FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Detailed response to CES Letter, Other"
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|claim=The author challenges the truthfulness of the recent change in heading to Official Declaration 2: "Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice." The author then quotes various Church leaders as they offered reasons for the practice, and states that "the 2013 edition Official Declaration 2 Header in the scriptures is not only misleading, it’s dishonest. We do have records – including from the First Presidency itself – with very clear insights on the origins of the ban on the blacks." | |claim=The author challenges the truthfulness of the recent change in heading to Official Declaration 2: "Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice." The author then quotes various Church leaders as they offered reasons for the practice, and states that "the 2013 edition Official Declaration 2 Header in the scriptures is not only misleading, it’s dishonest. We do have records – including from the First Presidency itself – with very clear insights on the origins of the ban on the blacks." | ||
|answer= | |answer= | ||
+ | {{Church answer | ||
+ | |link=http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1570 | ||
+ | |title=All Are Alike unto God | ||
+ | |author=Bruce R. McConkie | ||
+ | |publication=CES Religious Educators Symposium address | ||
+ | |date=August 18, 1978 | ||
+ | |summary=We have read these passages and their associated passages for many years. We have seen what the words say and have said to ourselves, “Yes, it says that, but we must read out of it the taking of the gospel and the blessings of the temple to the Negro people, because they are denied certain things.” <span style="color:blue">There are statements in our literature by the early Brethren which we have interpreted to mean that the Negroes would not receive the priesthood in mortality. I have said the same things,</span> and people write me letters and say, “You said such and such, and how is it now that we do such and such?” And all I can say to that is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. <span style="color:blue">Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world.</span> | ||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | We get our truth and our light line upon line and precept upon precept. We have now had added a new flood of intelligence and light on this particular subject, and it erases all the darkness and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don’t matter any more. | ||
+ | }} | ||
*{{antispeak|liars}} | *{{antispeak|liars}} | ||
*{{Correct}} As the author notes, the 1949 First Presidency stated that the policy was a "direct commandment from the Lord." They supported this by quoting Brigham Young, who stated that "It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God." Wilford Woodruff stated that "the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality." These were all advanced by Church leaders as ''reasons'' for the priesthood ban. | *{{Correct}} As the author notes, the 1949 First Presidency stated that the policy was a "direct commandment from the Lord." They supported this by quoting Brigham Young, who stated that "It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God." Wilford Woodruff stated that "the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality." These were all advanced by Church leaders as ''reasons'' for the priesthood ban. | ||
*{{Incorrect}} There is no record of an actual revelation which instituted the priesthood ban. No such revelation has ever come to light. We do not know precisely how or when the practice began, since Joseph Smith did indeed confer the priesthood upon several black men. We do not know the origin of the practice. The statements of Church leaders providing justification of the practice do not tell us anything about its origin. | *{{Incorrect}} There is no record of an actual revelation which instituted the priesthood ban. No such revelation has ever come to light. We do not know precisely how or when the practice began, since Joseph Smith did indeed confer the priesthood upon several black men. We do not know the origin of the practice. The statements of Church leaders providing justification of the practice do not tell us anything about its origin. | ||
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Revision as of 10:26, 27 February 2014
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Contents
- 1 Response to "Other Concerns & Questions"
- 1.1 Quick Navigation
- 1.2 Response Section
- 1.2.1 2013 Official Declaration 2 Header Update Dishonesty
- 1.2.2 "Zina Diantha Huntington Young"
- 1.2.3 "Brigham Young Sunday School Manual"
- 1.2.4 "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy"
- 1.2.5 Church Finances
- 1.2.6 Tithing
- 1.2.7 Names of the Church
- 1.2.8 "Some things that are true are not very useful"
- 1.2.9 "Criticizing leaders"
- 1.2.10 "the scary internet"
- 1.2.11
- 1.2.12 "Going after members who publish or share their questions, concerns, and doubts"
- 1.2.13 Strengthening the Church Members Committee
- 1.2.14 "When the prophet speaks the debate is over"
Response to "Other Concerns & Questions"
[[../Scriptures Concerns & Questions|Scriptures Concerns & Questions]] | A FAIR Analysis of:
[[../|Letter to a CES Director]] |
[[../Conclusion|Conclusion]] |
- Response to section: 2013 Official Declaration 2 Header Update Dishonesty
- Response to section: "Zina Diantha Huntington Young"
- Response to section: "Brigham Young Sunday School Manual"
- Response to section: "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy"
- Response to section: "Church Finances"
- Response to section: "Tithing"
- Response to section: "Names of the Church"
- Response to section: "Some things that are true are not very useful"
- Response to section: "Criticizing leaders"
- Response to section: "the scary internet"
- Response to section: "Going after members who publish or share their questions, concerns, and doubts"
- Response to section: Strengthening the Church Members Committee
- Response to section: "When the prophet speaks the debate is over"
Response Section
2013 Official Declaration 2 Header Update Dishonesty
"Zina Diantha Huntington Young"
"Brigham Young Sunday School Manual"
"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy"
Church Finances
Tithing
Names of the Church
"Some things that are true are not very useful"
"Criticizing leaders"
"the scary internet"
Strengthening the Church Members Committee
"When the prophet speaks the debate is over"
== Notes ==
- [note] Samuel Katich, "A Tale of Two Marriage Systems: Perspectives on Polyandry and Joseph Smith," Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, 2003.