The Mormon Faith & Black Folks
Question #42
Q. David O McKay called the Priesthood ban a ‘policy
and not a doctrine’. Could it have been a mistaken policy?
A. The Priesthood ban was an official policy of the
Church which was based upon the Curse of Cain doctrine. They went
hand-in-hand. If there was no Curse of Cain doctrine then there would have been
no Priesthood ban policy. But both the policy and the doctrine originated with
the Prophets of the Church, and if the policy and doctrine were a “mistake”
then at any given time the leadership of the Church can put forth “mistakes” as
official policy and doctrine. In that case, no Member could be sure if the
Church’s current policies and doctrines are from the LORD or not.
Until the Church itself officially calls the
Priesthood ban policy and/or the Curse of Cain doctrine a “mistake” the Members
have no right to do so. A Member of the Church can say “I don’t believe this
was true doctrine” but they cannot speak for the Church. They cannot say to
others, “The Curse of Cain was a false doctrine or mistaken notion!” They
cannot say, “The Priesthood ban was a mistake”. They can say, “I personally
believe that....” How the Church responds to such personal declarations is only
known fully to those who make them.
The official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is that the Priesthood ban and the Curse of Cain were from
the LORD, and until The First Presidency says otherwise that shall continue to
be the official position of the Church regardless of what Members think,
wish, hope, or say. Members speak only for themselves; not
for the Church. Only The First Presidency can speak for the Church, and they
have yet to issue a repudiation of the Curse of Cain legacy.
Please feel free to e-mail Darrick Evenson
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