"In ancient days of old Israel was the chosen people in whom the Lord delighted, and whom he blessed and did so much for. Yet they transgressed every law that he gave them, changed every ordinance that he delivered to them, broke every covenant made with the fathers, and turned away entirely from His holy commandments, and the Lord cursed them." (Journal of Discourses 14:86)The LORD said to His people Israel through the Prophet Moses:
"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD thy God, but turn aside out of the way which I commanded you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known." (Deut. 11:26-28)
"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:The Kingdom of Israel later split into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom (sometimes called 'Samaria' or referred to as the 'Ephraimites'; the largest of the Ten Northern Tribes), and the Southern Kingdom; called 'Judah'. The Jews are from the lineage of Judah and Benjamin. The Northern Tribes ignored the commandments and prophets of the LORD, and in response to that the LORD allowed them to become the slaves of the Assyrians. They remained slaves until they became free, and they travelled north. They became 'lost' among the peoples of Europe and Asia. They became known as the 'Ten Lost Tribes of Israel'. The Kingdom of Judah, the Jews, also violated the commandments of the LORD, and rejected His Prophets. They too became cursed, and the LORD allowed the Babylonians to conquer and enslave them. The Jews, unlike the Ephraimites, did not become lost. They returned to the Holy Land. Some believe that the tribes of Ephraim and Manesseh intermingled with pagan European peoples, and eventually became known as the Anglo- Saxons.
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
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But it shall come to pass, if thou whilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD they God, to observe to do all his commandments adn his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee." (Deut. 18:1-2,15)
This is significant, since white Mormons claim to be of the lineage of Ephraim or Manesseh; two of the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel. Thus, both the ancestors of White Anglo-Saxon Mormons and of Black African Mormons were both blessed and cursed; but in different ways.
Read that again: BOTH the lineage of Ham and of Ephraim has been blessed, and cursed, but in different ways.
Q. I've heard that there were lots of Mormons in the Ku Klux Klan. Is this true?
A. No! It's absolutely totally false! It's another unfortunate false rumor that has circulated quite widely in the African-American Community. There is no truth to it. In fact, the opposite is true. Historian Larry R. Gerlach, in his book Blazing Crosses in Zion, writes that the KKK was unsuccessful in Utah because of the oppostion of the Mormon Church. Gerlach writes:
"Faced with the prospect of the Klan becoming an actuality instead of an apparition, the Deseret News launched a devastating attack upon the secret order. That the News would lead the initial opposition to the establishment of the Klan was as predictable as it was significant. The secular oracle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Deseret News, through its editorials passed on the opinions of the Mormon Church hierarchy on public affairs to the faithful; since Mormons consistuted approximately 70 percent of Utahns, the position of the LDS Church officials obviously would have an important bearing on the future of the Klan in the state. Given the long-standing opposition of the Mormon Church to the Ku Klux Klan for both secular and sectarian [religious] reasons, it is not surprising that the Deseret News viewed the coming of the Klan to Utah with 'disapprobation and contempt.' ( Blazing Crosses, p.24)
"The single greatest obstacle to the development of the Klan in the Beehive State [Utah] was the Mormon Church." ( Blazing Crosses, p.36)Here are just a few quotes from a few anti-KKK editorials that appeared in the Mormon Church's Deseret News over the years:
In 1868, only a few years after the Klan first raised it's ugly head, the Church published this editorial against the Klan and other so-called "patriotic" anti-Black racist organizations:
"The Ku Klux Klan, the Loyal League, the Grand Army of the Republic, all secret, oath-bound orders are spreading fear and dismay through North and South.... secret orders are not 'new things under the Sun,' though they are called by new names. They have existed at intervals from the earliest ages, and originated with him who tempted Eve to sin [Satan].1870s-1890s: During this period the KKK spearheaded anti-Mormon meetings and attacks in the Southern U.S. Half a dozen Mormon missionaries and Members in the South were killed by Klansmen during this period; with many more being beated, tarred-and-feathered, assaulted, chased out of town, or threatened with death. (Blazing Crosses, pp.11ff)
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If that nation will arise and shake off its wickedness and turn unto the Lord like Nineveh of old, He will turn His wrath away from the people, and give them power to search out and destroy these secret combinations, whose schemes and plots and hellish deeds, like an army of white ants, are eating their way into the roots of the national tree." (Millennial Star 31:344,348)
1908: The stage version of Thomas Dixon's bestselling novel The Clansman, which portrayed blacks as ignorant and ravenous brutes and glorified the KKK as white heroes, had toured all over the U.S. and came to Salt Lake City. The Gentile (non-Mormon) newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune, praised both the play and it's message. The Mormon paper, the Deseret News said that while the play itself was "an excellent produciton" the Klan was not a heroic organization as the play portrayed, but "rode about the country at night killing or torturing negroes and their sympathizers" in a "reign of terror" and "became a band of idle, dissolute and vicious individuals who entered upon a career of brutality and violence that appalled the country." (Nov. 2). On the other hand, The Salt Lake Tribune, at that time an Anti-Mormon paper which constantly insulted Mormons and published anti-Mormon articles, wrote later of the film version of the play called Birth of a Nation, which even went beyond the play in it's negative portrayal of blacks. The anti-Mormon Salt Lake Tribune wrote that "Mob violence and outlawry [by blacks] are depicted, followed by spectacular vies of the Ku Klux Klansmen who organized secretly to control the negroes through their superstitious fears. The Klansmen were fearless night riders and they wore white shrounds. Acts of vengence were perpetrated under the cover of darkness, and the pictures show clearly why such extreme measures were necessary for the continuance of law and order." (April 2, 1916)
1920: The KKK was "an insult and a menace to orderly government" which would lead to "riot and bloodshed" (23 Dec.)
