modern idolatry looks and sounds like. Disgraceful atrocities like these discourses are what fed the innate human tendency toward the idolatry of leader worship and the false tradition of “prophetic infallibility” that has plagued the Restoration since day one. The idolatry of leader worship will be the primary reason why so many who delusionally think they are engaged in “the work” will be damned unless they repent. Until this evil is rooted out of the hearts of every individual truly engaged in the work, Zion will not and indeed cannot be established.

5. The “One drop rule” 
The next topic I’d like to address is the “One drop rule” and its implications. I know that this extremely hardline stance is not held by everyone, but it has been held by more than a small fringe historically and even today. If you or anyone you know holds or has held this position, these next few comments are directed to you. 

The average human body holds 9 pints of blood; each pint has 473mL, and there are 20 drops of blood per mL. Therefore every human body has approximately 85,000 drops of blood coursing through it. 

When races interbreed, the immediate offspring are ½ of each race; the next generation is ¼, the next after that is ⅛ and so on. The point at which this equation becomes less than 1/85,000 occurs between the 18th and 19th generations. 

This means that if you had even 1 “mistake”/interbreeding anywhere in the last 18 generations, you’d still have more than 1 drop. Generation gaps average about 27 +/- 3 ½  years; so to go back 18 generations likely means you need to account for every. single. person. in your genealogy for the last 500+ years. The total number of progenitors you must account for in this 18th generation alone is 262,144; the total number of progenitors you must account for in all the generations from your parents to 18 generations back is a staggering 524,268 total ancestors.

This means that if the “one drop rule” were true, all it would take to be instantly disqualified from the priesthood by it is one single African ancestor at any point between now and 500 years ago. But wait, there’s more: if there were 2+ people in any of your 524,288 ancestors in the 19th generation, those two ½ black 19th generation ancestors would be the equivalent of 1 full black 18th generation ancestor and you’re disqualified. Or 4+ people in any of your 1,048,576 20th generation ancestors – so to be safe you’d actually have to go back much further than that. 

If you think modern DNA testing technology is a solution, you must know that at best DNA testing has a margin of error of 0.1%, which leaves ~8,514 potentially unaccounted for drops of blood; in other words, there is no technological way to definitively prove one’s (lack of) African ancestry.

Back to the genealogical approach: even if you could find the names and information of all 2,097,132 of your ancestors back to the 20th generation, consider that the further back you go the less reliable the records become; many times illegitimate births were an embarrassment and hidden from public records, wartime rape was a common tragedy during certain times, etc. 

I think I’ve made my point if the “one drop” rule was a thing, it would disqualify literally EVERYBODY from the priesthood. “But wait,” you say, “we can get revelation on it!” …what if you get it wrong? If it’s as serious of an issue as proponents of the ban seem to think, we better not ordain anyone just in case they have a drop. Also, how many men were ordained during Joseph’s lifetime – ten thousand? Can you suggest with a straight face that of those thousands, not a single one of them had “one drop” of African blood coursing through their veins?

Ok, now that we’ve fully deconstructed the madness of the “one drop” rule, let’s look at an interesting corollary: a revelation purportedly received by Joseph on 17 July 1831. I say “purportedly” because it was not contemporaneously recorded but was written sometime after the fact by W. W. Phelps from memory; nevertheless it is interesting and has some implications germane to our current subject of inquiry: 

Part of a revelation by Joseph Smith Jun. given over the boundary, west of Jackson Co. Missouri, on Sunday morning, July 17, 1831, when Seven Elders, viz: Joseph Smith Jun. Oliver Cowdery, W.W. Phelps, Martin Harris, Joseph Coe, Ziba Peterson and Joshua Lewis united their hearts in prayer, in a private place, to inquire of the Lord who should preach the first sermon to the remnants of the Lamanites and Nephites, and the people of that Section, that should assemble that day in the Indian country, to hear the gospel, and the revelations according to the Book of Mormon. 

Among the company, there being neither pen, ink or paper, Joseph [Smith, Jr.] remarked that the Lord could preserve his words as he had ever done, till the time appointed, and proceeded: 

Verily, verily, saith the Lord your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, the light and the life of the world, ye cannot discern with your natural eyes, the design and the purpose of your Lord and your God, in bringing you thus far into the wilderness for a trial of your faith, and to be special witnesses, to bear testimony of this land, upon which the Zion of God shall be built up in the last days, when it is redeemed. 

