Early May 2026 Updates.

 

 

 

It is no secret that Mormonism has a long history with racism. Not all Mormons are racists, but many of the founders and early members of Mormonism were stone cold racists. Mormonism has a long history of enslavement, exclusion, and discrimination of black people. In recent decades, Mormons have changed their policies to promote more inclusion of black people and people of color. To this day, I don't know how any black person can be a Mormon, but black people have been involved with the Latter Day Saint movement since its inception in the 1830s. From the mid-1800s to 1978, Mormonism's largest denomination – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) – barred Black women and men from participating in the ordinances of its temples necessary for the highest level of salvation, and excluded most men of Black African descent from ordination in the church's lay, all-male priesthood. During that time the LDS Church also opposed interracial marriage, supported racial segregation in its communities and church schools, and taught that righteous Black people would be made white after death. The temple and priesthood racial restrictions were lifted by church leaders in 1978. In 2013, the LDS Church disavowed its previous teachings on race for the first time. 

The priesthoods of most other Mormon denominations, such as the Bickertonite and Strangite churches, have always been open to members of all races. The same is true in Mormonism's second-largest denomination, the Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or the RLDS), except for a few years in which Black people were barred from the priesthood. More conservative denominations, such as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB), and the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC), continue to exclude Black people as of 2018.

The LDS Church's views on Black people have alternated throughout its history. Early church leaders' views on Black slavery went from neutrality to abolitionism to a pro-slavery view. As early as 1844, church leaders taught that Black people's spirits were less righteous in premortal life (before birth). Mormonism founder Joseph Smith and his successor as church president with the most followers, Brigham Young, both taught that the skin color of Black people was the result of the curses of Cain and Ham. From the beginning, Black people have been members of Mormon congregations and Mormon congregations have always been interracial. When the Mormons migrated to Missouri, they encountered the pro-slavery sentiments of their neighbors. Joseph Smith upheld the laws regarding Black enslavement, and affirmed the curse of Ham as placing his descendants into slavery, "to the shame and confusion of all who have cried out against the South." After the Mormons were expelled from Missouri, Smith took an increasingly strong anti-slavery position, and several Black men were ordained to the LDS priesthood. 

The first reference to dark skin as a curse and mark from God in Latter Day Saint writings can be found in the Book of Mormon, published in 1830. It refers to a group of people called the Lamanites and states that when they rebelled against God they were cursed with "a skin of blackness" (2 Nephi 5:21).

The mark of blackness was placed upon the Lamanites so the Nephites "might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction" (Alma 3:7–9). The Book of Mormon records the Lord as forbidding miscegenation between Lamanites and Nephites (2 Nephi 5:23) and saying they were to stay "separated from thee and thy seed [Nephites], from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them" (Alma 3:14). However, 2 Nephi 26:33 states: "[The Lord] inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come, black and white, bond and free, male and female...and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." Although the Lamanites are labelled as wicked, they actually became more righteous than the Nephites as time passed (Helaman 6). Throughout the Book of Mormon narrative, several groups of Lamanites did repent and lose the curse. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies or Ammonites "open[ed] a correspondence with them [Nephites], and the curse of God did no more follow them" (Alma 23:18). There is no reference to their skin color being changed. Later, the Book of Mormon records that an additional group of Lamanites converted and that "their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites… and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites" (3 Nephi 2:15–16). In the Mormon verses of Jacob 3:8-9, it condemns prejudice against people with dark skin, but Joseph Smith promoted the myth of the curse of Ham and Cain tied to dark skin. Many Mormons early on had black people, both free and enslaved people.  The first known Black Latter-day Saint was "Black Pete", who joined the Church in Kirtland, Ohio, and there is evidence that he held the priesthood. Other African Americans, including Elijah Abel in 1832, Joseph T. Ball in 1835 or 1836 (who also presided over the Boston Branch from 1844–1845), and Walker Lewis in 1843 (and probably his son, Enoch Lovejoy Lewis), were ordained to the priesthood during Smith's lifetime. William McCary was ordained in Nauvoo in 1846 by Apostle Orson Hyde. Two of the descendants of Elijah Abel were also ordained Elders, and two other Black men, Samuel Chambers and Edward Leggroan, were ordained Deacons. Joseph Smith, before he died wanted a gradual end to slavery against black people by 1850 during his Presidential campaign. 

