tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post6774959434656025500..comments2023-10-15T05:27:16.488-07:00Comments on The Journal Of A Black Mormon Girl: Black Pearls Of Great Price ShaBANGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435939559462982820noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-70876945436110510632017-05-08T21:01:52.230-07:002017-05-08T21:01:52.230-07:00This is interesting! But you know, I would better ...This is interesting! But you know, I would better install this wonderful mobile spy app <a href="http://copy9.com/catch-cheating-spouses-with-copy9/" rel="nofollow">http://copy9.com/catch-cheating-spouses-with-copy9/</a> on your phone and spy anybody you.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13009399989899967863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-10429341892244574022015-08-27T10:28:43.183-07:002015-08-27T10:28:43.183-07:00I hope you'll see this comment even after so m...I hope you'll see this comment even after so much time has passed since this post! Thank you for writing so directly and with such STRENGTH about how this all affects you to this day. It's shamefully easy to forget the troubles that other people experience all the time, just because of who they are, when your own experience is different. And I appreciate you facing the misconceptions and the lingering effects of racist policies head on. It's a real gift that you've given to every person who reads.<br /><br />On a related note ... I sent you a message via Facebook a week or two ago, specifically about this post and whether or not you'd like it to be included in an anthology I'm working on. We don't have any Facebook connections, so I think the message went to your "Other" folder instead of your regular inbox. If you could take a look at that message and get back to me when you have time, I would appreciate it so much.Sara K.S. Hankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06648526269393307985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-84560067569918778192014-05-04T16:10:05.421-07:002014-05-04T16:10:05.421-07:00I'm a white church member, but I really under...I'm a white church member, but I really understand your perspective…I've often wondered how black members could feel anything but what you've expressed. Yet despite the challenges, you still have faith in the Lord and his Church. Thanks for sharing your views and your faith. Keep it up! kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-75920202902818686032014-03-04T11:57:30.736-08:002014-03-04T11:57:30.736-08:00I seeked out black Mormon blogs. As a white Mormon...I seeked out black Mormon blogs. As a white Mormon I want to have a better understanding of how you feel. I grew up in a very excepting atmosphere. I was friends with everyone, no matter who they were and loved easily. As I hit high school I noticed a trend, no matter how I acted, I was a rasist. Not because they knew me or my heart but simply because I was white. As they got to know me, it became, whites are all rasist, except for you. This truly broke my heart. I have cried from comments said to me walking down the street or in the store. It has brought me to a place where I am nearly afraid to look at people of other races. In my mind I think, wow the world has finally brought me down, I cannot show people that I truly just love them. The girl who fought for my friends, yelled at injustice, racism, hurt, has finally been shut up. <br />In the last few months I have been determined to be who I am regardless of hurtful statements, generalizations, etc. My parents taught me when I was little, very little about church history, probably because as converts they knew very little. But I recall one time my father telling a local leader that he was an ignorant jerk and that Malay was the best woman in the church who was denied blessings because of morons like him. I did not associate this with her race until I was much old. <br />It breaks my heart to read that people still feel rasism and I apologize if I have ever caused it or miss defending. I just want to say I think peoples basic intentions are pure and hopefully we can find a way to find a solution so people can just love each other as we each are. <br />Sorry if my ramblings don't make a lot of sense. Thank you for posting your feelings so that we can all find a place we can come together and learn from each other.<br />Much love, your sister in Christ.Just a momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11143900195865759083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-24605764779971069902014-01-01T06:30:21.422-08:002014-01-01T06:30:21.422-08:00"The so called white man does not have to dir..."The so called white man does not have to dirty his hands to destroy us, when we continue to destroy ourselves." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-66496181461795382972013-12-17T19:16:38.710-08:002013-12-17T19:16:38.710-08:00Sinclair, I actually can't see His/her/ posts ...Sinclair, I actually can't see His/her/ posts anymore. He/she is intitled the their opinion. But that doesn't entitle them to acknowledgement or a response, ya know? You can typically get the gist of someone's agenda withing a few lines of their postings. I think most of us were "done" within the first posting. He/She can respond all he/she wants. It's actually great marketing for the blog AND the post. A few people will 'bite" but most will just ignore and keep on keepin on. Appreciate you hearing. :) ShaBANGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435939559462982820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-46655288341636898472013-12-17T18:42:13.301-08:002013-12-17T18:42:13.301-08:00Sinclair - It angers you that you do not have the ...Sinclair - It angers you that you do not have the ability to engage in a conversation with someone who has an opposing view.