Verily, inasmuch as ye are united in calling upon my name to know my will concerning who shall preach to the inhabitants that shall assemble this day to learn what new doctrine you have to teach them, you have done wisely, for so did the prophets anciently, even Enoch, and Abraham, and others: and therefore, it is my will that my servant Oliver Cowdery should open the meeting with prayer; that my servant W. W. Phelps should preach the discourse; and that my servants Joseph Coe and Ziba Peterson should bear testimony as they shall be moved by the Holy Spirit. This will be pleasing in the sight of your Lord. 

Verily I say unto you, ye are laying the foundation of a great work for the salvation of as many as will believe and repent, and obey the ordinances of the gospel, and continue faithful to the end: For, as I live, saith the Lord, so shall they live. 

Verily I say unto you that the wisdom of man in his fallen state, knoweth not the purposes and the privileges of my holy priesthood. but ye shall know when ye receive a fulness by reason of the anointing: For it is my will, that in time, ye should take unto you wives of the Lamanites and Nephites, that their posterity may become white, delightsome and Just, for even now their females are more virtuous than the gentiles. 

Gird up your loins and be prepared for the mighty work of the Lord to prepare the world for my second coming to meet the tribes of Israel according to the predictions of all the holy prophets since the beginning; For the final desolation, and decrees upon Babylon: For, as the everlasting gospel is carried from this land, in love for peace, to gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, for Zion,— even so shall rebellion follow after speedily, with hatred for war until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all the kingdoms and nations that strive to govern themselves by the laws and precepts, and force and powers of men under the curse of sin, in all the world. 

Verily I say unto you, that the day of vexation and vengeance is nigh at the doors of this nation, when wicked, ungodly and daring men will rise up in wrath and might, and go forth in anger, like as the dust is driven by [a] terrible wind; and they will be the means of the destruction of the government, and cause the death and misery of man[y] souls, but the faithful among my people shall be preserved in holy places, during all these tribulations. 

Be patient, therefore, possessing your souls in peace and love, and keep the faith that is now delivered unto you for the gathering of scattered Israel, and lo, I am with you, though ye cannot see me, till I come: even so. Amen. 

Reported by W.W.P. [William W. Phelps] 

About three years after this was given, I asked brother Joseph [Smith, Jr.] privately, how “we,” that were mentioned in the revelation could take wives from the “natives”—as we were all married men? He replied instantly “In th[e] same manner that Abraham took Hagar and Katurah [Keturah]; and Jacob took Rachel Bilhah and Zilpah: by revelation—the saints of the Lord are always directed by revelation.”

While the text of this revelation was not written when it was purportedly given in July 1831, intermarriage with the Indians was discussed. Four months later Ezra Booth wrote:

“In addition to this, and to co-operate with it, it has been made known by revelation, that it will be pleasing to the Lord, should they form a matrimonial alliance with the Natives; and by this means the Elders, who comply with the thing so pleasing to the Lord, and for which the Lord has promised to bless those who do it abundantly, gain a residence in the Indian territory, independent of the agent.”

Phelps included a copy of this revelation in a letter to LDS church president Brigham Young. Commenting on the letter to Young, David J. Whittaker wrote:

“Several things are apparent: (1) While the Book of Mormon strongly teaches that God removes the curse of the dark skin, this document implies that intermarriage can; (2) Some scholars think that this revelation was the initial impetus for plural marriage, as some of the missionaries had wives in Ohio; and (3) This document seems to have begun the Mormon practice of marrying native Americans.”

[This revelation is found in the Manuscript in LDS archives; See also Phelps to Brigham Young, 12 Aug. 1861, LDS archives. The wording “until the consumption hath made a full end of all the kingdoms and nations” and “death and misery of man[y] souls” is similar to LDS D&C 87:1, 6]

Why the obsession with “one drop” as a disqualifier – if this revelation is true, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to consider that a Lamanite or black person (presumably of Canaanite ancestry) having at least “one drop” of white blood (presumably of Abrahamic/Semitic ancestry) could make the case for being eligible in spite of their lineage/outward appearance/skin tone?

6. The Genealogy of Christ
Of all people, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the One man who all must agree held the Right to the Priesthood and wielded the full force of its Power. If so, the lineage of Jesus Christ would seem to be of particular importance to anyone who believes in the priesthood ban. Interestingly, the sacred record states that Jesus Christ was a direct descendant of Rahab, the Canaanite harlot who hid the spies of Joshua when the Israelites invaded Jericho. (see Joshua 2)

“And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” (Joshua 6:25)

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:24-25)

“And Salmon begat Booz (Greek: Boaz) of Rachab (Greek: Rahab)…” (Matthew 1:5)

The lineages recorded in the scriptures only prove the connection back to Adam. They do not include enough detail to prove “purity.” Again: the Bible genealogies establish a connection to Adam and the patriarchs, but they do not contain the details necessary to show, prove, or guarantee the “purity” of that line. And as we read in the above scriptures, in Jesus Christ’s case the genealogy actually proves a blood connection to His Canaanite ancestry.