Joseph Smith said that Black and white people would be better off if they were "separate but legally equal", advocating segregation:  "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."  He also said, "They have souls, and are subjects of salvation. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability." Brigham Young believed in the racist view of that the curse of Ham (which isn't mentioned in the Bible) justified black enslavement. Joseph Smith believed that dark skin on people like me (with black African ancestry) as cursed by God which is a lie. Young said that God's curse on Black people would someday be lifted, and they would be able to receive the priesthood after death. In 1978, when the church ended the temple and priesthood bans, apostle Bruce R. McConkie taught that the ancient curses of Cain and Ham were no longer in effect. Church leaders disavowed the idea that black skin was the sign of a curse for the first time in 2013. Several Black Mormons were told that they would become white. Hyrum Smith told Jane Manning James that God could give her a new lineage, and promised her in his patriarchal blessing. The LDS Church published a 2013 essay refuting these ideas, describing prior church teachings justifying the restriction as racial "folk beliefs." It said that Blackness in Latter-day Saint theology is a symbol of disobedience to God, and not necessarily a skin color. This is of course nonsense.A Sunday School teacher was removed from their position for teaching from this essay in 2015.

On February 6, 1835, an assistant president of the church, W. W. Phelps, wrote a letter theorizing that the curse of Cain survived the deluge by passing through the wife of Ham, son of Noah, who according to Phelps was a descendant of Cain. (Messenger and Advocate 1:82). In addition, Phelps introduced the idea of a third curse upon Ham himself for "marrying a black wife". (Messenger and Advocate 1:82) This Black wife, according to Phelps, was not just a descendant of Cain, but one of the pre-flood "people of Canaan", not directly related to the Biblical Canaanites after the flood.

Many prominent church members enslaved people, including William H. Hooper, Abraham O. Smoot, Charles C. Rich, Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. Members bought and sold people, gave the church enslaved people as a tithe, and recaptured those who escaped their enslavers. In California, Black enslavement was illegally tolerated in the Mormon community of San Bernardino despite California laws banning the practice. After the Civil War, the US government freed enslaved people and allowed many Black adults to vote. By the early 1920s, there were hundreds of members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in Utah. Although Church leaders opposed the KKK, several LDS members were Klan members. The NAACP criticized the church's position on civil rights, led anti-discrimination marches and filed a lawsuit against the church in response to its practice of not allowing Black children to be Boy Scout troop leaders. Students from other schools protested against BYU's discriminatory practices and the church's racial restrictions. The church issued a statement supporting civil rights, and changed its Boy Scout leader policy. The apostle Ezra Taft Benson criticized the civil rights movement and challenged accusations of police brutality. Black athletes protested against BYU's discriminatory practices by refusing to play against the school's teams. After the reversal of the temple and priesthood ban in 1978, LDS leaders were relatively silent about civil rights and eventually formed a partnership with the NAACP. BYU, apostle Dallin H. Oaks denounced racism, endorsed the message that "Black lives matter" (discouraging its use to advance controversial proposals), and called on church members to root out racist attitudes, behavior and policies. Politician Stewart Udall wrote a strongly-worded public letter in 1967 criticizing the church's racial restrictions.

During the 20th century, many LDS leaders opposed the civil rights movement. In recent decades, the church has condemned racism and increased its outreach efforts in Black communities. It is still accused of perpetuating implicit racism by not apologizing for, acknowledging, or adequately counteracting the effects of its past beliefs and discriminatory practices like segregation. Church leaders have worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (the NAACP) since the 2010s, and have donated millions of dollars to Black organizations. What began during founder Smith's lifetime as an estimated 100 free and enslaved Black Mormons,  has grown to an estimated 400,000 to one million Black LDS Church adherents worldwide as of 2019, and at least five LDS Church temples in Africa. Fourteen more temples are at some stage of development or construction on the continent, in addition to several temples among communities of the African diaspora such as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Community of Christ has congregations in twelve African nations, with membership increasing.  In 2017, the LDS Church released a statement condemning racism in response to the white-nationalist Unite the Right rally in Virginia. According to a 2016 survey of self-identified Mormons, over 60 percent said that they know (37 percent) or believe (25.5 percent) that the priesthood and temple ban was God's will; another 17 percent said that it might be true, and 22 percent said that they know (or believe) that it was not God's will. A 2023 survey of over 1,000 former church members in the Mormon corridor found race issues in the church to be one of the top three reported reasons why they had disafilliated. Famous Black Mormons now include people like singer Gladys Knight, Ezekiel Ansah, Alan Cherry, the late Eldridge Cleaver, Alvin B. Jackson, Thurl Bailey, Burgess Owens, Catherin Stokes, Winston Wilkinson, and other people. 

