Expert: Michael Troy - 9/17/2009

Question
Is it true that in the late 1970's the Mormon church was being sued for discrimination (no blacks allowed in the priesthood)and were about to lose their tax exemption. Soon after that the church president rose up and bed and proclaimed now is the time to allow Blacks to hold the priesthood. Is there anything to this story?

Answer
Hi Larry,

The very early LDS Church did allow black priests, but in 1848, the Mormons decreed that blacks, who they claimed bare the mark of Cain, could not be priests (which is the title given to every male church member over the age of 12).  This ban lasted until June 1978 when the head of the church lifted the ban.

There was some pressure being put on the church by the Carter administration, and through public opinion.  I am not aware of any lawsuits.  There may have been one, but it so it was likely without an merit.  Churches are explicitly exempt from anti-discrimination laws and are permitted to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or other status that would be protected in other situations involving employment or public accommodation.  A church does not lose its tax exempt status because it discriminates.

But as I said, there was a great deal of societal and government pressure on the LDS church to lift the racial ban.  There was also a great deal of international pressure as the church expanded into Brazil where the overwhelming majority of the population has at least some black ancestry.

LDS President Spencer Kimball did not simply wake up in bed and proclaim an end to the ban.  Rather, he spent a great deal of time in prayer over the issue ending with a proclamation that it was revealed by God that the ban on black priests should be ended and that all males would be eligible regardless of race or color.  He issued a letter to this effect on June 8, 1978.

I hope this helps!
- Mike