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| + | #REDIRECT[[Repudiated ideas about race#Did Church leaders ever teach that Blacks were neutral in the "war in heaven?"]] |
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| − | ==Question: Did Church leaders ever teach that Blacks were neutral in the "war in heaven?"==
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| − | ===Yes, some Church leaders promoted the idea as a way to explain the priesthood ban===
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| − | Despite the explicit denial of this concept by Brigham Young, the idea that people born with black skin as a result of their behavior in the pre-existence was used by several 20th century Church leaders in order to try and provide an explanation for the [[Blacks and the priesthood|priesthood ban]].
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| − | | + | [[es:Pregunta: ¿Los líderes de la Iglesia enseñaron alguna vez que los negros eran neutrales en la "guerra en el cielo"?]] |
| − | ===The First Presidency, in a statement issued on August 17, 1949, actually attributed the ban to "conduct of spirits in the premortal existence"===
| + | [[pt:Pergunta: Será que os líderes da Igreja sempre ensinar que os negros eram neutros na "guerra no céu?"]] |
| − | The First Presidency stated in 1949:
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| − | The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality. <ref>First Presidency Statement (George Albert Smith), August 17, 1949. {{link|url=http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_racial_issues/Blacks_and_the_priesthood/Statements}}</ref>
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | ===Joseph Fielding Smith said in 1954 that there were no "neutrals in the war in heaven," but that rewards in this life may have "reflected actions taken in the pre-existence===
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| − | In the 1954 book ''Doctrines of Salvation'' (compiled by Bruce R. McConkie), Joseph Fielding Smith stated that "there were no neutrals in the war in heaven," but suggested that the rewards received in this life reflected actions taken in the pre-existence:
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| − | <blockquote>
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| − | NO NEUTRALS IN HEAVEN. There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. ''All took sides either with Christ or with Satan''. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits. <ref>Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Doctrines of Salvation'' (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954) , 1:65-66. {{eo}}</ref>
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | ===Bruce R. McConkie said in 1966 that they were "less valiant" in the pre-existence===
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| − | The most well known of these was the statement made by Bruce R. McConkie in his book ''Mormon Doctrine''. McConkie offered the following opinion:
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| − | Those who were less valiant in the pre-existence and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the negroes. Such spirits are sent to earth through the lineage of Cain, the mark put upon him for his rebellion against God and his murder of Abel being a black skin...but this inequality is not of man’s origin. It is the Lord’s doing, based on His eternal laws of justice, and grows out of the lack of spiritual valiance of those concerned in their first estate. <ref>Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'' (1966), p. 527.</ref>
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | ===These statements by Church leaders reflected ideas which were prevalent in society during the 1950s and 1960s===
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| − | These statements by 20th century leaders did not represent thinking that was unique to the Church, but instead reflected [[Racist statements by Church leaders|ideas which were much more prevalent in society]] during the 1950's and 1960's.
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| − | ===When the priesthood ban was lifted in 1978, McConkie retracted what he had said previously===
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| − | Elder McConkie retracted his previous statements regarding the priesthood ban when it was lifted in 1978:
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| − | Forget everything I have said, or what...Brigham Young...or whomsoever has said...that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world. <ref>Bruce R. McConkie, "New Revelation on Priesthood," Priesthood (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1981), 126-137.</ref>
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | {{SeeAlso|Fallibility_of_prophets|l1=Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders}}
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| − | Mark E. Petersen
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| − | This Negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a black skin, and possibly being born in darkest Africa-if that Negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost….Race Problems-As They Affect The Church (address given at Brigham Young University)
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| − | Why is it in the Church we do not grant the priesthood to the negroes? It is alleged that the Prophet Joseph said - and I have no reason to dispute it - that it is because of some act committed by them before they came into this life. It is alleged that they were neutral, standing neither for Christ nor the devil. But, I am convinced it is because of some things they did before they came into this life that they have been denied the privilege. The races of today are very largely reaping the consequence of a previous life." -Melvin Joseph Ballard (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Three Degrees of Glory, p. 22
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| − | </onlyinclude>
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| − | {{endnotes sources}}
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| | [[Category:Mormonism 101]] | | [[Category:Mormonism 101]] |
| | [[Category:MormonThink]] | | [[Category:MormonThink]] |
| − | | + | [[Category:Questions]] |
| − | [[pt:Pergunta: Será que os líderes da Igreja sempre ensinar que os negros eram neutros na "guerra no céu?"]] | |