As of 2026, the church officially has not apologized for its past racist teachings and policies around Black people.

 

Mormonism have massive powerful influence in America and worldwide. Many of them are billionaires and own lands globally. They have a massive evangelism institution. Mitt Romney is one of the most famous Mormons in human history. He was once a moderate decades ago and became a Reagan conservative as time came about. His father was a moderate Republican too. Mitt Romney ran for President famously in 2012 to compete against President Barack Obama. He lost to Obama, and Romney recently retired from being a U.S. Senator. Mitt Romney is a fifth generation Mormon who was once the governor of Massachusetts. He was a missionary in France. He and his wife are parents of five sons. He helped to rescue the scandal filled Salt Laker City Olympics Games back in 2002. There are many members of the Mormon church who are leaders in government, economics, entertainment, science, education, and sports. The Mormon Bill Marriot owns the Marriott International led family restaurant business. Other famous Mormons who lived and passed are Clayton Christensen, Harry Reid, Mike Lee, Jason Chaffetz, Jon Huntsman, the late Mia Love, Kim B. Clark, and Marie and Donny Osmond. 

 

The culture of Mormonism is a very conservative culture. Family is preeminent in their cultural essence. That is why Mormons have large families in the nuclear family structure. They spread their faith worldwide. Mormons follow strict lifestyle changes, repents of sins, and have a strict code of conduct. Many of them pray, fast, and study the Bible and Mormon books, and they attend Sunday worship services regularly. Cultural isolation has inspired many Mormons to be very much community oriented. By 2010, 13-14 percent of Mormons live in Utah. Utah is more politically and cultural conservative than people living in cosmopolitan urban cetners in America. Utah Mormons often emphasize pioneer heritage more than international Mormons, who generally are not descendants of the Mormon pioneers. Many Mormons help the poor and build churches. Many Mormons contribute 10 percent of their income to the church as tithing. Paying tithing is one of the prerequisites for entrance into Mormon temples. Many LDS young men, women, and elderly couple go to proselyting missions. Some ride bicycles to spread their religious views too. Mormons adhere to the Word of Wisdom, a health law or code that is interpreted as prohibiting the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, while encouraging the use of herbs, grains, fruits, and a moderate consumption of meat. The Word of Wisdom is also understood to forbid other harmful and addictive substances and practices, such as the use of illegal drugs and abuse of prescription drugs. Mormons are encouraged to keep a year's supplies, including food and financial reserves. Mormons also oppose behaviors such as viewing pornography and gambling. Many  practicing adult Mormons wear religious undergarments that remind them of covenants and encourage them to dress modestly. Latter-day Saints are counseled not to partake in any form of media that is obscene or pornographic in any way, including media that depicts graphic representations of sex or violence. Tattoos and body piercings are generally discouraged. There are diverse Mormons like LDS (or Latter Day Saints), Fundamentalist Mormons, Liberal Mormons (or progressive Mormons), and Cultural Mormons. 

 

In geography, we have urban, suburban, and rural areas. There are many differences between these geographic locations too. Urban areas are densely populated regions. They have a large percentage of people per square mile as compared to suburban and rural locations. Urban locations have tall and medium sized buildings, busy streets, and diverse populations (with diverse ethnic and social demographics). Urban places have extensive public transportation, cultural attractions, shopping center, and entertainment options. Some urban places have congestions, noise, and air pollution. People live in homes, condos, apartments, and townhouses with limtied private outdoor space at times. Economically, urban areas give people diverse job opportunities from finance, technology, health care, construction, retail, education, etc. 

Suburban locations are usually on the outskirts for cities, but some cities have suburban elements in them. Suburbs serve as the residential communities for people who commute to urban centers for work. They have moderate population density, larger homes, and more green space than urban areas. Suburbs have parks, recreational facilities, and typically are mostly middle class areas. The housing usually have single family homes with yards and residents often use personal vehicles for transporation, because suburbs have limited public trnasportation. Sububbs have economic job opportunities in specific sectors like healthcare, education, tourism, etc. 

