Mormon leaders don't understand the difference between prejudice and racism #mormon #ldschurch

Mormon Leaders Don't Understand the Difference Between Prejudice and Racism

When Church leaders speak publicly about discrimination and intolerance, they often use the word "prejudice." But critics argue that Mormon leaders don't understand the difference between prejudice and racism, and this semantic gap reveals a deeper failure to address systemic discrimination head-on. It's a distinction that matters, and one that has significant implications for how the LDS Church engages with racial justice issues today.

The difference is straightforward but consequential. Prejudice describes individual bias or negative feelings toward a person or group based on stereotypes. Racism, by contrast, is a structural system of power that institutionalizes discrimination, creating barriers to opportunity, wealth, and dignity that persist across generations. One is personal; the other is architectural. Yet Church communications often blur these categories, creating what observers describe as a mismatch between public statements and substantive action on racial equity.

Background: Official Church Statements on Race

The LDS Church has issued several formal statements addressing race and discrimination. In 2018, the Church released an official essay titled "Race and the Priesthood," which addressed the historical ban on Black men holding the priesthood (in place from 1852 to 1978). More recently, leadership has made statements condemning prejudice and pledging commitment to inclusion.

These statements have generally used language like "we stand against prejudice" rather than "we confront racism" or "we dismantle systems of racial oppression." The rhetorical choice, while perhaps unintentional, shapes what members understand about the nature and scope of the problem.