1921: "So far as its operations are known-it's secrecy, its mummery, its terrorism, its lawlessness--it is condemend as inimical to the peace, order, and dignity of the commonwealth. These mountain communities of ours have no place whatever for it in their social scheme of things. It should be spurned and scorned, and any individual presenting himself as authorized or qualified to establish rances, domains, camps or Klans should be made emphatically to undersand that his local endeavors will be worse than wasted, and his objects are detested, and his [absence] is preferred to his company. The people of Utah have no taste or patience for such criminal nonsense, and there should be all plainness in making that fact known." (July 23)
1946: The Deseret News called the KKK "American Storm Troopers" (after the German Storm Troopers which got Hitler into power), and that the KKK was "a sad event for America". (July 17)
1948: The Deseret News called "the Ku Klux Klan plague" contains "the virus which will sad the liberty and freedom of all Americans." (July 29)
1960s: The Deseret News referred to the KKK as "Bullies in Bedsheets" and declared "it is time for the United States of America to stamp out such organized conspiracy and lawlessness." (Jan. 1, 1966)
At the 1923 Imperial Klanvocation (convention) in Atlanta, Georgia, the Grand Dragon of Wyoming declared to the assembled Klan officers who their number 1 'enemy' was:
"In the Realm of Utah and scattered over the west in general, we have another enemy, which is more subtle and far more cunning in carrying is efforts against this organizaion [the KKK]...the Latter Day Saints religion!" (Papers Read at the Meeting of Grand Dragons, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1923, pp.112-13)Because of the immense popularity of the 1916 film Birth of a Nation (the film version of The Clansmen) millions of white American men joined the Ku Klux Klan. By 1924 it had 5 million members (the equivolent of about 15 million white men today), and controlled the states of Indiana, Maine, and Colorado. The Klan was as powerful in Northern and Mid-Western as in Southern States; if not more so. Yet, the Klan didn't even have a foothold in the states of Utah and Idaho; both of them back then were 'Mormon' states. In 1924, the New York Times reported:
"In Utah and Idaho the masked order [KKK] is without any foothold worthy of the name. It is said there there are a few Klan units in isolated spots, but they are negligile in number and in influence." (New York Times, Oct. 19, 1924)The Mormon Church recommended that America destroy the Klan in 1868. America didn't listen.
Q. I've heard that Joseph Smith taught that black folks didn't have souls. Is this true?
A. Absolutely not! Yet another false rumor. The Prophet Joseph Smith said:
"They have souls, and are subjects to salvation." (History of the Church 5:217)There have been black Mormons since the early 1830s; which itself refutes this false rumor.
Q. Will the Mormon Church ever just apologize to black folks for teaching that they are the descendants of Cain and cursed by God?
A. Not likely. If the Priesthood-ban was an invention of Mormon leaders, then they could apologize for it. However, the claim of Mormon prophets, from Brigham Young to Spencer W. Kimball, was that it was not from them, but from the LORD. And the LORD has said:
"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)People should realize that the Mormon Church has always taught that Hamites (people of the lineage of Cain through Egyptus) have been "blessed" by the LORD as well as "cursed" by Him, and that the LORD both blessed and cursed the Israelites as well! Black Africans (and other Hamites) are not the only lineage to have been cursed; nor the only one to have been blessed either.
In 1998, a small group of Mormons (most of them white) asked if the Church would repudiate the Curse of Cain doctrine and say that the Priesthood-ban was in fact an 'unfortunate mistake'. The Church did not do this, but rather told reporters and others that they would let the 1978 Revelation "speak for itself". Some Mormons consider the 1978 Revelation to be an 'apology'. Others don't see it that way at all. The Church apparently leaves it up to each individual to interpret it for themselves. You can read the 1978 Revelation below. (Anyone who prints out this article to give to others should make sure to include the 1978 Revelation in their printout of this article, and staple it to this article). You may read The 1978 Revelation yourself, and draw your own conclusions.
