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Historic Conference in Washington D.C. Honors Black Latter-day Saints, Past and Present

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the revelation on the priesthood in June 1978, which allowed all worthy black male Church members’ to have the priesthood. As we celebrate this event, let us learn more about our black brothers and sisters around the world.

31: "The Power of Godliness" (Doctrine and Covenants 84)

What to do you think of when you hear the phrase, “season of joy”? You probably think about Christmas, don’t you? Or maybe your birthday month because, let’s be honest, everyone loves their birthday month. But as joyful as Christmas and birthdays may be, that’s not what Joseph Smith was talking about when he called the events leading up to Doctrine and Covenants 84 a “season of joy.” And after this week’s lesson, we will see how this section brings lasting, eternal joy to all of our lives.

Abe Mills and Stephen Jones: Love Thy Neighbor

The complexities surrounding conversations of racism today are numberless but the root of the solution is the two great commandments: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. On this week’s episode, we talk with Abe Mills and Stephen Jones, two black Latter-day Saints, about their experiences with racism within Church culture, the faith of those who came before them, and why they don’t hesitate to share their faith in Jesus Christ.

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.

From the Church

One man shares his experience of learning of the history of race and the priesthood

Upon initially learning about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Danor felt it was what he had been searching for. But then he started to hear “rumors” that there was a period of time in the Church’s history when people of African descent were unable to receive the priesthood. And as it turned out, the rumors were true.

House candidate and rising GOP star is black, female - and Mormon

To call Mia Love a minority is an understatement. She’s a black woman who won an upset primary race to become the Republican candidate in Utah’s 4th Congressional District. If elected, she’d be the first black Republican congresswoman in the House of Representatives. Love, who has attracted lots of national Republican support, also stands out because of her religion: She’s a Mormon. The politician is a poster child for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ campaign to present a more diverse face to a historically very white church.

BYU Professor makes controversial statements about Blacks & LDS Church

Comments made by a BYU Theology professor opening up old wounds about the LDS church’s policy on African Americans and priesthood. It was June 9th, 1978 when LDS President Spencer Kimball announced the church was opening its priesthood ranks to all worthy men. Some 30 years later the question why the church denied African Americans priesthood once again taking center stage because a Mormon is running for President.

Feature Stories

Healing from hurt: My experience trusting God during the priesthood and temple restriction

By Carol Lawrence-Costley

Carol shares how her path to baptism started with seeing the Osmonds on TV, but nearly ended when she learned of the priesthood and temple restriction.

Latter-day Saint Life

Standing in a Celestial Room, the Beautiful Witness This Black Family Had a Year Before the Priesthood Revelation

A powerful article onlds.orgshares the faithful stories of black members of the Church and their experiences before and after the priesthood revelation in 1978. This is the story of the Martins family.

Latter-day Saint Life

First Black man sealed in the Salt Lake Temple shares the moment he heard the 1978 priesthood revelation

By Danielle B. Wagner

In 1967, Isaac Thomas walked onto the Missouri Valley College campus on fraternity pledge night. As one of only 32 black students at the school, he stood out starkly, but, being an outgoing young man fresh from an all-black high school, Thomas didn’t think anything of it. He had never come face to face with the violence and hatred racism breeds—until that night.