LDS Priesthood Ban and Slavery: A Failure to Repent and Embrace True Christian Justice
The attempt to defend the LDS priesthood ban and slavery under Brigham Young by comparing them to biblical laws or suggesting they were “benevolent” misses the profound moral failures involved and falls far short of true Christian repentance and accountability. Christians must reject any justification that minimizes sin or excuses systemic injustice, no matter the era or context. First, the claim that LDS leaders have no reason to apologize for blocking Black men from the priesthood because Christian churches do not apologize for failures related to biblical commands misunderstands the gospel entirely. Jesus’ law is one of love, repentance, and restoration. When the church or its leaders sin, true Christian humility calls for confession, repentance, and seeking forgiveness. Silence or deflection is not godly. Christ’s example was to take responsibility for sin and call others to repentance, even when it was unpopular (John 8:11; 1 John 1:9). Second, the priesthood ban was a clear injus...