A longer than you wanted response
For the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (LDS) who don’t know what my post is referring to, this is the background. For any non-LDS, welcome, a lot of this won't make any sense to you.
I have to point out how strange it is to me that something that has deeply impacted1 so many Black LDS members this past month isn't even known by others. For people who aren’t LDS, it might not seem so strange, but the LDS are a well-connected people—by design. I point this out because the Church kind of addressed this immediately following the incident. I know I felt like it wasn't addressed well enough, and the fact that many, including my local leadership who I brought this up with, didn’t/don't know about it points to how it feels more like a cover-up than something that's being correctly addressed.
More Background
In our Church, there is a system in place to handle almost everything. I’m currently following that system. However, as described in my post, I feel my local leadership (volunteer clergy) aren't equipped to do much.
More Background
In our Church, there is a system in place to handle almost everything. I’m currently following that system. However, as described in my post, I feel my local leadership (volunteer clergy) aren't equipped to do much.
For one, the Church has formal and public stances for many topics, one of which being Race and the Priesthood.
So what happened? Or as one commenter put it, "What happened 'RECENTLY'? (because there have been a few issues)
On Sunday, February 6th, a talk was given (via zoom) by Brad Wilcox, who I will refer to from now on as Brother Wilcox as a sign of respect. Brother Wilcox is in the General Young Men Presidency of the Church. He has a direct leadership role over the youth, specifically the young men of our Church. He also currently teaches religion at BYU, a Church University.
Brother Wilcox’s talk (called a “devotional” in our faiths vernacular) went viral for a few reasons, the only one I’m addressing here is the topic of Black people and the Priesthood.
I won’t go into full detail, but here is an excellent recap from Blair, another active LDS church member
Suffice it to say, Brother Wilcox used a speaking technique he commonly uses to pose a fictitious question to himself, he asked himself “’How come the Blacks didn’t get the priesthood until 1978? What’s up with that, Brother Wilcox? Brigham Young was a jerk. Members of the church were prejudiced.’
So what happened? Or as one commenter put it, "What happened 'RECENTLY'? (because there have been a few issues)
On Sunday, February 6th, a talk was given (via zoom) by Brad Wilcox, who I will refer to from now on as Brother Wilcox as a sign of respect. Brother Wilcox is in the General Young Men Presidency of the Church. He has a direct leadership role over the youth, specifically the young men of our Church. He also currently teaches religion at BYU, a Church University.
Brother Wilcox’s talk (called a “devotional” in our faiths vernacular) went viral for a few reasons, the only one I’m addressing here is the topic of Black people and the Priesthood.
I won’t go into full detail, but here is an excellent recap from Blair, another active LDS church member
Suffice it to say, Brother Wilcox used a speaking technique he commonly uses to pose a fictitious question to himself, he asked himself “’How come the Blacks didn’t get the priesthood until 1978? What’s up with that, Brother Wilcox? Brigham Young was a jerk. Members of the church were prejudiced.’
He then answered by saying “Maybe we’re asking the wrong question. Maybe instead of saying, ‘Why did the Blacks have to wait until 1978?’ maybe what we should be asking is, ‘Why did the whites and other races have to wait until 1829?’ One thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine years they waited...When you look at it like that, then instead of trying to feel like you have to figure out God’s timeline, we can just be grateful! Grateful right down to our socks that the Blacks received the priesthood in ‘78..."
Bonus link: Why you shouldn't say "the Blacks" and what to say instead
There’s a lot to unpack there so again, I suggest pulling up the excellent recap from Blair to watch later, but the reason this talk and phrase went viral is because it represented an incorrect teaching that many active LDS church members either didn’t know, or knew, but have never recognized as racist.
Bonus link: Why you shouldn't say "the Blacks" and what to say instead
There’s a lot to unpack there so again, I suggest pulling up the excellent recap from Blair to watch later, but the reason this talk and phrase went viral is because it represented an incorrect teaching that many active LDS church members either didn’t know, or knew, but have never recognized as racist.
