COVERING-UP THE CURSE OF CAIN
How the Mormon Church is trying to cover-up its past teachings and practices regarding blacks
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"The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth." (George Orwell, 1984, chapter 7)
"I move the Curse of Cain to the little trash can, and that's that!"
From 1848 until 1978, the leaders (Prophet and Apostles) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught, as doctrine, the following:
*Negroes are the descendants of Cain.
*The Mark of Cain was a black skin, flat nose, and kinky hair.
*Negroes were "less valiant" in the War in Heaven in the Pre-Existence.
*Negroes cannot enter and worship in Mormon Temples until the Curse of Cain is removed.
*Negroes would not get the Priesthood until the Curse of Cain is removed.
This was known as "The Curse of Cain Doctrine". It was always presented as "a doctrine of the Church" from the time of Brigham Young into the days of Spencer W. Kimball (late 1970s). At no time was it ever put forth as "personal opinion".
From 1848 until 1978 black Mormons could not hold any office of Priesthood in the Mormon Church (every male Mormon over the age of 12 holds an office), and black Mormons could not worship in Mormon Temples, nor partake of the Higher Ordiances in those Temples including the Endowment and Sealings.
The Curse of Cain Doctrine, along with the Priesthood-ban upon black men, is together known as the "Curse of Cain Legacy".
The Curse of Cain DOCTRINE was taught by Mormon Church leaders, presidents and apostles, as official Church doctrine, for 130 years.
The Priesthood-Ban POLICY was an "official" policy of the Church, for 130 years.
At no time did Church leaders ever say, "This is only our opinion". The Curse of Cain Legacy was from the top-down, not merely the "opinion of some Church leaders" or "folk beliefs" as soon are FALSELY claiming and telling others today.
Church leaders have NOT repudiated the Curse of Cain legacy. To do so would be telling Mormons that prior Church leaders, who were sustained as "Living Prophets" made a mistake. If Church leaders publicly repudiated the Curse of Cain Legacy today, it would create this question in the minds of millions of Mormons:
"Wow! If current Prophets say that former Prophets were mistaken on this? Then what mistakes have our current leaders made?"Instead of publicly repudiating the Curse of Cain legacy, LDS Church leaders have decided a course of deception.
They have secretly degreed the following:
*Nobody working in LDS Church Offices may discuss the Curse of Cain legacy or the reasons for it. Those that do are warned. Those that do twice are fired.
*Any Mormon who writes a letter to LDS Church leaders asking about the Curse of Cain are told "See your bishop" and the bishop is intructed to NOT answer, but to ask the Mormon inquirer questions such as, "Are you faithful to your wife?" and "Do you masturbate?" trying to find the "reason" the Mormon is questioning. To be "questioning Church leaders" is seen in the Mormon Church as a sign that a Member is "Not worthy" and "Not living the Gospel" (i.e. is engating is secret unrepentent sin). Bishops have been instructed to tell Members, "Don't worry about it. Don't discuss it any further? Will you obey this counsel?" If the Member does NOT obey, and discusses or inquires further, they can face a Church Court and possible excommunication.
*No Church leader is to mention the Curse of Cain or the priesthood-ban anywhere in writing or in talks (speeches).
*If journalists inquire about the Curse of Cain they are to be told positive things the Church has done for blacks in Africa, how many black Members their are. If journalists ask specifically if the Curse of Cain is a doctrine of the Church, they are told be "put-off" indefinitely.
*If non-Members (non-Mormons) inquire about the Curse of Cain legacy they are to be told that it was NEVER a doctrine of the Church.
The Church is trying to cover-up the Curse of Cain legacy, using threats, lies, equivocations, and put-offs.
The current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka "Mormon Church" or "LDS Church") is Gordon B. Hinckley. President Hinckley grew up in the Church during the Curse of Cain legacy. He was an Apostle in the Church during the 1960s when the Church received much criticism for the banning blacks from the Priesthood and Temples (the Priesthood-ban). President Hinckley sat in dozens of General Conferences when Church leaders (Presidents and Apostles) taught Mormons that Negroes were cursed, and descendants of Cain, and "less valiant" in the War in Heaven; which were "the reasons" that Church leaders gave for 130 years why they banned blacks from the Priesthood and Temples.