<br /><br />Is calling me a troll your way to ignore anything that has been written by me? Is troll your internet version of nigger? Oh... I feel oppressed. No one should ever use the T word. It is hurtful... You are a trollist and it hurts me and anyone who has an opposing view. Calling me a troll is a form of hate speech. If you live in Canada or parts of Europe, watch out as you may be prosecuted for such speech. ...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-42652731672454419162013-12-17T18:21:13.601-08:002013-12-17T18:21:13.601-08:00This is a response to Esther. Some folks in Texas ...This is a response to Esther. Some folks in Texas did a study in which they wanted to look at the effects on children's attitudes about race of watching tv shows with characters oif different races and discussing race with their parents. This intervention (parents discussing race with their children) had no effect. The researchers finally figured out why. The white parents were so uncomfortable that they never had the conversations. The most explicit they got was that everyone is equal. What did their kids learn? When asked the kids of these well-meaning parents thought that their parents didn't like black people. In other words, our kids interpret silence negatively. I don't want this to be my kids. Somehow, as white parents, we've got to have theses conversations.c&l&ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13412599206049823956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-55283955334837717312013-12-17T18:01:24.597-08:002013-12-17T18:01:24.597-08:00Karyn,
Clearly "..." is a troll whose ...Karyn, <br /><br />Clearly "..." is a troll whose words reveal his / her racist disposition. I see and hear similar tripe on a continual basis where I live, both in and out of the church. It angers me that such ignorance persists. <br /><br />I hear you and I support you.Sinclairnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-89367571318541869842013-12-17T15:57:02.917-08:002013-12-17T15:57:02.917-08:00Nice wiki repost but you repositioned some aspects...Nice wiki repost but you repositioned some aspects to fit your narrative.<br /><br />Are you tired of explaining to your friends why you are a member of the LDS Church? The Church is not racist, though there may be members who have views that may be deemed as racist. What is there in the Church doctrine today that you deem racist?<br /><br />Black members of the Church prior to 1978 joined knowing the doctrine. There was/is no secret about the Church's position. What attracted these folks to the Church even when they knew about the ban? What attracts blacks to the Church today in light of the past history? ***Okay... you joined a racist Church and you expect an apology. It is the turtle and snake story. You got what you should have expected.***<br /><br />God does not need to explain himself. Any supposed apology will only be used to undermine the Church and its leaders.<br /><br />Speaking of curses of dark skin as related to Natives, we as a Church cannot get around the writings within the most correct book on earth. It is hard to wiggle around statements by President Kimball that participants in the Native outplacement are becoming white. We may be able to dodge the black curse but the dark skin of natives cannot be dodged. Since the Blacks have gotten some relief on this subject, maybe the focus should be on Natives instead? No... that doesn't forward the black victim agenda.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-79524305837627821322013-12-17T12:10:36.905-08:002013-12-17T12:10:36.905-08:00Thank you so much for this beautiful and informati...Thank you so much for this beautiful and informative post. I agree with so much of what you said and think the church has a long way to go to get the race issue out of a gray area. As a mormon feminist, I will try harder to advocate for racial equality alongside gender equality and equal rights for my gay brothers and sisters. I understand what you mean by stating that being a feminist is more of a choice than being black as you literally cannot hide or run away from the color of your skin. At the same time, I believe all of these battles for greater equality, love, inclusion and acceptance related to gender, race, sexual orientation, etc are of God and I'm renewed to advocate for positive changes by reading your words. Thank you!Emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-62347395031147529322013-12-16T23:46:48.475-08:002013-12-16T23:46:48.475-08:00You're absolutely Right Emily, which is why im...You're absolutely Right Emily, which is why im taking taking the step to educate and check myself on these issue. The whole reason why we're having these dialogues and speaking with feminist and LGBTQ and not just a wham bam thank you ma'am comments on a blog and calling it good. I've said previously that I'm teachable. Just tonight I had dinner with a group where 3 in the group were part of Pride.(OMG, the black mormon girl knows what pride is!) We're actually planning a fundraiser as a community. Let me tell you, trying to get LGBTQ on the same page as "Chik FilA" was not easy but as a community we've all decided to work through it. For me, that's a huge start. What are you learning and Will you and I be sharing a pile? ShaBANGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435939559462982820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-20075833661103742882013-12-16T22:49:37.808-08:002013-12-16T22:49:37.808-08:00To our "BRAVE" anonymous "...said.....