Mormonism’s Complicated History with Race and Slavery

You might hear Mormons point to some early church scriptures that say slavery is wrong—like Doctrine and Covenants 101:79, which says it’s “not right that any man should be in bondage,” or D&C 134:12, which calls slavery “dangerous to the peace of every government.” Those verses sound pretty good, especially for the 1800s when slavery was still common in the U.S.

But the story doesn’t end there. Despite these statements, the LDS Church actually kept some pretty racist policies for a long time. For over 100 years, Black men were not allowed to hold the priesthood, and Black members couldn’t participate in important temple ceremonies until 1978. That’s a huge deal because it basically meant Black members were excluded from full participation in the faith (Bringhurst).

Even worse, the Church taught that Black skin was a curse from God, linked to stories like the curse of Cain. This wasn’t just an old rumor—it was official teaching that justified racial discrimination.

On the other hand, the Bible is very clear that all people are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and that in Christ, there’s no difference between races or social status (Galatians 3:28). Christians believe everyone is equal and loved by God, no matter their background.

Sure, the Mormon Church has changed these policies and disavowed those racist teachings, but the damage has been done. Saying “slavery is wrong” in scripture doesn’t mean much if the Church kept excluding people based on race for decades.

So, when you’re looking at Mormonism’s history on race and slavery, don’t just listen to a few verses—they don’t tell the full story. The real test is how a church treats people, and in this area, the LDS Church’s record is mixed at best.

Sources

Christian Scriptures:

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Zondervan, 2011.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House, 2015.


LDS Scriptures and Publications:

Doctrine and Covenants. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

“Race and the Priesthood.” Gospel Topics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

Bringhurst, Newell G. Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People within Mormonism. Greenwood Press, 1981.


Additional Christian Commentary:

Piper, John. What Jesus Demands from the World. Crossway, 2006.

Wright, N.T. Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians. SPCK, 2004.

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