President Gordon B. Hinckley was interviewed in 1997 on Austrian television on a program called COMPASS, he was asked:
COMPASS: "What was the reason for that? [i.e. denying blacks the priesthood]HINCKLEY: "I don't know what the reason for that was."
(COMPASS, aired Nov. 1997, Australian Broadcasting System)
"I don't know what the reason for that was."
Was Hinckley being honest here? Did he REALLY "NOT" know the "reason" why blacks were banned for so long?
Hinckley worked for the Church since 1930. He was a General Authority since 1951. He was in Quorum of the Twelve meetings when the priesthood-ban was discussed, for at least three decades. He was an Apostle during at least 27 years of the priesthood-ban.
Hinckley LIED!
In 1949 the First Presidency issued this statement (signed by all three members):
"The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandement from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time." (The First Presidency on the Negro Question, 17 Aug. 1949)You simply CANNOT get any more "official" than an official statement from The First Presidency, signed by all three members.
This is NOT all! Don Jesse, the OFFICIAL spokesman for the LDS Church, issued a letter in 2003 which DENIED that the Church ever taught that blacks are cursed or the descendants of Cain! Read it here:
Don Jesse LIED! The Curse of Cain was an official doctrine of the Church, and the priesthood-ban an official policy of the Church based solely upon the Curse of Cain doctrine.
Others at Church Offices have lied worse than Jesse! Here are two conversations this author had with Don LeFevre (Church Spokesman before Don Jesse) and Brook Hales (spokesman in the Office of the First Presidency):
Caller: “Yes, I would like to know if the Mormon Church ever taught that blacks were cursed or the descendants of Cain?”A large packet of materials was sent to Brook Hales at the Office of The First Presidency; including quotes from all Church Presidents and Apostles concerning the Curse of Cain as well as photocopies of official Statements of The First Presidency that the Priesthood ban was based upon the Curse of Cain and that it was “a doctrine of the Church”. Eight month later this author and the non-Member called the Office of The First Presidency again and again the non-Member was transferred to Brook Hales of that office. Here is a report of that second conversation:Hales: “No! The Church has never taught that black people were cursed or the descendants of Cain!”
Caller: “Then why are there these websites with quotes from Brigham Young and other Church leaders to the effect that blacks are the descendants of Cain and cursed as pertaining to the Priesthood?”
Hales: “Really? I’ve never seen them! You know, people say lots of things about the Church that isn’t true; especially on the Internet!”
Caller: “But I’ve read books about it, and the Church did in fact teach that blacks couldn’t hold the Priesthood until 1978. Wasn’t that based on the Curse of Cain?”
Hales: “Well...we...they..LOOK! The Church has NEVER taught that black people were cursed! Never that they were the descendants of Cain! I can’t help with other people say!”
Caller: “Can I send you some information quoting early Church leaders?”
Hales: “Sure!”
Caller: “Did the LDS Church teach that black people were the cursed descendants of Cain?”The following is from a telephone conversation between a non-Member caller and Don LeFevre (for many years-including many years before 1978-the official Church Spokesman). This conversation took place after Brother LeFevre retired as Church Spokesman:Hales: “Not at all! The Church teaches that we are ALL the sons and daughters of God. All equal in every respect.”
Caller: “But how can you explain all the quotes of early Church leaders that Negroes are the cursed descendants of Cain, and that Cain was cursed with a black skin?”
Hales: “Well, you know, some of the early Church members used to speculate on a lot of things, but this was something never approved by the Brethren-ah....by the leaders of the Church!”
Caller: “So, you’re saying that the Church never taught that blacks are the descendants of Cain?”
Hales: “Not that I’m aware of.”
