Sisters and Brethren!
Our Mormon Moment is reaching its zenith. Maybe. Depends on the election results.
No matter how hard we try to sweep this under the rug, though, the issue of blacks and the priesthood just doesn't go quietly into the night.
Ask Mormon Girl addressed it today.
So here's our dilemma. What we want to say is this:
"Dear world,
Sorry about the racist doctrine and policies that lasted over a hundred years. We know it caused discomfort to many missionaries and members in good standing who had to answer challenging questions over the years. Also, it must have been real tough actually being black in the midst of all the "fence-sitter" rhetoric.
It wasn't right. It wasn't inspired. It wasn't doctrine.
It was wrong. It was misguided. It was bigotry mingled with scripture."
That's what we WANT to say. But we really can't, because it opens a can of worms.
Intelligent members would undoubtedly say, "Wait a sec. We had leaders over the pulpit proclaiming this as doctrine, as God's will (however mysterious). If the prophets got this huge thing wrong, then what else can they get wrong?"
See what we mean?
Of course the faithful defenders can counter with something like, "But they get the important stuff right. The Church was no more racist than any other organization during that time period."
Fair enough. But let us play the part again of the thoughtful observer, who says, "Perhaps. But I don't stand up the first Sunday of every month and testify that the Mississippi Unified School District is God's only true organization on the earth.
That the Mayor of St. Louis speaks directly with God and knows God's will for us today.
That the AT&T phone book is the most correct book on earth.
Yet Mormonism does profess exclusive rights to direct revelation from God, and as such should be held to a standard of perfection. No errors. If it is God at the helm, and if God is perfect, then there is no room for error in God's guidance. And if someone at the top were to misrepresent God, then that person - according to LDS tradition - would be removed from that position before the misrepresentation could be effected."
Or something along those lines.
Which is why it's best left under the rug. What do we gain by addressing it? Nothing. What do we lose? Well that whole group of "faithful thoughtfuls" are at risk. For some, this would be that shaky first step off the path of mainstream Mormonism. And it takes them down a slippery slope. Next is questioning gender roles, then voting for Democrats, then mass consumption of energy drinks, then pornography addictions and usage of words like damn, hell, and bitch.
So leave it there, under the rug. But we're going to need a bigger broom.
Sincerely,
FFP
