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Q&A interview with author of raw, gritty memoir ‘Panther to Priesthood’

Ed Willis authored the raw, gritty memoir, ‘Panther to Priesthood.’ From matters of race to matters of the heart, here are a few principles he wants you to know.

Blacks and the Priesthood

Latter-day Saint Life

Black Bishop Shares His Conversion and Experience with Unanswered Questions About Race and Priesthood

By Danielle B. Wagner

After being arrested at age 14, Donald Kelly knew something needed to change in his life.

Latter-day Saint Life

Lecture Shows that Restrictions on Blacks & the Priesthood Was Policy, Never Doctrine

Lester Bush said Thursday night he couldn't imagine the future positive historical developments for blacks in the LDS Church when he wrote his landmark 1973 history about the restriction on giving blacks the priesthood.

Mauli Bonner and Paul Reeve: Understanding the History of Blacks in the Church

In 1830, the same year the Church was organized, a former slave named Peter became the first documented Black member of the Church. Nearly 200 years later, Mauli Bonner first heard Peter's story when he started exploring his own faith as a Black member of the Church. This journey led him to Paul Reeve, a professor at the University of Utah who has studied Blacks in Church history extensively. On today's episode, Mauli and Paul explain not only the importance of the stories of early Black Latter-day Saints, but also how their stories can strengthen our faith and our testimonies of the restored gospel.

Black Mormons face historic presidential choice

Twenty years ago, who would have predicted the 2012 U.S. presidential race would pit a black incumbent against a white Mormon? Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney. The matchup is both thrilling and complicated for one particular group — black Latter-day Saints.

'Words would diminish the power' of the revelation on the priesthood

By Lindsey Williams

Editor's note: Our bi-weekly Friday column, “Found in the footnotes,” explores some of the footnotes from remarks given by General Authorities and General Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mini Feature

‘We all belong’—How the first Black woman called to serve a full-time mission inspires the next generation

By Kendra Bybee

“When I started nosing through old photo albums, I discovered my mom was the first Black woman to receive a mission call.”

Latter-day Saint Life

Jane Manning James' Autobiography + 15 Other Historic Items Bring History of Black Latter-day Saints to Life

A new Church History Library exhibit brings the history of black Latter-day Saints to life with 16 documents, photographs, oral histories, and autobiographies from Saints throughout the world.

LDS Church celebrates 35th anniversary of black men receiving priesthood

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated the 35th anniversary since the announcement of the revelation allowing black men in the faith to receive the priesthood. The announcement was breaking news on June 9th, 1978, and many members of the LDS Church said it was one of those moments they will never forget how they felt.