blacks and the priesthood
Mormonism has included both official and unofficial discrimination against black people. From the mid-1800s to 1978, the church prevented men of black African descent from being ordained to the church's lay priesthood, barred black men and women from participating in temple ordinances and opposed interracial marriage. Since black men of African descent could not receive the priesthood, they were excluded from holding leadership roles and performing these rituals. Ezra Taft Benson was vocally opposed to the civil rights movement. In 1978 the church issued Official Declaration 2, which officially ended the temple and priesthood restrictions.
Profiles with blacks and the priesthood on their "shelf":
Noal DavisBorn & raised in Norther Utah, I quickly learned that my personal value was only connected to my obedience to the Mormon faith. I was, but am no longer, a Mormon
AmethystI love books, hairstyling and the forest. I'm a lesbian. I'm an artist, poet and writer. I'm an over opinionated, cussing, sarcastic teenager with a load of anxiety and terrible mental health. I was a Mormon.
MikeI am a husband, father, teacher, reader, questioner, thinker, traveler and I am living my best life. I was a mormon.
truthfinder23I am a writer, jazz pianist and fraud investigator.
DougI'm a physicist, engineer, educator, nature worshiper, father, grandfather, and I was a Mormon.
HannahI'm a nerdy trans woman who enjoys D&D and gaming. I was a mormon.
elneneI was a mormon. Enjoy traveling, beach sports.
ByrdI'm transmasculine, genderqueer, generally queer, and a refugee of Trump's America. I was a mormon.
curtishartleyI enjoy camping, traveling, and playing my banjo. I was a mormon.
Connor Ross AldridgeI enjoy philosophical discussions, to inquire reasonable explanations of phenomena's. I'd seek educational institutions to help the public to better understand anthropology as a scientific theory for acknowledging human origins. I was a mormon.
windriver32I'm a dad, outdoorsman, conservationist, and and economist. I was a mormon.
Spencer WarnerI enjoy skiing, technology, and skepticism. I was a mormon.
pdbrandtI grew up in a devout LDS family, served a mission, and spent 45 years as a believing member of the church. When my search for truth caused a faith crisis, my conscience demanded that I leave the church. Though the process was difficult and painful, I have found peace and fullfillment as an ex-mormon that I never had while in the church.
Frey HigleyI enjoy the culinary arts, theatre, and sewing. I was a mormon.
Andy WilsonI enjoy photography, meditation, cycling, walking and travel. I am a truth-seeker. I was a mormon.
bennjhI work with dogs, I am a trans man married to a fellow trans man, and I was a mormon.
thesoulfairyI am an artist who longs for motherhood and enjoys making people feel pretty. I was mormon.
jacobI'm a lover of geography, tokusatsu, Deadpool, and music (basically every genre). I'm 19, I love traveling and learning about other cultures, and I was a Mormon
TomBorn and raised in the faith, I’m a descendent of pioneers who crossed the plains and settled the Salt Lake Valley. I’m a corporate executive, educator, parent and husband. And… I was a mormon.
alanI was a mormon.
kingofweirdWe're a queer DID system with autism and generalized anxiety disorder. We were a mormon.
ashmonster2000I’m a husband, father, Soldier, and secular humanist working on the best version of myself. I was a mormon.
Autumn PhelpsI'm a social worker, I love popcorn and spending time with my husband, and I was a mormon.
SearI'm a Software Developer, Father of 4, love sports and I was a mormon.
Spencer OswaldI am an amateur filmmaker/songwriter. I enjoy being in nature and watching soccer. I was a mormon.
LandonI'm a computer engineering PhD student. I believe everyone is worthy and has inherent value. I was a mormon.
Byron MarchantI was a Mormon.
Larry CampI love my wife, my kids, Hawaii, the outdoors, softball and believe it or not, I was a mormon.
Ian HarwardI am a musician and a friend to many, and I am a Soldier. I am the atheist in the foxhole they claim doesn’t exist. I was a Mormon.
Erica HanerI was a mormon, but the church no longer serves me in a healthy way.
livandletliveI'm a paramedic and love learning and helping people however I can. I was a mormon.
savi1lavyI was a mormon. I enjoy reading, writing, and hiking.
alissa.swensonI am a wife and mom of 1 baby boy and 2 fur babies. I am a therapist, love the lake and boating, I was a mormon.
sallygirl75I was a mormon for 43 years. Now I'm not. Now I live my values with integrity. Stoic philosophy reminds me to have balance and fortitude. The courage to admit when I'm wrong. And it's ok to not have all the answers.
mbreauxI am a mother, wife & animal lover. I enjoy reading. I enjoy a variety of podcasts. I was a mormon.
freidomI am finally free to be happy!
luckyI was a mormon. Now I’m a mom, a teacher, a lesbian, and a human grateful for my freedom. 
Ken ClarkI'm a convert and served as a Bishop. I was a CES teacher for 27 years. I resigned from both the CES and the church at the same time.
Brent HaleI was a mormon.
Francis BezooyenI am a father, husband, and vfx artist. I love thinking about and discussing a wide variety of topics. I also love all the usual stuff like art, music, movies, food, reading, writing, hiking, cycling, and much more. I was a Mormon.
drjohnI'm a graduate business professor (organizational leadership) who is very compassionate, creative, and enjoys traveling to warm places. I seek truth more than highly emotional convictions found in religion, political ideologies, or any system that claims to have the best set of morals, practices, values, and/or solutions for individuals or the world. I was a mormon.
BrendanI am an Educator, Author, and a Life-Long Learner. I love to travel, read, and connect with people from all walks of life. I was a mormon.
fuchiboca67I was a mormon.
Lyndon LambornI was a mormon.
kf7hehI'm currently living in west Tennessee, living my best life and I was a mormon.
Bill ReelI love to read books, listen to podcasts, and learn new things. I love Faith Development, Mormon History, My family, and being with the most awesome friends on the planet. I was a Mormon.
rlboston92I enjoy camping, art, and amazing food. I am a very curious person and I enjoy learning about other people. I was a mormon.
ktsheetsI'm a reader. A solo mom. A chaos coordinator. A parade director. A caffeine drinker. A roadtrip lover. A terrible friend. and I'll forever be was a mormon.Create an account to share your own story.