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.
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Blacks and the Priesthood
Critics argue that God would not allow His church to ever deny blessings or privileges based on race. They mine quotes made by Latter-day Saint leaders prior to 1978 to portray the church as racist in its doctrines. They also cite passages from LDS scripture that some have used in the past to provide a rationale for the priesthood restrictions. While some critics recognize that Latter-day Saints have become more enlightened, they question the revelatory process that brought about the policy shift. They portray it as a response to social pressure or government threats to remove the church's tax-free status.