How can this be? Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, was the descendant of a Canaanite woman. Shouldn’t this fact give proponents of the ban some (a lot of) pause?

Consider: what if “one drop” of white blood – i.e. proof of being a descendant of Adam – actually can qualify a righteous black person to receive the priesthood and temple ordinances?

7. Christ and the Canaanite woman

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:22-28)

Jesus blessed the Canaanite woman’s daughter, which proves that despite initially stating that He was there to minister to the house of Israel (which she was not part of), Christ never withheld a blessing from anyone who came to receive one – even a Canaanite. Will we follow the Savior’s example and minister to all who come seeking a blessing? Or will we deny some on the basis of lineage/skin color? 

8. What is a curse?

“Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons, and his daughters, and said unto them: Behold, my sons, and my daughters, who are the sons and the daughters of my firstborn, I would that ye should give ear unto my words. For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it. Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents. Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall perish; wherefore, he will be merciful unto you and unto your seed forever. And it came to pass that after my father had made an end of speaking to the sons and daughters of Laman, he caused the sons and daughters of Lemuel to be brought before him. And he spake unto them, saying: Behold, my sons and my daughters, who are the sons and the daughters of my second son; behold I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of Laman; wherefore, thou shalt not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy seed shall be blessed.” (2 Nephi 4:3-9)

The Book of Mormon talks about the Lamanites being cursed; yet as the above verses clearly state Lehi blessed them. This fact would indicate that when a people become cursed it does not mean that the curse is from God, but rather that such generational cursings are the natural consequence of having wicked parents/ancestors. Laman and Lemuel’s wickedness had generational impact upon their children and descendants; yet the scriptures record that there were many individuals who repented and the effects of this curse were completely removed from their lives. If we carefully reconsider every single scriptural example where a people are generationally cursed, it is not God who curses them but rather their wicked parents/ancestors; and I would submit that the pattern established so clearly in the Book of Mormon applies in all other instances – including the Canaanites (e.g. Rahab). 

9. Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruits

“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:8-9)

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:16-20) 

What are the “fruits” of the priesthood ban? I submit the following items belong on the list: 

1. The ban broke the promises of Joseph Smith (e.g. Elijah Abel’s endowment, Jane Manning’s sealing to Joseph as an adopted daughter)
2. The ban fosters and encourages an elitist mindset; it feeds feelings of superiority
3. The ban feeds paranoia and suspicion; groups have split over the issue even when a DNA test showed 0% African ancestry of the dark skinned members
4. The ban impedes missionary work; some fundamentalists have even been known to leave a restaurant because they found out one of the cooks was black
5. The ban hardens hearts on both sides – whites against blacks and blacks against whites
6. The ban justifies Pharisaical/Zoramite thinking
7. The ban guarantees unjust/partial treatment within a congregation, in many instances even persecution
8. The ban poisons the hearts and minds of otherwise decent and good white people
9. The ban divides the family of God
10. It is not theoretical or hyperbolic to say that taken to its logical conclusion, the priesthood ban leads to eugenics. It is actually historical fact: “License to marry should not come from the priest but from the physician. It will be when the law forbids the unhealthy to beget children – when it compels every healthy man to marry – when a refusal to this will debar him from holding office – from voting – from suing at courts at law – from making contracts – from following any learned profession – when it suffers no healthy girl to remain single after she becomes of proper age – when no whore shall be permitted to live – when illicit intercourse shall be punished with death, that we shall witness any improvement in the morals of the age. It is true, such a course would come in contact with the ridiculous sentimentality of the age, and heaven knows, if that could be overturned and rooted out it would be a substantial blessing…” (George Q. Cannon, 7 Aug 1857, Western Standard 2:22)
    This disgusting quote should offend anyone who possesses any portion of the spirit of God; it is a Luciferian proposition to literally force people to marry or not. It directly contradicts the principles outlined in D&C 121 and is a fulfillment of the prophecy in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

I believe these fruits objectively testify that the priesthood ban policy is not of God and never was; rather, it is fundamentally evil and can be proven to have originated from the adversary. Even the law of Moses permits converts to become numbered among Israel (by adoption/intermarriage) as long as they forsake their previous ways of life and live the laws and principles which are requisite to be numbered among Israel. Consider Ruth, another of Jesus Christ’s progenitors; she was a Moabitess who was the widow of an Israelite, and yet because of her loving bond with her mother-in-law Naomi she left her homeland and immigrated to Israel where she met and married Boaz – who also is documented as being in the lineage (a direct progenitor) of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:5). Speaking of Matthew 1:5-6, these verses also reveal the very interesting fact that Obed (grandfather of King David and ancestor of Jesus Christ) was only 1/4th Israelite by blood, because Obed’s father Boaz was only 1/2 Israelite (1/2 Canaanite because of his mother Rahab) and his mother was full Moabite. As long as the ban or any justification toward this evil human tendency remains, Zion will not and cannot be established.