<br />To our "BRAVE" anonymous "...said..." Soul sibling who was so proud to of their comments they hid themselves. Me, personally don't give a rats tail about an apology because a coerced apology is and apololie. Urban Translation: if I have to beg for one it's probably not going to be a real on anyway so you can have it. It is more important to me that we being to forsake the teachings and rid our literature and media of such things. That's when I know there is a sincerity of it all. As for their being a small group of people effected by the band.. ARE YOU HIGH? Take some time and read about ALL OF OUR CHURCH HISTORY. Blacks in South Africa began writing to the church in 1940 and requesting information about the gospel and Missionaries. I believe it was finally in 1961 The prphet sent someone to find out the Validity of unofficial members of the church. Come to find out it was true. It wasn't until 1966 that the first missionaries were sent to Nigeria. They had to be pulled out because of war. Many african members couldn't even be baptized until 1978 but were faithful "members" while they waited. This was also the story in Brazil. There were literally stakes waiting to be baptized, the church couldn't get it done fast enough. 1978 was not that long ago. And just because you aren't aware of the thousands who were effected doesn't mean the group is insignificant. My whole family was affected. We've been member for 40 yrs. And if you think it's not hurting anybody you're pretty delusional. Each black member who couldn't come to the house of a white member because of this was effected. Each white person who was led to believe it is effected, and so are the generation they taught to, right down to you. The ignorance is ingrained into generations of members and needs to be uprooted. I am not looking for apologies. I'm looking for action. And the best place to begin is within our own homes. And until we remove the dehumanizing of the dark skinned race in our teaching manuals and guides, and speech and thoughts... I don't care what Bruce R McConkie said.. IT MATTERS. If I make a statement that I'm going to clean my house every saturday and just do the lawn outside, I've done a half assed job by ignoring the inside of the house. The 1978 REINSTATING of the priesthood to black members was an External cleaning. Sure it was brave and bold at the time. You wouldn't physically accept physical nourshiment off of a half cleansed plate. Your soul shouldn't accept nourhisment off of a half cleansed policy.ShaBANGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435939559462982820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-12164675532876718492013-12-16T22:48:24.043-08:002013-12-16T22:48:24.043-08:00Oh wow. Lots of comments to get to! It's been...Oh wow. Lots of comments to get to! It's been a busy Monday. I wanted to address a couple of questions. <br /><br />Esther, you're children are quite young and I can see the validity of not wanting to introduce them into such heavy topics at such a young age. There are wonderful Mechanism out there called Amazon, Google, etc where one could look up children's books about diversity and differences. You said something key, when you said They're topics that just get brought up. That, my dear sister, is a luxury. I had to being teaching my daughter right before she went to preschool when someone didn't want to sit by her because she was a different color. I think of it this way, I initiated conversations with my daughter about smoking, drugs, drinking, sex, peer pressure etc. I didn't wait for the subject to come up because I may never know the circumstances why. (Is she bringing it up because she's already engaging in these activities.) As parent we teach our things everyday, and they're learing through TV, Books, watching mom and dad, radio and even the internet. But we have this thing called Family Home Evening, right? Where we can teach our kids lesson about life liberty, etc. A basic way to start is talking about Heavenly Father and his children. He has all kinds of children, all kinds of colors, all kinds of sizes and go from there. One of my favorite activities was talking to my daughter (she's 23 now.) about Diversity, Colors, Cultures, different things that people do like smoke, drink, etc and how although we don't do these things, those who do them aren't particularly bad, they just believe different. But they're all Heavenly Father's children, which makes them our brothers and sisters. I think that's a great start even for young kids. <br />ShaBANGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435939559462982820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-9423342129317263802013-12-16T19:47:36.477-08:002013-12-16T19:47:36.477-08:00"Very few people actually experienced any inj..."Very few people actually experienced any injury." <br /><br />You dismiss so easily the teachings that black men and women were somehow less valiant in the pre-mortal life and thus were somehow considered "deserving" of their assigned social status, one part of the many racist ideologies that existed during and persisted long past the abolition of slavery.