"You will turn white in the resurrection"

You Will Turn White in the Resurrection: A Deep-Rooted Doctrine

The promise of celestial transformation once shrouded in divine mystique carries a disturbing undertone of racial expectation for some individuals in the Mormon faith. The experience of a black student at Brigham Young University underscores an unsettling aspect of this doctrine when her roommate curiously pondered her future celestial appearance, assuming she would be white in the afterlife. This belief, explored in a Mormon Stories Podcast episode, highlights a painful intersection of race and religion that continues to provoke critical reflection within and outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Historical Context and Background

This doctrine stems from a complex tapestry of past leaders' teachings. Early Mormon prophets and apostles, including Brigham Young and John Taylor, preached that black individuals were of a cursed lineage, which justified their exclusion from the priesthood and temple blessings. This racial theology found its roots in interpretations of the biblical "curse of Cain" and persisted up until the landmark 1978 revelation lifted the priesthood ban on black members.

This doctrine has been particularly problematic because it not only dictated social and ecclesiastical hierarchies but also insinuated a divine endorsement of racial superiority and inferiority. The expectation that celestial salvation equates to becoming white is a vestige of this theological history and has informed attitudes and policies within the Church for many years.

Key Claims and Evidence