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LDS black leaders call for spirit of unity

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John Lambert | 10:59 a.m. June 11, 2008
I am sorry I may have reacted so harshly to your question. It is just that I have personally known many men who were either Asian or Latino who held the priesthood before 1978. There were two Asian descended and one Native American General Authority in 1978.
Every discussion is about blacks and the preisthood because that was the only issue.
I probably should have approached you question with more caution. It is just it seemed to be a question only someone from a heavily white area of Utah could ask. I may have not appreaciated the amount of dirrences in knowledge some people have, but in some ways the knowledge is abundant.
Films like "The Other Side of Heaven" have been widely watched, and present several Tongan priesthood holders in the 1950s.
Kim Ho Jik's story is presented in a Church film on the gospel being spread to every land.
I am sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to, it is just that your questions totally ignore the fact that from 1830 the church has tried to spread the gospel among Native Americans.
John Lambert | 11:03 a.m. June 11, 2008
To anonymous,
What have I said that is wrong? I will not stop making comments just because people can not deal with the truth. If you can point out one erroneous statement I have made, I will apologize for it. However I will not stop making comments just because you do not like them.
John Lambert | 11:09 a.m. June 11, 2008
To Susn,
I for one have not claimed there are not racist people in the church. This is a very different issue than the church being institutionally racist.
I do have one question, how long ago was you sister serving as a missionary in Tennessee?
On my mission in Las Vegas I met many very racist church members. One thought the ultimate sin was dating a black man. Another said insulting things about blacks in gospel principals class. Another family was convinced the value of their house would go down if black people moved in next door. Then there was my companion who held the view that no white women ever married black women out of love, just out of rebellion. Then there was the time I was on splits with a man who absolutely refused to go visit some newly baptized black children who had a white mother. They were adopted and he would not explain why he refused to go, other than that he did what he felt like doing.
At other times I have seen members who just did not try to welcome anyone, regardless of race.
Comments continue below
Sunshine281 | 11:43 a.m. June 11, 2008
The call for unity is not necessarily just for unity between blacks and whites. We are all individuals who sometimes have a disturbing lack of unity with other members of the church regardless of race or culture. We need to hold on to our unity as brothers and sisters of the Gospel and love each other because of that relationship, regardless of some differences in opinion or experience. Perhaps, then, we can spread some unity with others of God's children who are not LDS.
Pseudo Intellectual | 1:05 p.m. June 11, 2008
Yes it is possible to have an inter-racial temple marriage ceremony. I had one and know many others who have also. The point is personal worthiness. I am glad that the commemoration was held and think it was "high time" to remember and rejoice. I have been in many wards with Blacks, including my present one, and they have come from all over the world. I don't care where someone comes from or what they look like. I am interested in how they express their testimony whether through word or deed. I have gone out of my way to teach this to my husband and children so that there are no impediments in our future lives or those of my posterity. We need to take the lead in our families, wards, and communities to make sure that all of our hearts are knit in love and unity one toward another and are truly the "body of Christ."
John Lambert | 6:22 p.m. June 11, 2008
I, like many others, do not understand why God allowed the priesthood ban to exist. I just know that the first step is to understand that in 1954 David O. McKay made a statement that it was not based on revelation and was policy not doctrine.
We need people to gain new perspectives on this issue. I hope anyone who still tries to cling to Elder McConkie's or other pre-revelation statements will read Elder McConkie's talk given at BYU in August 1978 where he clearly said that members should disregard everything he or others had said on the matter before the revelation.
To: John Lambert | 8:53 a.m. June 12, 2008
You have posted over 10 times on this board. Could you please give someone else a chance?
John Lambert | 9:22 a.m. June 12, 2008
My posting does not prevent other people from posting.
Enough of Lambert Already | 1:53 p.m. June 12, 2008
To: John Lambert wrote:

"You have posted over 10 times on this board. Could you please give someone else a chance?"

Amen. I think we all understand John Lambert's opinion on this matter. It's time to give someone else a chance.
understanding the priesthood | 8:33 a.m. June 16, 2008
I think it is interesting that holding the Priesthood is looked upon by so many people as some great present only given to those the Lord loves. In fact it is a tool given by God which comes with a considerable responsibity to use it for the good of others. In the LDS church no one is paid to use the priesthood. In fact, it requires the holder to sacrifice their time (often a huge amount of it) to provide free service to fellow human beings. Some of the responsibilities include healing the sick and providing many hours of leadership in serving fellow members and often non-menbers. As a female (and one who definitely believes in the equality of race and gender) I consider the fact that my "tools" and responsibilities in the church are different from those of priesthood holders. This in no way makes me feel unloved, inferior, or lacking. I think much of the confusion is because the word "priesthood" in some churches involves a source of an income - No one is paid in the LDS church for holding the priesthood. It definitely changes the motivation for obtaining the priesthood.
Wendy Stebar | 9:36 a.m. June 16, 2008
I love to see so many black members in the Atlanta Temple doing the work for ancestors who sacrificed so much for their posterity.
Brightness of countenance has absolutely nothing to do with skin color!

sweetiemam | 5:09 p.m. June 20, 2008
To Leigh Little:
My husband and I are not the same race and were happily married in the Dallas Temple. Nothing was ever said or implied about the difference in our races. There are many couples in our stake who are also of different races.
Aurora | 6:23 a.m. Nov. 10, 2008
This is a very important thing people...

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Alex Boye sings at the Tabernacle during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the announcement extending the LDS priesthood to "all worthy males."

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