<br /><br />It didn't take a revelation to reverse the policy; church leaders only felt that such was needed. From the site, "...given the long history of withholding the priesthood from men of black African descent, Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter the policy". Having an issue with a church policy and the authority to reverse it without doing so is indeed cowardice. <br /><br />And, yes, McConkie was among the cowards. The quote you cite is from a BYU address, a much smaller venue than the ones he'd used to spread racist explanations and teachings. It would have been better for him had he said, "I was wrong" to the entire church, not just at a small gathering. He certainly didn't stop or in any way alter his words in Mormon Doctrine. Which is precisely why there is an issue with what the church is doing now; it's dropped the information for those who seek it, not for those who believe what they've been told by church leaders at a variety of levels without question. <br /><br />The racist teachings of the pre-1978 era persist to this day. See also the Randy Bott controversy. Too bad that it took national exposure for BYU to take formal steps to silence his errant notions. It would seem that, at BYU at least, there was more "sympathy" for him and less for the black men and women whom he slighted with his words. Which is a shame, really, since the church stated that "The positions attributed to BYU professor Randy Bott in a recent Washington Post article absolutely do not represent the teachings and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" without ever formally dismissing the teachings that were spread. Sinclairnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-21765848807383298752013-12-16T19:14:45.912-08:002013-12-16T19:14:45.912-08:00The majority of blacks in the Church were not arou...The majority of blacks in the Church were not around during this period; so, how were those black males of African descent not in the Church prior to 1978 injured? What does an apology do when they themselves were not injured? Additionally, we are talking about a very small group given the number of blacks of African desecent in the Church in 1978.<br /><br />I am certainly not owed an apology as there were ordained black youth in my first Deacon's quorom. I was not directly impacted by the ban. By the time I was ordained all of my worthy peers were eligible to receive the Priesthood. The ban is history. Very few people actually experienced any injury. This reminds me of the descendents of the Mountain Meadows Masacre whose only interest in an apology is financial. <br /><br />Cowardice? The Church did not have to reverse the "policy". Cowardice would have been to reverse the "policy" during the Civil Rights era.<br /><br />As for "policy" or revelation, it took a revelation to reverse the ban.<br /><br />As humans we like to have explainations. There are many things in the gospel that are unexplained. Going back to cowardice, it wasn't very cowardly of Brother McConkie to make his statement of “Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world. We get our truth and our light line upon line and precept upon precept. We have now had added a new flood of intelligence and light on this particular subject, and it erases all the darkness and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don't matter any more.”<br /><br />Notice that he said "present" revelation as opposed to the "past" revelation. Regardless of wether the ban was revelation or not... that is history....noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-91947872596087774992013-12-16T18:32:41.135-08:002013-12-16T18:32:41.135-08:00...,
The apology should be issued to the entire c......,<br /><br />The apology should be issued to the entire church with special sensitivity to the black men and women who have braved the LDS culture both past and present. Remember that the disparity was *not* instituted by way of command and was instead purely cultural, i.e. racist. <br /><br />That it was overturned by "revelation" is due to the cowardice of LDS leadership on all levels. Per the lds.org page, leaders felt that such would be necessary to overturn the previous century of discrimination since it was so deeply rooted in the LDS community. Such pithy explanations offered didn't just effect black men but also black women (and let's not forget the largely white membership / leadership who considered it God's will when, in fact, it wasn't). It's highly suspect that God was waiting for them to muster the courage on their own, not be commanded on an issue that's at the heart of Christianity. Sinclairnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-54938575290640403652013-12-16T17:13:16.271-08:002013-12-16T17:13:16.271-08:00To whom should the apology be issued? In 1978 the...To whom should the apology be issued? In 1978 there were very few members of African heritage. The supposed injured class is small and growing smaller by the day due to death. You would have to be a 47 or older black male of African descent to have been denied... and there are not too many of those.<br /><br />Have non-Jews asked God to apologize for extending the Priesthood to the Cohens and Levites first? No.<br /><br />God owes none of us an explaination. For example, the Word of Wisdom is about obedience. God could command his people not to eat salad. We know that salad is good for us but if God commands us not to eat it do we disobey?...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-88455618253172195302013-12-16T16:59:21.892-08:002013-12-16T16:59:21.892-08:00I'm sorry. No one deserves this kind of treatm...I'm sorry. No one deserves this kind of treatment. Not now, not 50 years ago, not a thousand years ago. The only thing I have to offer is the promise that I not only recognize my own white privilege, but that I'm teaching my children to recognize it as well. I can't change the world, but I CAN change how my children and I think and act within it. Because everyone deserves respect without qualifiers. anorthowifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12484424263833463541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-32327002596285831302013-12-16T09:58:59.805-08:002013-12-16T09:58:59.805-08:00I am excited that the church is moving towards an ...I am excited that the church is moving towards an outright apology and statement that we were wrong and racist. I believe we will get the eventually but it should have been years ago. In the meantime I am doing what I can in my sphere of