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Mormonism and the Negro
hardback, dust jacket. 23pgs. 3rd edition 7th printing 1964, Bookmark Division of Community Press
92 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 10, 2022
How do you rate, let alone review, a book like this?
As an ex-Mormon and lover of history, I decided to read this book because I wanted to read a book from the Civil Rights Era that showed the language and thoughts of Mormons of that time period. I was born in 1978 and grew up in the 80s at a time when the Church was trying to distance itself from its antiquated discriminatory policies towards Black people, so I eventually felt a little gaslighted when I learned the truth about Mormon church history.
The Mormon Church is often accused of trying to revise Mormon doctrine and whitewash its history. I wholeheartedly agree that's the case. But it's books like Mormonism and the Negro, and late Apostle Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon Doctrine that lock history in place and help people hold the Church accountable. So I'm actually grateful for a book like this. Thank "God" for free press.
Although this book isn't an official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was written by two Mormon scholars and cites Church leaders and LDS scriptures that support Mormon viewpoints of that time: 1) that Black people could not hold the Priesthood and never would in this lifetime; 2) that this was because of the curse of Cain and Black peoples' diffident pre-mortal behavior; and 3) that God opposed interracial marriage. The Mormon Church was certainly not the only church to hold such racist views, but it was one of the last churches to reverse its racist policies.
So how do I rate a book like this? If I'm rating it by the merits of modern sensibilities I'd have to give it "1 star." But I also can't give it "5 stars"--even as a historical book--since the authors dance around their main points and rarely dare to say what they're thinking. It's all sophistry and condescension.
Anyway, keep fighting the good fight and never, ever, ever forget history.
As an ex-Mormon and lover of history, I decided to read this book because I wanted to read a book from the Civil Rights Era that showed the language and thoughts of Mormons of that time period. I was born in 1978 and grew up in the 80s at a time when the Church was trying to distance itself from its antiquated discriminatory policies towards Black people, so I eventually felt a little gaslighted when I learned the truth about Mormon church history.
The Mormon Church is often accused of trying to revise Mormon doctrine and whitewash its history. I wholeheartedly agree that's the case. But it's books like Mormonism and the Negro, and late Apostle Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon Doctrine that lock history in place and help people hold the Church accountable. So I'm actually grateful for a book like this. Thank "God" for free press.
Although this book isn't an official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was written by two Mormon scholars and cites Church leaders and LDS scriptures that support Mormon viewpoints of that time: 1) that Black people could not hold the Priesthood and never would in this lifetime; 2) that this was because of the curse of Cain and Black peoples' diffident pre-mortal behavior; and 3) that God opposed interracial marriage. The Mormon Church was certainly not the only church to hold such racist views, but it was one of the last churches to reverse its racist policies.
So how do I rate a book like this? If I'm rating it by the merits of modern sensibilities I'd have to give it "1 star." But I also can't give it "5 stars"--even as a historical book--since the authors dance around their main points and rarely dare to say what they're thinking. It's all sophistry and condescension.
Anyway, keep fighting the good fight and never, ever, ever forget history.
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August 23, 2012Nice to have my suspicions reinforced. Growing up in SLC, it was pretty clear that some of the kids I grew up were being taught insidious things about Blacks. Thanks, Stewart. As much as I'd love to see a formal retraction from the church, I won't hold my breath. Many flaws in his "logic", but his agenda is very clear from page 1.
August 2, 2013
Fascinating book for those interested in Mormon history. Written in the 1960’s by a Mormon professor, John J. Stewart, with a large supplemental section written by William E. Berrett, Vice President of BYU, this book attempts to give the Mormon explanation regarding the different races on earth and why blacks were not able to hold the priesthood. A great LDS resource to see what faithful Mormons were taught about black people before the priesthood ban was lifted.
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September 21, 2024I found this book at the Deseret Industries and was intrigued by its shocking title and that it was published in 1963, 15 years before the Church extended the rights to hold the Priesthood to ALL worthy males. As it’s a glimpse into the minds of certain people in the Church in the mid-20th century, and as it was 75¢, I bought it and read it. All I will say is it was interesting and mind-boggling. I cannot and will not rate it. I also will be returning it to the DI for some other curious person to find.
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October 19, 2016Found this while cleaning out my father's books (or rather my father's father's books). It's a short book - really just two long essays. Published in 1960, it's authors goal is to help people "properly understand" the doctrines relative to the LDS Priesthood ban (pre 1978).
As a foundation for their commentary, they lean on some pretty loose interpretation of general doctrine and a few well-selected scriptures. They also include some less-well-known letters from Prophets and the First Presidency. Those letters were interesting/surprising to real - as they aren't often discussed/considered/remembered these many decades later.
I have no idea how many stars to give this book.
- One for shortsighted analysis steeped in confirmation bias and circular logic.
- Two for good intentions.
- Three for writing style.
- Four historical perspective on current events.
- Five for a reminder of the past as an applicable guide for the future exclusionary efforts.