Rural areas are low desnity regions which are found outside of urban and suburban areas. They have large farmland, forests, and natural landscapes from mountains to valleys. Life in rural palces are slower paced and quieters with open spaces and scenic views. Housing is usually spread out with large plots of land (in acres at times) and multi-family dwellings. Rural residents usually rely on personal vehicles for transporation because of limited infrastructure and public transist. Economically, rural areas deal with agirculture, resource extraction, and small local businesses. They can have access to healthcare, education, and entertainment. The cost of living is generally lower than in urban areas. Urban, suburban, and rural areas are not inferior or superior to each other. A person's priorities and preferences determine whether they desire to live in urban, rural, or suburban places. 

 

By March 25, 2020, the House and Senate approve a two trillion dollar emergency spending bill, the Cares Act, to prop up the economy as people lose jobs and are told to stay home due to the pandemic. President Trump signs bill two days later as 3.2 million people during the week before had signed up for unemployment benefits, the highest amount in history. By April of 2020, the COVID pandemic passed over 1 million cases worldwide. On April 6th, 2020, the United States designates the Russian Imperial Movement as a terrorist organization and imposes sanctions on its leaders; it is the first white supremacist group the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization. This time saw the Yemeni Civil War in existence along with the Syrian Civil War. On May 2, 2020, the United Nations publishes a report stating that Russia's indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Syria constitutes a war crime. George Floyd was killed by police officer on May 25, 2020. 

After George Floyd and Breona Taylor were killed by police officers, the nation expressed outrage. Later, there were the largest anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests in human history from America to worldwide. Black Lives Matter and other movements promoted justice for black people. Millions of people protested. There were rebellions and innocent property damaged and destory which was wrong. Yet, the vast majority of anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests were peaceful. While this is going on, people are racing to created a COVID-19 vaccine, businesses close, and people wear masks all over the world. By September 2020, the worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds more than one million human lives. By October 2020, there are over 35 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide. By November 2020, after a contentious and emotional 2020 election, Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President of the United States of America. Mail in ballots were counted, and Donald Trump lied and said that the 2020 election was stolen. By the end of 2020, COVID-19 vaccines from Modern and Pfizer plus BioNTech are finalized. By December, over 65 million people worlwide have COVID-19. On January 6, 2021, supporters of US President Donald Trump attack the US Capitol, disrupting certification of the 2020 presidential election, and forcing both houses of Congress to evacuate. Five people die during the ensuing riot. The event is classified as a domestic terrorist attack, and draws international condemnation. The January 6th terrorist insurrectionists were cowards, evil, and terrorists who tried to destroy American democracy. Yet, they failed in their efforts. 

 

2025 was one of the most important years of the 2020s being the first year when the authoritarian Trump was inaugurated as President. The start of the year saw the January 15th wildfires that devastated tons of acres of Southern California. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeoi was impeached and arrested on January 15, 2025, too. The war in Ukraine continued. By January 6th, Indonesia became the 10th member of the BRICS organizaiton. Many people attacked the capital of Chad at N'Djamena's presidential palace. By January 15, 2025, Israel and Hamas approve of a ceasefire agreement that seeks to end the war. Israeli hostage and Palestinian prisoners are exchanged. By January 29, 2025, there was the Potomac River midair collision. The trade war continued among America and China. On March 2, 2025, Firefly Aerospace was the first commercial company to successfully land on the Moon with no technical issues, with its Blue Ghost Mission 1.  More than 1,000 people, including civilians, are reported killed in a crackdown by Syrian transitional government security forces in the Alawite region, described as the country's worst violence for years on March 8, 2025. On March 8–17, 2025, the Special Olympics World Winter Games are held in Turin, Italy. The former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is arrested in the Philippines after being served an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity (on March 11, 2025). On April 1, Fram2 launches aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, becoming the first crewed spaceflight to enter a polar retrograde orbit. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 living to be 88 years old. Pope Leo XIV was elected as the new Pope. His name is Robert Francis Prevost. He is the first American citizen, Peruvian citizen, North American, and Augustinian pope in the history of the Catholic Church. On July 2025, at least 135 people were killed and over a hundred reported missing during a flood in Central Texas. Russians had a drone incursion into Poland by September 9, 2025. This is the first attack on NATO territory causing Poland to invoke Article 4. The Supreme Federal Court convicted former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and sentences him to 27 years in prison for his involvement in the 2022 Brazilian coup plot. On October 1, 2025, Israel intercepts the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, in international waters, arresting 443 activists from 47 countries. On October 13, Hamas the last 20 living hostages in Gaza after they were kidnapped during the 2023 October 7 attacks. In exchange, Israel releases 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees.

