Mormonism and the Civil Rights Movement #race #black #civilrights

The LDS Church and its Uneasy Relationship with the Civil Rights Movement

The Mormon Church's historical position on the Civil Rights Movement remains a subject fraught with tension and complexity. While society rallied for equality in the 1960s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) not only held back from endorsing these efforts but also opposed them actively. This curious stand against a movement seeking justice raises pivotal questions about the doctrines of a faith widely known for its commitment to morality and family values. How did the LDS Church find itself on the wrong side of history during a transformative era for civil rights?

Historical Context: A Reluctant Stand Against Change

The LDS Church's fraught relationship with civil rights is deeply rooted in its policies that long excluded Black members from full participation. Up until 1978, Black men were denied entry into the priesthood, a restriction justified not by scriptural evidence but by nebulous folklore and tradition. As the Civil Rights Movement gained steam in the '50s and '60s, the LDS Church's response was troubling. Leaders did not just remain silent but went as far as to denigrate the movement itself. Claims by church leaders that these restrictions stemmed from divine will did little to mask the human fallibility inherent in these policies.

According to the Mormon Stories Podcast, some LDS leaders went so far as to suggest that God was the architect of this racial stratification within the church. This peculiar theological gymnastics aimed to absolve church leadership of responsibility, placing divine designs in the crosshairs instead. Yet this stance only deepened the rift between Mormonism and the broader quest for racial equality, an issue that merits scrutiny amidst today's ongoing conversations around race relations.

Evidence of Resistance: A Troubling Record