As a foundation for their commentary, they lean on some pretty loose interpretation of general doctrine and a few well-selected scriptures. They also include some less-well-known letters from Prophets and the First Presidency. Those letters were interesting/surprising to real - as they aren't often discussed/considered/remembered these many decades later.
I have no idea how many stars to give this book.
- One for shortsighted analysis steeped in confirmation bias and circular logic.
- Two for good intentions.
- Three for writing style.
- Four historical perspective on current events.
- Five for a reminder of the past as an applicable guide for the future exclusionary efforts.
June 14, 2022
Yikes. Reading the racist Mormon doctrine from the recent past is jarring, and based on my experience, it’s still a lingering influence. This book is worth reading to understand the basis of a part of Mormon theology and to read the jabs at other groups of people as well.
October 28, 2024
I’ve got to hand it to John Stewart, I have honestly never read a book that has made my jaw PHYSICALLY drop in the most literal sense that many times, especially considering how short this read is. The last time I wanted to actually throw a book at the wall was when I read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the first time because of Professor Umbridge.
I don’t even know how to make sense of this book. I feel like I can’t even come up with a logical way to address all the fallacies and disturbing rhetoric presented to me in this writing because it feels like there are SO MANY things to unpack.
He’ll claim that blacks don’t have the priesthood because they were less valiant in the spirit world but then say that them not having the priesthood is merciful because can you imagine them trying to exercise the priesthood while having to deal with the stigmas of being negro?
You are contradicting your own argument. He first claims that not receiving the priesthood is contingent on black people not being as valiant as others in the pre-earth life, but then conjectures that it is possibly God showing mercy to them based on the circumstances of their earth life. So is it based on your pre-earth life or earth life?
Yeah that’s the caliber of this book. I can’t believe he has a master’s degree in journalism, and that is just one of the many fallacies found in here.
He also says you shouldn’t marry a black person because then you are choosing to have kids that can’t bear the priesthood. Wow.
As I angrily try to just stop typing up this review and move on with my life, I would just like to throw in one last quote from the book, found in chapter 11:
“Among the Negroid people, as indeed among all the races of the earth, there is infinite variety and degree of circumstances of birth, of goodness, of opportunity or lack of it. There are negroes born into families of wealth and refinement, others who are blessed with great talents, and there are those born into the lowest classes of society in Africa, in squalor and ignorance, living out their lives in a fashion akin to that of the animals.
“Does not this infinite variety of circumstance give further evidence of man’s being assigned that station in life which he has merited by his performance in the pre-mortal existence?”
Jesus grew up in poverty and denounced riches. Surely John Stewart lived an easier life than Jesus temporally speaking. I guess that must mean he was more valiant than Jesus in the pre-earth life. 👏🏻
I don’t even know how to make sense of this book. I feel like I can’t even come up with a logical way to address all the fallacies and disturbing rhetoric presented to me in this writing because it feels like there are SO MANY things to unpack.
He’ll claim that blacks don’t have the priesthood because they were less valiant in the spirit world but then say that them not having the priesthood is merciful because can you imagine them trying to exercise the priesthood while having to deal with the stigmas of being negro?
You are contradicting your own argument. He first claims that not receiving the priesthood is contingent on black people not being as valiant as others in the pre-earth life, but then conjectures that it is possibly God showing mercy to them based on the circumstances of their earth life. So is it based on your pre-earth life or earth life?
Yeah that’s the caliber of this book. I can’t believe he has a master’s degree in journalism, and that is just one of the many fallacies found in here.
He also says you shouldn’t marry a black person because then you are choosing to have kids that can’t bear the priesthood. Wow.
As I angrily try to just stop typing up this review and move on with my life, I would just like to throw in one last quote from the book, found in chapter 11:
“Among the Negroid people, as indeed among all the races of the earth, there is infinite variety and degree of circumstances of birth, of goodness, of opportunity or lack of it. There are negroes born into families of wealth and refinement, others who are blessed with great talents, and there are those born into the lowest classes of society in Africa, in squalor and ignorance, living out their lives in a fashion akin to that of the animals.
“Does not this infinite variety of circumstance give further evidence of man’s being assigned that station in life which he has merited by his performance in the pre-mortal existence?”
Jesus grew up in poverty and denounced riches. Surely John Stewart lived an easier life than Jesus temporally speaking. I guess that must mean he was more valiant than Jesus in the pre-earth life. 👏🏻
July 16, 2017
John Stewart displays the perfect thoughts of justification of racism - he embellishes his theory on black sin and "other negroid features" on the performance of pre-earth life. He demonstrates that you can basically judge a person how they perform before they come to earth by the circumstances in which they currently live - good christian family and "other blessings" or poor dark skinned...the judgement has been done and the black skinned people can increase their reward but cant achieve the highest level in the Celestial Kingdom. He omits certain details in history on how the ban of black actually happened, but ironically its actually cover later in the book by another contributor...William Berrett. William also shows that Joseph ordained a Elijah Able to the priesthood. How did John not know that when its in this very book. John is a racist bigot pig - I would love to see his face now and wave the latest church essay in his face that says everything he said in this book is wrong.
