How Did Joseph Smith View Blacks?

[Apologette]

Joseph Smith first president, prophet, and founder of the Mormon Church:

Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 270; History of the Church, 5: 218; emphasis added).

"Thursday, 8--Held Mayor's court and tried two negroes for attempting to marry two white women: fined one $25, and the other $5" (ibid., 6: 210). (note, Joseph Smith was presiding)

"and the rebellious (insert "N" word here) in the slave states. . . " (Millennial Star, 22:602; emphasis added), by Joseph Smith
(note: When Mormon Historians reprinted this in the History of the Church, they change it to read: "and the rebellious negroes in the slave states. . . " (History of the Church, 6:158)


Q: Are the Mormons abolitionists?

No, unless delivering the people from priestcraft, and the priests from the power of Satan, should be considered abolition. But we do not believe in setting the Negroes free.
Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder, History of the Church 3:29

Now, this is the man that Mormons believe was their god's "mouthpiece." So, are his words from the Mormon deity?

[BigJulie]

Originally Posted by Apologette

Joseph Smith first president, prophet, and founder of the Mormon Church:

Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 270; History of the Church, 5: 218; emphasis added).

"Thursday, 8--Held Mayor's court and tried two negroes for attempting to marry two white women: fined one $25, and the other $5" (ibid., 6: 210). (note, Joseph Smith was presiding)

"and the rebellious (insert "N" word here) in the slave states. . . " (Millennial Star, 22:602; emphasis added), by Joseph Smith
(note: When Mormon Historians reprinted this in the History of the Church, they change it to read: "and the rebellious negroes in the slave states. . . " (History of the Church, 6:158)


Q: Are the Mormons abolitionists?

No, unless delivering the people from priestcraft, and the priests from the power of Satan, should be considered abolition. But we do not believe in setting the Negroes free.
Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder, History of the Church 3:29

Now, this is the man that Mormons believe was their god's "mouthpiece." So, are his words from the Mormon deity?

So, given what you have posted, why do you think Joseph Smith ordained a black man to the priesthood and then ordained him into leadership (quorum of the seventy)?

[nrajeffreturns]

Originally Posted by Apologette

How Did Joseph Smith View Blacks?

Favorably enough that the pro-slavery "christians" of Missouri and Illinois wanted him dead before he could create enough anti-slavery sentiment to change election and legislative outcomes.

[Apologette]

Originally Posted by BigJulie

So, given what you have posted, why do you think Joseph Smith ordained a black man to the priesthood and then ordained him into leadership (quorum of the seventy)?

Prove he did. Futhermore, deal with what he said.

[James Banta]

Originally Posted by Apologette

Prove he did. Futhermore, deal with what he said.

Oh Apologette, we both know Smith often said one thing and did another.. Hey didn't this excommunicate men for living polygamy while he was living in polygamy? So why be surprised that he said black men were banned from the priesthood and then ordain one? That is the continuing story of mormonism.. A religion built on lies and contradiction.. IHS jim

[Apologette]

Originally Posted by James Banta

Oh Apologette, we both know Smith often said one thing and did another.. Hey didn't this excommunicate men for living polygamy while he was living in polygamy? So why be surprised that he said black men were banned from the priesthood and then ordain one? That is the continuing story of mormonism.. A religion built on lies and contradiction.. IHS jim

And here's the truth about what happened to the black ordained by Smith: http://mormonstories.org/top10toughissues/blacks.html

(He was even barred from receiving his endowment)

[Ma'am]

Originally Posted by BigJulie

So, given what you have posted, why do you think Joseph Smith ordained a black man to the priesthood and then ordained him into leadership (quorum of the seventy)?

Ever hear of "tokenism"? Perhaps Joseph Smith was trying to make it appear that he wasn't a bigot after all, so people would forget what he had written.

[James Banta]

Originally Posted by Apologette

And here's the truth about what happened to the black ordained by Smith: http://mormonstories.org/top10toughissues/blacks.html

(He was even barred from receiving his endowment)

Yes but all that happened to him after Smith had been killed and Young had taken over.. The mormons here wanted it know that Smith didn't ban Blacks.. That it was Young that did that.. Like you I will say "Fine Young did it.. So did the LDS church stop being the ONLY TRUE CHURCH at the death of Smith?" It is clear that Young was a bigot, judging me by their skin color. That he was an elitist, judging men based in their wealth. Even a pagan inventing different gods for the LDS to worship (Adam-God).. He surely was NOT a prophet of the Most High God..

He must not have been aware that the very first gentile that is recorded as receiving the word of Truth was a Black man. A servant of Candace queen of the Ethiopians.. If Young made it clear that He knew better than God, that the black race was to be denied all the blessing of being a full part of His Church, His Body.. IHS jim

[James Banta]

Originally Posted by Ma'am

Ever hear of "tokenism"? Perhaps Joseph Smith was trying to make it appear that he wasn't a bigot after all, so people would forget what he had written.

If that was what he was trying it fail SO BIG.. Young made sure that the BofA became part of LDS Scripture, forever locking this racism into their joint responsibility.. As long as the BofA remains as part of their scripture racism remains the teaching and creed of mormonism.. IHS jim

[James Banta]

Originally Posted by nrajeffreturns

Favorably enough that the pro-slavery "christians" of Missouri and Illinois wanted him dead before he could create enough anti-slavery sentiment to change election and legislative outcomes.

WHAT? Smith wasn't persecuted for saying that he has seen God? It was because of his abolitionist beliefs.. At last some truth!!! IHS jim

[Billyray]

Originally Posted by BigJulie

So, given what you have posted, why do you think Joseph Smith ordained a black man to the priesthood and then ordained him into leadership (quorum of the seventy)?

Why then ban every other black from the priesthood until 1978?