Search - LDS Living

7: "Upon You My Fellow Servants" (Doctrine and Covenants 12–13; Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75)

As the first prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith had a lot of questions about how to organize Christ's church upon the earth. And from these questions came an incredible outpouring of visions and revelations. So it is no wonder that when Joseph and Oliver Cowdery had a question about baptism, the answer would usher in the glorious restoration of the Aaronic priesthood upon the earth. In this week’s study group, we’ll study Doctrine and Covenants sections 12–13 and Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75 to discover how the restoration of the priesthood helps us build Zion in the latter days.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mormon Mia Love hopes to become the first black Republican woman in Congress

Other than her conservatism, there is little about Mia Love that doesn’t stand out in Utah. She is a black Republican, a 36-year-old mother of three, a fitness instructor and mayor of a growing town. Now, her congressional race against a popular incumbent whom Republicans have struggled to defeat has made Love a minor celebrity among GOP stalwarts.