Q. This Mormon once told me that blacks were never cursed, and another told me that blacks are not Cainites, but these were speculations or personal opinions. Is this true?
A. The Curse of Cain Doctrine was never presented as the 'personal opinion' of Mormon leaders. It was always presented as "doctrine". In official Statements of The First Presidency (which reflect official Church positions) it was called "a doctrine of the Church":
"From the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the gospel." (Statement of The First Presidency on the Negro Question, July 17, 1947, quoted in Mormonism and the Negro pp.46-7)Those Mormons who tell you it was never taught, or never doctrine, or merely 'personal opinion' are not accurately describing the truth about the matter. Most Mormons today are not that aware of the history of the doctrine or the Priesthood-ban. These are things NOT taught to them in Sunday School. Many of them merely repeat what they have 'heard' from others, and unfortunately repeat inaccuracies.
Q. I've head that the Mormon Church taught that black folks followed Lucifer, is this true?
A. NO!!! It is absolutely and TOTALLY false! Yet another false rumor being spread around. An early Mormon apostle named Orson Pratt did offer a theory as to why some spirits were born into the Cainite/Hamite lineage and were denied the Priesthood in mortality. He speculated that they were "less valiant" in the War in Heaven in the Pre-existence. The Mormon Church has 'always' taught that all men and women are the spirit sons and daughters of God, and we all lived with Him before the creation of this world in what is called the Pre-existence, or, the Pre-Earth Life. The Church teaches that in this spiritual world there was a war between Jehovah (Jesus) and Lucifer (Satan). One-third of the spirits took the side of Lucifer, and they were punished by being cast to Earth without physical bodies. These became the Devil (Lucifer) and his angels (the Demons). Two-thirds of the spirits sided with Jehovah (later known as 'Jesus'), and fought against Lucifer and his followers. Among those who fought against Lucifer and remained on the side of Jehovah were the spirits who would be later born into the Hamitic lineage (bloodline). Orson Pratt speculated that these spirits were "less valiant" than other spirits in the War in Heaven, and this may be why they were born into a lineage which could not hold the Priesthood. This supposition was based upon the belief that our individual actions in this life will determine what reward, or 'glory', we receive in the Afterlife.
In His Parable of the Sower, Jesus said of the seed which fell on "good ground"; which represents the Gospel (seed) being accepted by true Christians (good ground):
"But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." (Matthew 13:8)Christians are saved by grace, but we are judged by works (Revelations 20:12). This is because there are various degrees of glory, or reward, in the Resurrection; which is the Day of Judgment. Grace saves us from Hell, but we shall be judged by our works. Our works don't save us, but they do determine what kind of glory, or heavenly reward, we shall receive. Some shall receive the greatest glory; which is Eternal Life. This is referred to as the "Celestial" glory (hundredfold). Others shall receive a lesser glory called the "Terrestrial Glory" (sixtyfold), and still others shall receive a still lesser glory than that called the "Telestial" glory (thirtyfold). Those who receive the Celestial Glory will be the Manifest Sons of God, and shall receive crowns of glory. They shall receive Eternal Life; which means more than just "going to heaven". It means to receive crowns and thrones. It means to be married for all eternity. All who do not receive this glory shall be angels in Heaven."And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some an hundred." (Mark 4:20)
The difference between an "angel" in Heaven, and a person who receives the Celestial glory is like the difference between Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and monks and nuns. What is the difference? Adam and Eve were given dominion over this planet. They were placed in Paradise. They were immortals and not angels. Angels are like eternal monks and nuns; they are single and alone for all eternity. Yet, God married Adam and Eve, and told them to multiply, and since they were immortal they were married for all eternity.
It says in a book of Mormon scripture called the Doctrine & Covenants that those who "are not valiant in their testimony of Jesus" in this life will "obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God" (D&C 76:79). These are people who are honorable, but who are not valiant in their testimonies of Jesus, and they "are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever," and "remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity." (D&C 132:16-17).
In other words, there are three types of people in Heaven after the Resurrection of the Dead:
Again, the "Less Valiant Theory" is not now, nor ever was, a doctrine of the LDS Church. The Church has always presented black folks as followers of Jehovah (Jesus) in the War in Heaven before this earth was created.
Q. All you need to go to Heaven is to believe in Jesus! Didn't He say there isn't any marriage in Heaven?
A. Believing in Jesus is all one needs to get to Heaven, but what reward one receives in Heaven is based upon more than mere belief. The Apostle Paul wrote:
"Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. (1 Corinthians 7:27)Jesus said that "the children of this world" shall be angels in Heaven (Luke 20:34), but He told His disciples (His Elect) "Ye are NOT of the world" (John 15:19). He said to Peter:"For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." (Romans 7:2)
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19 and Matt. 18:18)What does this binding and loosening refer to?