10. Acting Against Our Moral Conscience
There is a crucial distinction between “sign seeking” vs. requiring a witness from God before acting against our moral conscience. There are many examples which illustrate this principle:

1. Joseph Smith’s initial reluctance to live polygamy until the “angel with the flaming sword” came
2. When Joseph Smith asked Heber C. Kimball to give his wife Vilate to Joseph
3. Nephi’s reluctance to kill Laban
4. The Mountain Meadow Massacre situation

In each of these instances there was an initial hesitance or even recoil against the command. Not from a desire to disobey God, but because it appeared to contradict their previous understanding and testimony of the laws of God. Rather than be a “yes man”, Joseph/Heber/Nephi all asked for an explanation – and God gave it to them. The 4th example, Mountain Meadows, is a tragic and cautionary tale of men who were asked to do something morally wrong (i.e. kill an entire company including children), which many of the men felt and knew in their hearts was morally wrong, and yet those who went did so because of the leadership of a man (John D. Lee). However, despite Lee being primarily responsible (he was put on trial and executed for his role in the event), many of the other men involved spent the rest of their natural lives in regret and shame for their part in the atrocity. Nuremberg came to the same conclusion – when a man chooses to follow morally wrong orders, he is personally responsible for the crimes he commits regardless if he was ordered by a superior officer to commit them. We can’t just point the finger and blame our personal evil actions on a leader who ordered them; we will all individually account to God for our choices and actions. 

This principle certainly applies to discrimination against a righteous man or woman on the sole basis of race. If we, as priesthood holders, administer ordinations and ordinances inequitably among our families or congregations on the basis of skin color, that is a prejudicial/partial action for which we will account to God. Before the men of Brigham’s day upheld and followed such a course, I submit that each of them should have personally required a special witness or explanation from God before going along with it. Perhaps some did; maybe at least attempting to do so contributed to some of the people who claimed to have dreams about it (like Mosiah Hancock) that created a theology which attempted to reconcile the inherent wrongness of the action. Like I’ve said many times elsewhere, I am nobody’s judge and certainly none of you who are reading this; however, as your brother, if I am unable to persuade you against perpetuating the ban, I would encourage you to put in the work to address all of the scriptural, historical, and rational objections TO the ban I am presenting in these essays, and then require God to give you a personal witness before you move forward. Because regardless of whether Brigham was right or wrong, you will account to God for your choices and actions. 

11. The Homosexuality “Slippery Slope” concern 
Some have expressed concern that if you give blacks the priesthood and temple ordinances, it’s a slippery slope and you’ll give it to homosexuals next. While I can understand the concern given the LDS church’s current trajectory, this is a false dilemma for many reasons. The theology of Mormonism, the ordinances themselves, and many scriptures definitively state the fact that godly sexual relationships are strictly between man and woman, no other connection will produce children, and as a result homosexual relationships have no place in the heavenly family or the plan of salvation: 

1. Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”
2. Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
3. 1 Kings 15:12 “And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.”
4. Mark 10:6-9 “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
5. Romans 1:27-28 “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
6. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
7. 1 Corinthians 6:16-20 “What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
8. 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
9. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
10. Hebrews 13:1-4 “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
11. Jude 1:7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

On the other hand, any time a scripture may appear to condemn intermarriage with a darker skinned race, a closer examination reveals that it’s actually never about the race, it’s always about marrying outside the covenant and then whoring after false gods! 

1. Exodus 34:16 “And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.”
2. Numbers 12:1-16 “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman….” (I already covered this full chapter in the Scriptural Examination in the first essay, in which God endorsed Moses’ marriage to the Ethiopian wife and in fact cursed Miriam with leprosy for criticizing Moses over it)
3. Deuteronomy 7:1-4 “When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.”
4. 1 Kings 11:1-6 “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.”
5. Ezra chapters 9-10 discuss the problem with intermarriage but again, links it back to breaking the covenant and whoring after other gods; from chapter 10 verses 2-3 “And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.”
6. Nehemiah 13:23-29 “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.”
7. Act 17:26 “And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”
8. 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
9. Galatians 3:16-19 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

