Reply #214: Many black members

[aska]

There were black members of the LDS Church from close to its beginning in 1830. During the long years when blacks in the USA were not even allowed to eat in the same restaurants that whites ate in, and had to meet in their own exclusive church buildings, there were people of all colors freely interacting inside LDS meetinghouses, as there are today.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the head of his restored Church of Jesus Christ today, organized as it was anciently on a foundation of apostles and prophets whom he guides and directs. For reasons that I do not understand, although blacks could always be baptized and become members of the LDS Church, the males were not allowed to hold the priesthood. It was not until several prophets pleaded on their behalf that the revelation finally came that from then on every worthy male member of the LDS Church would qualify for the priesthood. (Unlike almost every other Christian church.)

There is no incompatibility if you belief as I do that Jesus Christ is the head of his church on earth.

Thanks for your interest.