Caller: “I’d like to know if the Mormon Church taught or not that black people were the descendants of Cain, and inherited his curse; which was a denial of the Priesthood and a black skin?”The current director of LDS Church Public Affairs is Tom Owen. About a year ago I asked him, "Did the Church EVER teach that black people were cursed or the descendants of Cain?" He replied,LeFevre: (very confidently) “No! That has never been a teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!” Caller: “But why then couldn’t blacks have the Priesthood before 1978?”
LeFevre: “Now that’s a difficult question! There’s been much speculation on that. We really don’t know why.”
Caller: “Did it have anything to do with the Curse of Cain?”
LeFevre: “No”
Caller: “Look, Mr. LeFevre, I have Mormon friends who’ve shown me hundreds of pages of documents proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that your Church taught that Negroes were the descendants of Cain and that because of this they couldn’t have the Priesthood and that your own Prohets taught this as doctrine! What have you to say?”
LeFevre: (humorously) “Well, ha..if they did teach that, I don’t believe it!”
Caller: “You don’t believe they ever taught it?”
LeFevre: “I just don’t believe it, PERIOD! I never believed it! Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Caller: “Yes, you can start telling me the truth!”
LeFevre: laughs and hangs-up the phone
"No, that has never been a doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sure, some Members have speculated on things like that, but that was never approved by the Brethren [Church leaders]".That is a BOLD FACED LIE! Tom Owens lied, and has consistently lied, for years.
Hinckley, and now Monson, wants to erase all the negative things in the Mormon past, for "PR" purpuses. He would come out and say, "The Church was WRONG to deny blacks the Priesthood!" Hinckley said essentially that during a recent Priesthood session of General Conference:
“I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple 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?”That would mean that Brigham Young and ALL LDS Church Presidents (up until and including Spencer W. Kimball who believed the priesthood-ban was of God) (and most Apostles including Bruce R. McConkie) from his day until only recent times were not true disciples of Christ!
The Church is trying to cover-up the Curse of Cain legacy!
The Church has become "The Party"; as George Orwell wrote, rewriting the past:
"The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth." (George Orwell, 1984, chapter 7)I would encourage all journalists reading this to contact LDS Church "Public Affairs" and ask the following questions:
Q. Did the LDS Church ever teach that blacks are cursed?
(truthful answer would be "yes")
Q. Did the LDS Church ever teach that blacks are the descendants of Cain?
(truthful answer would be "yes")
Q. Has the First Presidency of the Church repudiated the Curse of Cain doctrine, the teaching that blacks are the descendants of Cain and a black skin was the mark of Cain?
(truthful answer is "no", the First Presidency has issued no letter to that affect)
Q. You say you DO NOT KNOW the answer? Does anyone at Mormon Church headquarters know what the Church taught about blacks for 130 years?
Q. Does the Church NOW teach that blacks are the descendants of Cain? When did that change?
One method that LDS Public Affairs uses with journalists is called the "eternal put-off". They know that newspapers and magazines don't like to print an article without comment from the subject of the article. But they also know that saying "No Comment" is in fact a "comment". Therefore, LDS Church Public Affairs will say something like this:
"Golly. I really don't know the answer to that. But, let me ask my supervisor and I'll get back with you as soon as I can!"When saying this, LDS Church Public Affairs has no intention of getting back to you. They know that chances are that without even a "no comment" your editor won't want to run the story. Using this deceptive method, LDS Church Public Affairs will try to prevent your article from being published. It works quite well, because your newspaper/magazine won't want to print the article without hearing "the Mormon side", but the Mormon Church has NO INTENTION of giving their side, which convinces most editors NOT to run your story!
Mormon Church leaders are highly embarassed about the Curse of Cain legacy. They wish to avoid further embarassment by publicly repudiating it. So, their choice has been to simply "deny it ever occurred". If they suspect a journalist "knows too much" (knows it did occur) they will say, "We'll get back to you on that" and never ever "get back"; knowing that this will "kill" the article in most cases.
Ingenius isn't it? And totally deceptive!
Derrick Evenson