I hope this exercise has made it absolutely clear that there is no correlation whatsoever between ordaining and administering ordinances to our black brothers and sisters vs. ordaining and administering ordinances to homosexual couples. The above scriptures prove that ordaining, administering ordinances, and even intermarrying with faithful black saints is scripturally justified, in contrast with the scriptural proof that homosexual relationships are not of God and contrary to His plan and law. Beyond that, there is no such thing as a “homosexual ordinance” and to administer such would require changing the ordinances. This does not mean that homosexual people are not children of God, our brothers and sisters, and have the same need and opportunity to repent we all do. Homosexuals who 1) recognize that their carnal desires are out of alignment with the plan and will of God and 2) are actively striving to overcome their carnal weakness through the power of the Atonement and obedience to the laws and ordinances of God are partakers of the blessings of righteousness just as much as heterosexuals who 1) recognize their carnal desires are out of alignment with the plan and will of God and 2) are actively striving to overcome their carnal weakness through the power of the Atonement and obedience to the laws and ordinances of God. The form of the sin may be different, but the need for the Atonement and to repent of their sin is exactly the same. Which leads to the question: how could one even begin to “repent” for their race? How could being born black be a sin? “Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.” (Moroni 8:8) How could a person’s race have anything to do with sexual desire or proclivities? How could homosexuality have anything to do with race, when there are homosexuals from all races? An honest consideration of the above scriptures and questions self-evidently prove that the “homosexuality slippery slope” concern is completely unfounded.

A Revelatory Examination

“I don’t blame anyone for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself.” 
-Joseph Smith, 7 Apr 1844 HC 6:317 

Throughout the latter part of 2022 there was an ongoing and heated debate in a discussion group of people mostly located in Missouri. I don’t live there and am not part of the community, but I have a couple close friends who are and one of them added me to the discussion group platform. As the debate progressed, it left me feeling more and more unsettled and disturbed. I had spent time researching the history and scriptures and engaging in the debate, and as time passed I felt more and more strongly that a “thus saith the Lord” level revelation was needed. My investigation into the history at that time was not as deep as I have gone in preparing and writing these essays, and at the time I felt very conflicted about the history. Even an examination of the scriptures seemed disappointingly inconclusive to me at the time, some seeming to support the ban and others seemed clearly against it. I leaned toward feeling that the ban was not of God but I didn’t have a testimony from heaven – so while I prayed for guidance and answers for myself personally on many occasions, I figured if it was God’s will for a revelation to be received it would come through one of the guys out there. I never had any dramatic visions or spiritual manifestations as I personally prayed for guidance, but I definitely felt inner turmoil when I would consider perpetuating the ban and inner peace when I would consider discontinuing it. This seemed like a clear answer for myself personally and I felt comfortable in defending this position – but again, it felt like personal inspiration and only applicable to anyone else inasmuch as I could persuade them. In other words, the feeling was not authoritative or binding upon anyone else. 

Then one morning in December, I woke up at 4:30am for no apparent reason and couldn’t get back to sleep. I got a drink and used the bathroom then went back to my bed and laid there but sleep would not come. As I was lying there I began to pray that I could get back to sleep, but instead I started hearing words come into my mind like a dictation. When I quickly realized what was happening and Who seemed to be speaking, I thought I better write this down! I grabbed something to write with and wrote the whole thing start to finish, then I went back and read the words. I was deeply moved and felt a powerful spiritual confirmation that it was of God. I then sent it to my two closest friends in Missouri, Sean Anderson and Justin Francom (who is also my brother-in-law), and asked them if they thought it was of God or if I was somehow deceived. Sean immediately felt very strongly that it was of God, and Justin later received his own strong witness. This was the first time I had ever experienced anything like this, and as I prayed for guidance about what to do about it I felt that it wasn’t the time to share but that the time would come. In the middle of summer 2023 another friend told me the group was planning a prayer meeting to discuss the issue, and as I prayed about it I felt that was the time to share the revelation. So I asked Sean to read it at the meeting.

On August 18th, 2023, 19 men in Missouri went to the nearly completed temple and held a solemn assembly to consider the question and seek guidance from the Lord on whether or not it was His will to preserve the ban. Of the 19 present there were 12 who came to the meeting in favor of keeping the ban (some very strongly), 2-3 were neutral, and 4-5 were opposed (as in, were in favor of discontinuing the priesthood ban), including Sean and Justin. The meeting started at 8pm, and the revelation I had received along with 2 others were presented, after which there was lengthy discussion and testimonies borne. Those present who were not endowed were excused, and the rest dressed in their priesthood robes and prayed, each taking a turn to voice. During the prayer circles and throughout the night four of the 19 had open visions; many spoke under the pure influence of the Holy Ghost; and some of the brethren felt that Brigham Young was there in spirit and helped guide the outcome of the meeting to discontinue the ban. By 9am the next morning all 19 came to a unanimous decision to not perpetuate the priesthood ban, but to accept the revelations as the word and will of God – after which the man conducting, Tom Zitting, testified that he felt he had been healed even though he didn’t realize he had previously been in need of it. Many others present felt the same way. I was not present at the meeting, but was moved to tears when I heard about it the next day and again felt that God was the power behind it all. Now that you have some background context, I invite you to read the revelation: 