Having said that, its a good historical book displaying the history of the bigoted mindset plus some historical markers by the LDS prophets. It also show how wrong the prophets got it when you compare what they stated as doctrine but has been disavowed as false doctrine. The book also proves by a copy of one letter that the ban was put in place - not by revelation but by the words of two men who allegedly claim to have heard that black men shouldnt have the priesthood by Joseph Smith -One of the men, Abraham Smoot had multiple slaves - so his testimony was tainted by self interest
Having said that, its a good historical book displaying the history of the bigoted mindset plus some historical markers by the LDS prophets. It also show how wrong the prophets got it when you compare what they stated as doctrine but has been disavowed as false doctrine. The book also proves by a copy of one letter that the ban was put in place - not by revelation but by the words of two men who allegedly claim to have heard that black men shouldnt have the priesthood by Joseph Smith -One of the men, Abraham Smoot had multiple slaves - so his testimony was tainted by self interest
July 10, 2022
Negative 5 stars for self-righteous and racist apologetics.
The church now is making progress with inclusivity and less racist teachings but not addressing and apologizing for the past 100 years of harmful doctrine is problematic.
Bonus negative points for all the “if you believe that this is real in the church then you SHOULD believe this” statements. Nuanced thinking, questions that you wrestle with, doubts and everything in between SHOULD be acceptable in any religion or movement. Being told how and what to think is dangerous territory.
AND the whole thing about believing dark skin is a curse from Cain is bizarre because Mormonism is all about free agency and the fact that they believe in being “punished for their own sins and not for adam’s transgression” meaning that every person is equal before God and makes their own “good or bad” choices. It’s contradictory to so much. They explain foreordination in such a backwards way that they actually believe white men were foreordained to hold the priesthood but black men weren’t.
The church now is making progress with inclusivity and less racist teachings but not addressing and apologizing for the past 100 years of harmful doctrine is problematic.
Bonus negative points for all the “if you believe that this is real in the church then you SHOULD believe this” statements. Nuanced thinking, questions that you wrestle with, doubts and everything in between SHOULD be acceptable in any religion or movement. Being told how and what to think is dangerous territory.
AND the whole thing about believing dark skin is a curse from Cain is bizarre because Mormonism is all about free agency and the fact that they believe in being “punished for their own sins and not for adam’s transgression” meaning that every person is equal before God and makes their own “good or bad” choices. It’s contradictory to so much. They explain foreordination in such a backwards way that they actually believe white men were foreordained to hold the priesthood but black men weren’t.
July 2, 2020
Wow. Was sold in Deseret Book apparently. The gist is that:
1. Prophets are not fallible, so there has to be a godly explanation as to why Black people are cursed and not allowed the Priesthood.
2. The way to reconcile this is through the "doctrine" that people in the pre-mortal life were not all equally valiant. People that came to this life with Black skin were less obedient, which is why they are not allowed certain blessings.
https://archive.org/details/Mormonism...
1. Prophets are not fallible, so there has to be a godly explanation as to why Black people are cursed and not allowed the Priesthood.
2. The way to reconcile this is through the "doctrine" that people in the pre-mortal life were not all equally valiant. People that came to this life with Black skin were less obedient, which is why they are not allowed certain blessings.
https://archive.org/details/Mormonism...
November 26, 2022
Not really my thing.
January 30, 2024
Enlightening. Explains a lot.
October 18, 2014
Grabbed this book of the shelf of my late father. It's a quick and easy read. Very thought-provoking and introspective as to why the blacks were not given the Priesthood. This book doesn't claim to have all the answers, but it does provide some informative quotes from past prophets, dating all the way back to Joseph Smith. It's interesting to note that several of them concluded that while Blacks were not to be given the Priesthood at the time, it would be given to them eventually. They were always welcome into the gospel...something rather unique for a church in the 1800s and early 1900s. One has to remember that the Church was organized in 1830, a time when slavery was still in full swing, and many nonmembers hated the abolitionist stance the Church took. This book provides many possible reasons for their not receiving the Priesthood, principally that since man has always existed, we all had varying degrees of valiance in the pre-mortal world. Since what we do in this life determines where we end up in the next life is it not unreasonable to conclude that what we did in our first estate determined where we ended up in the second? We also need to keep in mind that while some may have started off at a "disadvantage" in this life, s/he can accelerate his progress and surpass those who were born into more favorable circumstances. Our existence is a journey. We existed before this earthly life and we will exist after. Everything is taken into account.
Anyway, good food for thought.
Anyway, good food for thought.
August 13, 2008
Interesting to say the least. This was written in the 50s so it has a different perspective than I am used to hearing. It has a very blunt and matter of fact tone to it.
October 20, 2010
Very insightful, interesting point of view from before Negroes were actually able to hold the priesthood.
June 26, 2012
Worth the read. Interesting differences from the recent declarations in the media.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews