The Church And The Negro

About this book

In 1978 The Mormon Faith allowed African Americans to hold the priesthood. Prior to 1978 Many people wondered why African Americans were being denied this opportunity. In 1967 John L. Lund, a popular and well respected Mormon and religious instructor for the Department of Seminaries and Institutions of the Church, who had extensively traveled the western United States lecturing and discussing the issue of the Negro and the Mormon Church, consulted "Church Leaders in high positions" and was " encouraged to exercise his rights as an individual to publish the book". Therefore, "The Church And The Negro" was published and became the "go to" book for anyone seeking to understand this issue. The front book flap states " The Church and the Negro openly and frankly discusses and documents the Mormon position concerning the Negro. Some of the subjects explained in this book are the Negro and the Priesthood, Cain and the mark of a black skin, Mormon Negroes today, and why the Church is opposed to interracial marriage. Also included are official Church statements by the First Presidency concerning the Negro and statements by individual prophets, apostles and general authorities. A special annotated bibliography has been added that will be of considerable value to anyone desiring to find additional information on the subject. The intensive research manifested in this book reflects the author's ability to bring together in a meaningful manor the many materials concerning the Negro and the Mormon Church."