Behold, thus saith I the Lord unto my servants in Missouri and throughout the world on this day:
I, the Lord, am well pleased with the righteous desires of all those who seek to build a house unto my name.
I accept of the sacrifice and dedication of all those who have contributed their time, talents, and resources for this purpose, and say unto you repent, and come unto me, and all your sins will be forgiven.
I am not well pleased with those among you who have thought to excuse yourselves in perpetuating the so-called priesthood ban, which thing is an abomination in my sight.
My servant Brigham Young did err in this thing, which has caused many to stumble; nevertheless I am merciful, and I invite all to come unto me in humility and repentance and they shall be given light and knowledge concerning this principle,
Which is that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven; and the powers of heaven cannot be obtained, controlled, nor handled, except upon principles of individual righteousness.
Righteousness has never been and cannot be conditional upon race or class, but upon each individual’s sincere repentance and willingness to do my will.
I will not deny any who come unto me with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy, who seek a blessing under my hand, whether man or woman, black or white, bond or free.
I say unto you, let all who will, come and freely partake of my spirit and ordinances, and whosoever comes with full purpose of heart repenting of all their sins, deny them not.
Any among you who fail to do this, beware and repent speedily, for with whatsoever measure ye mete it shall be meted unto you.
And again, anyone who is willing and desirous to receive the fullness of my ordinances in my name, and has brought forth repentance that I have accepted, I say unto all: Let them come.
Who are you to reject what I have accepted?
Who are you to think God will accept your repentance, but not your brother’s?
Any of my servants, to whom so much has been freely given, who would then bar their fellow man from receiving the same, are not of me but are against me; and if you do not speedily repent I will reject you and all your works.
Beware how you bear God’s priesthood lest it become a cursing to you rather than a blessing.
I alone am the keeper of the gate, and I employ no servant there.
My servants must do my will, or else they are not my servants but must serve another master.
My servants are called to serve and administer to their brethren my ordinances, and inasmuch as they are faithful in this they will be accepted of me.
You are my servants, if you do my will; otherwise you will be cut off.
Amen.
Revelation received 17 Dec 2022

Unexpectedly, I had a similar experience a couple months later – with virtually the same pattern of being woken very early in the morning (which is very uncommon for me), not being able to get back to sleep, and then words began flowing into my mind:

Behold, thus saith the Lord unto the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the remnant of Ephraim.
I have given thee opportunity in abundance to choose of your own free will to repent and return unto me.
My hands are open still to receive you if ye would turn unto me.
Nevertheless you have rejected all my invitations for nearly four generations, and the cup of the wrath of my indignation begins to run over.
I, the Lord, cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; I am merciful and stand ready to receive all who repent and come unto me, but they who think they do not need repentance because of the promises I made to their fathers are in the bonds of sin and iniquity, and invite the just judgments of the Father to be poured out upon them.
They to whom much has been given have much to account for.
Priesthood is servanthood in My holy name, and those who declare more or less than this are not of me but are practitioners of priestcraft.
Any with their abundance and excess who deprive the poor among them and excuse their selfishness under the guise of being upon the Lord’s errand by virtue of tithes, offerings, or church service do verily draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.
Ye are the bride, I am the bridegroom, yet ye have gone whoring after other gods and false idols; ye love your riches and the praise of the world more than ye love me.
I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done anything unto the least of these, your brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Ye have withheld your substance from me.
Ye have withheld your fellowship from me.
Ye have despised and made mockery of me.
Ye have forsaken me and left me to die in the cold.
Ye have abandoned me and my covenant, and played the harlot.
You have desecrated the house of my Father, and polluted it with vanity and sin, and have it in your hearts to blaspheme my name even as they did of old, which will seal your condemnation.
Even now I would receive you if ye would repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart, yet I know that you will not because of the hardness of your hearts, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually.
To all who will hearken unto the sound of My voice, the time is come to flee from Babylon, or perish.
Thy sins be upon thee, and thy doom approaches.
If ye loved your own souls you would receive this last warning with gladness and humility and repent in sackcloth and ashes, even now.
Deny me no longer; deny my laws no more.
Purify your hearts; and join the residue of my people who even now are preparing to build Zion to prepare a place of safety and refuge from the coming storm.
Otherwise you will be cut off in life and in death, and go to a place where I cannot come.
The Father hath spoken it, and it cannot be undone.
Thus it is. Amen.
Revelation received 13 February 2023