 

King David was one of the most popular people of the Old Testament along with Abraham and Moses. He is discussed in 28 Biblical books and his name is recorded in the King James Bible (in 1,139 times) more than anyone else. When David was young, he was considered by the public the least of Jesse's sons and was assigned the humbling task of tending sheep according to 1 Samuel 16:11. He is the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. The prophet Samuel is charged with anointing a new ruler over the Hebrews as found in 1 Samuel 16. King Saul had rebellion agianst God, so Saul wasn't part of this process. Samuel visited Jesse and rejected his first seven sons, and he anoints David in a private ceremony, as Israel's new king. King Saul was distressed and depsressed after God's spirit leaves him as found in 1 Samuel 16:13-14. His servants wanted to find a skilled musician to change his mood and futrther recommend David due to his admirable traits. David became Saul's musician and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 16:15-23). Back then, the Philistines was Israel's enemy. The Philistines gathtered their army to invade Israel.  Saul's forces also gather and camp near the enemy. Goliath, the Philistine champion, taunts Israel for forty days to send out a man worthy to fight him (1 Samuel 17:16). His challenge receives no response. David, coming to give supplies to three of his brothers in the army, appears among Saul's troops. He offers, after hearing Goliath's taunts, to fight him by himself. He defeats the giant in battle, cuts off his head, and then goes on a whirlwind tour of Israel touting his victory (1Samuel 17). David and Saul's son Johnathan become the best of friends and make a friendship covenant (1Samuel 18:1 - 4). King Saul makes David one of Israel's military leaders (1 Samuel 18:5). Women sing praises, after one of his victories over the Philistines, that David has slain tens of thousands and Saul thousands. The king hears this praise and begins to view David as a threat to his throne (1Samuel 18:6 - 9). Saul twice attempts but fails to personally murder David (1Samuel 18:10 - 11). He then decides to distance himself from him by making him a commander over 1,000 men (verse 13). The king then offers him his daughter Michal in marriage if he brings to him 100 Philistines. His plan to have the enemy dispose of David backfires, however, when he returns with 200 (verses 20 - 27). Jonathan, Saul's son, seeks to protect David from his father's wrath. He is able to calm his father down and have David return to the king's service (1Samuel 19:1 - 7). David then fights the Philistines at an unknown location and slaughters them (verse 8). An evil spirit moves Saul to attempt to murder David, forcing him to flee to Samuel for safety (1Samuel 19:9 - 17). The king then sends three sets of assassins that ultimately fail when God distracts them from their mission. Saul himself then travels to Samuel but is also distracted from carrying out the murder (verses 18 - 24).

David continues to try to escape from Saul trying to kill him. David travels to the city of Nob and meets with Ahimelech the High Priest (1Samuel 21). He then secures food for his starving men and flees to Gath. Fearful of his identity being discovered in the Philistine city, he pretends to act like an insane person. His act convinces the king of the city to leave him alone (1 Samuel 21:10 - 15). David soon leaves Gath for an Adullam cave. He then travels to Mizpeh where he secures a safe place for his parents to stay (1 Samuel 22:1 - 4). God then informs him to go to the land of Judah. King Saul meets with the High Priest and the priests of Nob to accuse them of treason for aiding David. Although they deny the charge, they are all murdered when the king has Doeg slay all 85 of them. Doeg then proceeds to Nob where he slaughters most of its innocent inhabitants (1Samuel 22). David fights, with God's blessing, the Philistines who are raiding the city of Keilah. He soon slaughters the enemy and saves the city (1Samuel 23:1 - 5). He then leaves with his men for the safety of the wilderness of Ziph. Jonathan finds him in the forest and the two men meet for the last time (verses 16 - 18). The Ziphites, who know where David is hiding, reveal his location to Saul. As the king and his men begin to close in on David, a messenger arrives to inform him that the Philistines have again invaded the land. Saul breaks off his pursuit and rushes to fight the enemy as David travels to hide himself in Engedi (1Samuel 23:19 - 29). Saul continues to pursue David after he finishes dealing with the Philistines. Saul's life is spared, however, when David refuses to kill the king when the opportunity to do so presented itself in a cave (1 Samuel 24). Then, the prophet Samuel passed away as found in 1 Samuel 25:1 in ca. 1012 B.C. 

By Timothy