I want to make clear that I have no interest in getting anyone to protest or "cancel" Brother Wilcox. In fact, I strongly believe focusing specifically on him is distracting from the real issue, and that is exactly the opposite of my intent.
The problem not being addressed is that he taught (and again I'm saying "he taught" but focusing on the teaching and not him) "Black people didn't get the Priesthood until 1978". This false teaching is painful for Black members to still be hearing, but more importantly, it’s just false.
During Black History Month, which is when this talk was given, getting this right felt even more important.
During Black History Month, which is when this talk was given, getting this right felt even more important.
So the talk went viral. People took him to task.
I was honestly surprised with the swiftness of his apology, but then I read it. This is it, in full:
I was honestly surprised with the swiftness of his apology, but then I read it. This is it, in full:
"My dear friends, I made a serious mistake last night, and I am truly sorry. The illustration I attempted to use about the timing of the revelation on the priesthood for Black members was wrong. I've reviewed what I said and I recognize that what I hoped to express about trusting God's timing did NOT come through as I intended. To those I offended, especially my dear Black friends, I offer my sincere apologies, and ask for your forgiveness. I am committed to do better."
What that apology said to me was—he has no idea why what he said was problematic.
I still appreciated the apology, and I fully believe he meant no ill intent, but the fact that the incorrect doctrine itself wasn’t corrected points to either a lack of knowledge or an unwillingness to state the truth.
Then there was a second apology
And then there was the casting call.
This is when Brené Browns words on "Institutional Betrayal" ring so true to me. The demonstration of forgiveness and upholding Brother Wilcox’s reputation was placed above correcting and addressing those who are hurt and further marginalized by the false premise that Black people didn’t have the priesthood until 1978. Now two apologies and many articles later, the false premise remains uncorrected.
And then there was the casting call.
This is when Brené Browns words on "Institutional Betrayal" ring so true to me. The demonstration of forgiveness and upholding Brother Wilcox’s reputation was placed above correcting and addressing those who are hurt and further marginalized by the false premise that Black people didn’t have the priesthood until 1978. Now two apologies and many articles later, the false premise remains uncorrected.
The question we should be taught to ask is "Why did Black people receive the Priesthood, then get banned from holding it?" The question is framed today as "Why did Black people have to wait to receive the Priesthood?" Either way, the answer given is “We don’t know.”
But of course, we do know:
Brigham Young made a policy decision in a legislative session as the Governor of the Utah Territory. Ref page 27/69.
But of course, we do know:
Brigham Young made a policy decision in a legislative session as the Governor of the Utah Territory. Ref page 27/69.
Finally when then ban was lifted, it was framed as God’s will to now give the Priesthood to all vs RESTORING what was taken away
What I hope is done
The church needs to clarify that God never wanted anyone to be denied the blessings of the Priesthood. Local leadership should be instructed to boldly and clearly share this history, and correct the false premise that Black people had to “wait” for the Priesthood because of some inherent unworthiness.
The church needs to restate that the Priesthood restriction was never a recorded revelation, it wasn’t God’s will. It was a racist policy decision made in the context of the time. Ref page 229
Until this is better addressed, it will continue to haunt, hurt and betray the Black and allied members of this faith.
Until this is better addressed, it will continue to haunt, hurt and betray the Black and allied members of this faith.
More resources:
Mormon Land Podcast: Episode 134 with Joanna Brooks
Faith Matters Podcast: The Real Story of the Priesthood-Temple Ban
Faith Matters Podcast: Green Flake, Brad Wilcox, and a Path to Zion — A Conversation with Mauli Bonner (Start at minute 26)
1 Deeply Impacted: When I say deeply impacted, I’m referring to many discussions about walking away from the faith completely, which is just not something many active LDS people casually consider. For most of us, our faith is our life.