In preparing and writing these essays I have found great clarity and confidence in studying the history and the scriptures – in large part because God gave me a testimony of His will, which made things much clearer and more understandable going back through the evidence. I fully believe in the principle Joseph taught when he said we should “never inquire at the hand of God for special revelation only in the case of there being no previous revelation to suit the case“ (Teachings p22); and if I had the clarity I enjoy today back in December 2022 I likely would not have felt the necessity of obtaining a “thus saith the Lord” revelation. But given the confusion, darkness, and lack of confidence I felt personally and observed among so many others involved in the debate at that time, I believe that God in His wisdom and mercy gave me a great gift which is now available to all.

I cannot blame anyone for not believing or accepting the revelations I have received. I openly acknowledge that it’s possible I could have been deceived – I mean, I didn’t see God Himself or an angel, a heavenly being did not come down and stand by me to give me the words above. What I can say is that a great light, peace, and confidence has come into my life on this issue ever since, and that there have been multiple other independent witnesses of its godly origin beyond just me. I invite all who read this to take the words to the Lord and ask if they really did come from Him. Or, if you prefer, just ask Him what He wants you to do in any given moment or situation, and follow that. Ultimately, that is what each and every one of us must do anyway, because there could always be exceptions to the rules as we comprehend them. 

“What constitutes the kingdom of God? Where there is a prophet, a priest, or a righteous man unto whom God gives His oracles, there is the kingdom of God; and where the oracles of God are not, there the kingdom of God is not…. but if we do not get revelations, we do not have the oracles of God….” (Joseph Smith, Teachings p272)

“Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God. But if any revelations are given of God, they are universally opposed by the priests and Christendom at large; for they reveal their wickedness and abominations.” (Joseph Smith, HC 4:588)

Conclusion

“I shall no longer ask myself if this or that is expedient, but only if it is right. I shall do this, not because I am noble or unselfish, but because life slips away, and because I need for the rest of my journey a star that will not play false to me, a compass that will not lie…. I am lost when I balance this against that, I am lost when I ask if this is safe…. Therefore I shall try to do what is right, and to speak what is true. I do this not because I am courageous and honest, but because it is the only way to end the conflict of my deepest soul. I do it because I am no longer able to aspire to the highest with one part of myself, and to deny it with another. I do not wish to live like that, I would rather die than live like that.”
-Alan Paton, Cry the Beloved Country

I would like to take a few moments to directly address some of the most common objections I have heard from sincere fundamentalists who defend the ban, with my responses and counter questions as frank and blunt as I am capable of being. I’ll write as if you and I were having a face to face conversation at this moment. I mean no offense to anyone, but trigger warning: some of the following questions and rebuttals may come across very harsh:

Many fundamentalists have said “if God gave blacks the priesthood today, He would be a changeable God.” 
If you have ever spoken or thought these words, let me ask you this: 
How can you claim “God would be a changeable God if He gave blacks the priesthood today” when Brigham is the one who changed Joseph’s no-ban policy to begin with? In addition, every person in the history of this dispensation who has ever accepted or promoted the ban has acknowledged that God will do precisely that – give faithful blacks the priesthood – during the millennium. 

Many fundamentalists have said “blacks will get their opportunity in the millennium” as a defense/justification for the priesthood ban. 
If you have ever spoken or thought these words, let me ask you this: 
Yes or No is plural marriage important to live in this life? 
If your answer is Yes, then how do you justify barring some of God’s children from the opportunities you have which you believe are so important? 

Would you feel justly dealt with – or not – if God said to you “I’m sorry, but since your great great great great x 200+ grandpa screwed up really bad, you’re not allowed to enter the temple or live plural marriage in this life? Don’t worry, it’ll all get sorted out in the millennium.”
Meanwhile, how many really and I mean really crappy white men have lived throughout history – and yet how long would you or your priesthood leaders hesitate if one of their white descendants generations later came humbly and repentant and received baptism and kept his covenants and then asked for the priesthood and higher ordinances? 

You cannot be intellectually honest and have it both ways.
If this mortal life is the time to live certain important laws otherwise your progression in the eternities is limited, then you have 3 options:
1) you have imagined up a partial God who respects some of His children more than others,
2) you are a total hypocrite, or
3) you must repent of your sin of perpetuating the priesthood ban. 