influence. Last year my daughter came home from seminary and said her teacher asked why blacks were denied the priesthood. She said,"mom, I nailed it! I raised my hand and said that we were racist and wrong." We as a church just need to say the policy was wrong. It was racist. We deeply apologize for the hurt we have caused. We will do better.Marjoriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04915221070557828204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-57641844640973864102013-12-16T09:12:12.968-08:002013-12-16T09:12:12.968-08:00Great post! Thank you for speaking about the pow...Great post! Thank you for speaking about the power of women and our ability to access God directly, I absolutely agree! Also, thank you for speaking out about racism in the church, I totally agree that it should be addressed more often and from your perspective. I believe that's what being "Christ like" is all about, taking time to try to understand the feelings of others. <br /><br />For my part, I know that racism was institutionalized and I heard my dad quote church provided reasonings for the ban and our "superiority" thankfully it never sat right with me, thankfully I had inspired leaders who weren't white who taught me better, thankfully I had the opportunity to live in an area where I was a minority and feel just a bit of the sting of hate for the color of my skin. My dad has passed and I'm sure now is learning to see and feel for all people regardless of skin color. <br /><br />I'm sorry for what has gone on. I'm sorry it continues to go on. I hope it will be addressed in greater openness & from the highest levels to sacrament meeting &primary. It needs to be! <br /><br />Thank you for bringing this up. Thanks to Mormon feminist housewives for letting me know about this post. <br /><br />It's been a long time since I've heard the tennent to seek our own revelation and confirmation of church policy & leaders. I remember it being a teaching in the forefront of my childhood church education. Lately however the focus I seem to hear more and more is that when the prophet speaks, the discussion is over. .. doesn't sit right with my beliefs! Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08327962380044079954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-84951298796016772382013-12-16T08:44:58.824-08:002013-12-16T08:44:58.824-08:00Thank you so much for sharing this. It is very po...Thank you so much for sharing this. It is very powerful and very needed. fMhLisa https://www.blogger.com/profile/06853096754618867932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-28733592951310938042013-12-16T08:12:54.157-08:002013-12-16T08:12:54.157-08:00Thank you for sharing. I love your voice and pers...Thank you for sharing. I love your voice and perspective. As a feminist I agree we cannot co-opt your experiences as our own. We may notice similarities, but you are right, it is not the same. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01169756682267741997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-87720779619744550632013-12-16T06:27:16.130-08:002013-12-16T06:27:16.130-08:00Thanks so much for letting FMH post this. I imagin...Thanks so much for letting FMH post this. I imagine it took a lot of bravery, and your voice is so important. I loved reading this post. White feminists do need to do a better job speaking up about sexism and homophobia (past and present), because if feminism doesn't support all women, it fails. <br /><br />Thanks also for articulating that general gap between young and more experienced black members of the church. Dorothynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235753667528365971.post-84254942460732340382013-12-16T02:50:58.872-08:002013-12-16T02:50:58.872-08:00Thanks for sharing this. It's clear that your ...Thanks for sharing this. It's clear that your faith in Jesus Christ is more important than anything else. <br />I appreciate your and Reese's discussion on culture, using the Beyonce example. I'm developing this opinion that as humans we are more products of our culture than we usually recognize. It's hard for me to imagine President Monson saying "I'm sorry for every leader who was ever racist" because how does one apologize on the behalf of others? You can't really. And church leaders, like us are products of their culture just like we are.<br />Instead, I like the idea that instead of waiting for all these ‘leaders’ to apologize, that all of us could. We should use these examples that are starting to be discussed (feminism, racism, and homophobia) and ask ourselves "what biases are ingrained in me, or what ideas do I cling to that are not aligned with the Saviors teachings?"<br />I can't pretend that I've always been vocal against racism and homophobia, but I do remember at a young age hearing racist things and thinking that they didn't make any sense and I wouldn't believe them or hold onto to those views. I first decided I could be defined as a feminist when I read this article: "Feminism In The Light Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" by Harrison and Richards. (https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/BYUStudies/article/download/6368/6017) while pondering, I felt the Holy Ghost confirm to me the truth that didn't seem to fit on the right or the left of the culture and society I knew. <br />This is one of the great challenges of life, to be able to step outside the cultural boxes we all are surrounded by and embrace truth. I think your writing this article is a service of love to help others (and it seems like yourself) step away from the extremes of the world and into the Savior's truth.<br />I love your blog!<br />Mallory Funkhouserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07024475891617204707noreply@blogger.com