PROVO — Drawing strength from the atonement of Jesus Christ can deter falling over the stumbling stone of the history of the black members' priesthood restriction, said Ahmad Corbitt, director of the New York Office of Public and International Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Corbitt spoke at Brigham Young University last week to about 100 students and others in conjunction with Black History Month.

He referred to the church's decision in 1978 that black male members could hold the priesthood.

"The brethren received a revelation it should be restored," he said.

Corbitt addressed the struggle some members of the LDS Church have with the priesthood limitation practiced by the church until 1978. His presentation was titled "The Rock of Our Redeemer and the Stumbling Stone of Our Generation."

The Atonement is the solution, mainly the Savior's enabling power, to reach, retain and, in some cases, reclaim Heavenly Father's children. Those who have built their faith upon the rock of Jesus Christ, a sure foundation that will withstand the mighty storms, will not fall, Corbitt said.

"When we make the atonement of Jesus Christ the focus of our lives, when we seek to receive and cultivate that love that is privileged ... we will understand the mind and the heart of the Lord on the priesthood restriction subject," Corbitt said.

Implementing pillars of retention can deter stumbling stones such as the black priesthood limitation, he said.

Corbitt encouraged members to know their true identity. Earthly, cultural and societal truths about identities are secondary to spiritual or eternal truths that are essential to our salvation.

He says he is first a Mormon, second a black man. Keeping this in proper order really helps us know who were are, Corbitt said.

"We should never allow a secondary race-related issue or concern based on the culture of men to cause us to violate a primary principal that affects our relationship to God," he said.

Corbitt suggested placing the Atonement in the center of our lives so we can see things how they really are and understand the Lord's mind regarding race and other issues. Avoid over-focus on "pet subjects," such as racial issues, when there are other subjects that are essential to our salvation, he said.

Some Cchurch members are prone to oversensitivity and need to be more understanding of others, he said.

"Some of our brothers and sisters who are not black simply have limited exposure to blacks because they live in regions of the country or world that traditionally have few blacks — if any," Corbitt said. "Let us not be unkind and ungraciously point out, sometimes publicly, the faux pas of our brothers and sisters."

Be humble, submissive, gentle, full of patience and long-suffering, he said.

If we encounter true racial offense, bring it gently and discreetly to church leaders for them to correct, he said.

BYU student Ami Gnatiko, 18, a sophomore from Gaithersburg, Md., majoring in international relations, said she enjoyed how Corbitt targeted the Atonement while addressing racial issues.

"You have to focus on the gospel and how you can improve instead of holding a grudge," Gnatiko said.

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