I’m not saying that the ancient Canaanites weren’t cursed, or that God has never said someone should not be given the priesthood.
What I’m saying is that it is wrong to ban all black people from the priesthood today, 2023 AD, because of the sins of their 200th+ great grandparent. We need to stop looking at skin color in any degree, or thinking about how terrible a person’s great great great great great great great great great grandparents were or weren’t, or any other ridiculous outward judgments. “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

I’m not saying there is no curse or there never was, I’m not even denying that some of the generational effects of the curse are evident even to this day.
What I’m saying is that I believe and testify that Christ has the power to heal and redeem everyone who believes in Him and repents – black and white, bond and free, male, and female – even you, even me, and yes even black people! Race, skin color, and ancestry have nothing to do with whether a man can receive the priesthood or not – that is up to their heart. And if God has cleansed the heart of a man with brown skin, who are you to say that He hasn’t? Or that He can’t? God looks on the heart. We need Him to direct us, but He will not force us against our will. So we need to really search our hearts and repent of our pride, or we risk doing our own will and not God’s. 

Here’s the thing: it’s not “my” priesthood. 
It’s not “your” priesthood. 
It’s God’s priesthood: “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.” (D&C 107:3)
Therefore it’s not your place or my place to decide what is right or wrong to do with God’s priesthood; that’s God’s prerogative. What we need to do is: whatever He tells us to do. Period.

Black skin isn’t the curse; losing God’s spirit is the curse.
The black skin is just a mark. You can’t say that “because people have dark skin they’re cursed” any more than you could say that “all people with white skin are righteous.” We all know how preposterous that notion is. 

If you feel it is impossible that the priesthood ban was wrong and not of God, God will not force you to believe otherwise.
God permits agency and will never force or coerce anyone to accept something against their will. So if you’re serious about getting an answer from Heaven, you must first place your heart and your fleshy understandings and prejudices on the altar. Otherwise, regardless of whether or not it’s true, God will not force you to believe or accept something you do not want to.

If the ban is such a critically important doctrine for the restoration, why wasn’t it in the Doctrine and Covenants?
Brigham never produced a “thus saith the Lord” revelation as the basis for the ban. Brigham was a man. He did some amazing things and was a great servant of God, but he is no less fallible than you or I are – and in my case I’m willing to admit that is pretty damned fallible. 

I am not making any claims that I’m better than Brigham or any such thing. I am Brigham’s brother and fellow servant.
I sincerely would have preferred if the revelation last December had come through someone else instead of me. But when the Lord chose to give it through me I have to stand by it. I’m not asking you or anybody to take my word for it; but as a servant of Jesus Christ I testify that the revelation is of God, and if you ask with a sincere heart and real intent I believe God will give you the same testimony.

Brigham never addressed any of the scriptural or rational evidence against the ban; but that does not absolve anyone else of their personal responsibility for perpetuating it.
I challenge anyone who proposes to defend and perpetuate the ban moving forward to address and resolve all of the objections and concerns I have raised historically, scripturally, and rationally. In addition, the fact that Brigham never presented a revelation as the foundation for his policy flies directly in the face of the teachings of Joseph:

“If anything should have been suggested by us, or any names mentioned, except by commandment, or “thus saith the Lord,” we do not consider it binding.”
(Joseph Smith, HC 3:295) 

I have full confidence that if something is true then it should stand up to scrutiny. And if false it should be exposed. I try not to care about being right, I only care about what is right. If I am wrong about this or anything else, and someone goes to the effort to convince me of it, I hope I’ll be grateful for their effort and not resentful. If I am wrong on this issue and have been deceived, the moment I become convinced of it I will publicly acknowledge my error and humbly apologize. I am far from perfect in living up to this ideal but I’ve come a long ways from where I used to be. That said, I probably won’t be easy to convince at this point – it took me a lot of time, study, and prayer to become as settled as I am on this issue and it will likely take either new evidence I haven’t seen before, or a new compelling interpretation I have never considered before, or a divine witness or manifestation to change my mind. But if anyone finds errors in my historical or scriptural research, or flaws/holes in my logical arguments, or finds fault with the revelation I received – I welcome the criticism. 

Zion needs to be built. The builders of Zion need to be prepared. I believe that repenting of the priesthood ban is a key part of the needed preparations. I hope these words have in some way touched your mind and/or pricked your heart, and given place for the Holy Spirit to work within you and give you healing and guidance. 

“The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
-Joseph Smith (“The Wentworth Letter” 1 March 1842 Times and Seasons vol. 3)

Thank you for your time and attention in reading this. Regardless of whether or not we have come to an agreement on this subject, for my part I hope we can part friends, allies, and brothers and sisters in the gospel. 

May God bless you.

Taylor Smith

5 October 2023

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