"I am told that racial slurs and denigrating remarks are sometimes heard among us. I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ. How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color is ineligible?" President Hinckley said.

"Brethren, there is no basis for racial hatred among the priesthood of this Church. If any within the sound of my voice is inclined to indulge in this, then let him go before the Lord and ask for forgiveness and be no more involved in such."

Even with the admonition, Gray believes "roughly half of the population of the church has somehow been negatively affected by the past policy and the misinformation that is still out there. And there are some who think those attitudes should still prevail, that God in his magnanimous way allowed blacks to hold priesthood but that does not change the fact that they were less valiant in the pre-existence.

"I think half would say that while others would say (the priesthood ban) never should have been."

He said there is no official LDS revelation "on record about it having been a doctrine. Both President Heber J. Grant and President David O. McKay called it a 'policy."'

During a recent documentary screening at Boise State University, the crowd was largely black descendants of early black pioneers who had migrated to Idaho, he said. After he and Young showed the film and answered some probing and negative questions from non-Latter-day Saints, they received an e-mail from "a sweet, well-meaning, white LDS lady that was not harsh or angry, but went on to express her belief that blacks were less valiant."

Further, she explained why she believed much the same about "Lamanites and Jews," who she believes are cursed by God "because of their ancestors."

"That's where the church is yet today," Gray said. "That contingent is still out there, even though the outgrowth of the revelation is that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is now, and has always been, for all people."

While he's "thrilled" the church is hosting Sunday's commemoration, Gray said he longs for a time when church leaders and members can "facilitate the healing that is yet to take place, so that all vestiges of the non-Christian thought and non-Christian attitude that was too prevalent in too many hearts can be swept away and replaced with sheer joy of the brotherhood and sisterhood God intends us to have."

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com