It can only refer to marriage in Heaven. Only the LDS Church today has this "sealing power" that Jesus gave to Peter. No other church or religion even claims to have it!
Q. Why would black folks wish to become Members of the Mormon Church?
A. Because it is true. When Jesus was upon the earth the Jews believed that the Samaritans and Canaanites (both of the lineage of Cain) were 'cursed' to be the servants of the Israelites. The Jews called Gentiles (white non-Israelites) "swine" (pigs), and they called the Samaritans and Canaanites "dogs" (which means 'servants'). Jesus told His Apostles to preach to all the world, but NOT give the Holy Priesthood to the Gentiles or Canaanites:
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine: lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matthew 7:6)A Canaanite woman came to Jesus and begged Him to heal her daughter:
"Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.Jesus called the Canaanite woman a "dog"; which meant a 'servant'. She could have gotten angry, and prideful. She could have spit in His face and walked away. Instead, she swallowed her pride, and said, "Truth, Lord!" Because of her great faith, her daughter was healed. Because of the great faith of Elijah Abel, he and his male descendants were given the Priesthood; while all other Hamites were denied it--until the 1978 Revelation.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
He answered, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith; be in unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." (Matthew 15:20-26)
If you were a Canaanite in the time of Jesus and Jesus called you a "dog" what would you do? Would you:
a) get angry and walk away
b) slap Him
c) spit upon Him
d) say, "Truth, Lord!"
Unless you shallowed your pride and said "Truth, Lord", you would not have Eternal Life. If the LORD calls you a "dog" you don't disagree, but ask Him how you should serve Him. Only those with that kind of exceeding faith will inherit Eternal Life. The Mormon Church doesn't expect you to bow down to any white man! But you will bow down to the LORD, and accept His Words if you indeed wish to be His servant. And only His true and faithful servants will inherit Eternal Life.
The Book of Mormon is a story about two peoples: the Nephites ("Nee-fights") and Lamanites ("Layman-ites"). The Nephites were a white-skinned people, and the Lamanites were a dark-skinned people. The Nephites were utterly destroyed by the Lamanites. Why? A Nephite prophet named Jacob warned the Nephites against their racial pride. He said:
"Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you;...Nephite Prophets in The Book of Mormon warned that racial pride should prove their destruction:
O my brehtren, I fear that unless ye repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God." (Jacob 3:5,8)
"And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction coming unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of pride and foolishness they shall reap destruction; (2 Nephi 26:10)The Nephites were utterly destroyed by the Lamanites; because of their pride. Proverbs says:"And it came to pass in the eighty and fifth year they did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for destruction." (Helaman 11:37)
"Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except they should repent." (Moroni 8:27)
"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before the fall" (Proverbs 16:18)Whether it is white racial pride, or black racial pride in response to it, either way, it will prove a spiritual destruction!
If black folks allow their prides to make them reject the Mormon Church, then they are not going to inherit Eternal Life. The Prophet Alma declared:
"Behold, are you stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly: for the kingdom of Heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life. (Alma 5:28)Jesus said about the latter-days:
"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matt. 24:31)The LORD said to the Prophet Joseph Smith--who was the Voice of the LORD in the Latter-days:
"And even so will I gather mine elect, from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice." (D&C 33:6)On the top of most Mormon Temples you will see an angel blowing a trumpet. This is symbolic of the gathering of the Elect of God in the last days. The Elect of God shall gather to His temples, and receive the ordinaces therein, and be "sealed" together unto Eternal Life.
The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to gather the Elect of God from the four corners of the Earth. Only the Elect will inherite Eternal Life; which means to inherit the Celestial Kingdom. All others will not; including all other Christians. The Elect of God include people of every nation, kindred, tongue, color, and people. There are many people of black-skin tone who are the Elect of God, and there are many people of white skin who are not the Elect of God. How can the Elect be distinguished from the non-elect? The LORD has declared to His Church:
And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; form mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts. (D&C 29:7)We testify to you that this is the True Church of the Elect of God. We testify that you can inherit Eternal Life, and be sealed to your loved ones in Mormon Temples, and have them with you not only for this life, but for all eternity. We testify to you that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, our LORD, the Son of God, and that Joseph Smith was His Prophet, His Voice, in these last days; the latter-day John the Baptist. We testify to you that if you hearken unto the Voice of the LORD, and hearden not your hearts out of pride, you will inherit all God has in store for those who truly love Him. We invite you to listen to the Missionaries; they have the Message of Life and Salvation. We say these things to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
The Elijah Abel Society