Question 3
Who Has Rights to the Priesthood?
According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they believe that those men who are of the skin color that is black, who are of the lineage of Cain, Ham or Canaan could not receive the Priesthood. They surmise that a cursing was placed upon all of a lineage, and that it was to remain until when Spencer W. Kimball authorized it after receiving a voice within him to do it.
They also conclude that Joseph Smith set forth that all black men were denied the Priesthood. Yet, they say that there were exceptions made by Joseph Smith in his day. The exemptions continued wherein other black men received the Priesthood. One of these black men advanced in the Priesthood to where he was called to a quorum of the seventy.
These activities as set forth by the Prophet Joseph Smith was revoked by a following president of the portion of the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, that was led into the Rocky Mountains by Brigham Young.
There are two main issues to show that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was wrong in denying the Priesthood to all Black men.
1. What exactly was the mandate to authorize the bestowing of the Priesthoods?
2. Who had the authority from the Gods to direct the activities of the Gospel upon the earth?
To answer the first issue, I begin with the process of evaluation as to what has been said, and what has occurred.
"...they came into the world slaves, mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation". (History of the Church, Vol. 5, page 217)
Joseph Smith taught that all, including those with the skin color of Black, have the rights to obtain salvation.
When the question was asked with regards as to what to do with the black slaves in the south, Joseph Smith directed them in saying:
"...He said I could baptize them by consent of their master, but not to confer the priesthood upon them." (Zebedee Coltrin, Journal History of the Church, May 31, 1839)
The context of who was not to receive the Priesthoods, were that of slaves, who were subject to their masters.
His remarks were not meant for all black men, but were for those still under the curse of Canaan.
"And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
"And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid [it] upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces [were] backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
"And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
"And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
"And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant." (Genesis 9:22-26)
There were statements spoken of by others that followed Joseph Smith, who did not fully understand Joseph Smith's directives. They confused the directive of what Joseph Smith instructed to do with those Black men in slavery, to be done with all Black men.
"Said Brigham Young, concerning Blacks, on 18 FEB 1855: 'It is their privilege to live so as to enjoy many of the blessings which attend obedience to the first principles of the Gospel, though they are not entitled to the Priesthood'" (Journal of Discourses 2:184)
The evidence of what Joseph Smith directed to be done is the strength of the truth.
Was anyone given the Priesthood that was a Black man?
"...One individual was Walker Lewis, who was ordained in Lowell, Massachusetts, sometime before Joseph Smith's death. Said Brigham Young concerning him: '...we av [sic] one of the best Elders an African in Lowell.' (minutes 26 MAR 1847, Brigham Young Papers, LDS Church Archives). Several leading members (some of whom included Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff) made passing reference to 'a black Elder' in the Lowell area during the years of 1844 and 1845."
Another man by the name of Elijah Abel (Able) had been ordained to the Priesthood of an Elder on March 3, 1836 and to the office of seventy approximately a year later.
Were there any documents of blessings supporting the activity?
According to a Patriarchal blessing given by Joseph Smith sr., in 1836 that was cited in a council meeting on the fourth of June 1879, Elijah Abel was "equal to thy brethren" meaning to receive the Priesthood. (Adam S. Bennion papers, Provo, Utah)
Did the Prophet Joseph Smith show support of the ordination?
It is also documented that Joseph Smith told Elijah Abel that he was entitled to the Priesthood.
Not only was one of the Black men ordained to a Priesthood, but was called to the third quorum of the seventies to fulfill a mission!
This is deducted from the membership records that he received a certification as a seventy on April 4, 1841, and again in Salt Lake City. As well it is in the membership records that he was called to be a member of the third quorum of the seventy in 1833 when he left on a mission to Canada.
Were any Black men ordained following the death of Joseph Smith?
From the membership records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we know that descendants of Elijah Abel were also ordained to offices of the Priesthood.
1. Enoch Abel (son of Elijah Abel) was ordained to the office of an Elder on the 10 NOV 1900, by John Q. Adams in the Logan fifth ward, Utah.
2. Elijah Abel (the son of Enoch Abel) was ordained a Priest on 5 JUL 1934 by J.C. Hogenson and to the office of an Elder on 29 SEP 1935 by Ruben S. Hill in the Logan 10th Ward, Utah.
The evidence of Black men being given the Priesthood is without question.
Being authorized by Joseph Smith is without question.
The spirit of the mandate concerning Black men not receiving the Priesthoods, was meant for slaves that could not use their authority and powers of God while under the oppressive hand of a slave owner.
The proof of Joseph Smith being authorized to ordain men of any color is assured.
If the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says that the Priesthoods were never valid of the Black men, then they made the activities these men did null and void. This includes baptisms, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the Priesthoods, and any other activities that these Black men did.
This would surmount to affect probably tens of thousands of men, women and children to this day.
The idea of such an error being allowed by the Lord in His church would be without question unthinkable.
Who Has Rights to the Priesthood?
According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they believe that those men who are of the skin color that is black, who are of the lineage of Cain, Ham or Canaan could not receive the Priesthood. They surmise that a cursing was placed upon all of a lineage, and that it was to remain until when Spencer W. Kimball authorized it after receiving a voice within him to do it.
They also conclude that Joseph Smith set forth that all black men were denied the Priesthood. Yet, they say that there were exceptions made by Joseph Smith in his day. The exemptions continued wherein other black men received the Priesthood. One of these black men advanced in the Priesthood to where he was called to a quorum of the seventy.
These activities as set forth by the Prophet Joseph Smith was revoked by a following president of the portion of the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, that was led into the Rocky Mountains by Brigham Young.
There are two main issues to show that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was wrong in denying the Priesthood to all Black men.
1. What exactly was the mandate to authorize the bestowing of the Priesthoods?
2. Who had the authority from the Gods to direct the activities of the Gospel upon the earth?
To answer the first issue, I begin with the process of evaluation as to what has been said, and what has occurred.
"...they came into the world slaves, mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation". (History of the Church, Vol. 5, page 217)
Joseph Smith taught that all, including those with the skin color of Black, have the rights to obtain salvation.
When the question was asked with regards as to what to do with the black slaves in the south, Joseph Smith directed them in saying:
"...He said I could baptize them by consent of their master, but not to confer the priesthood upon them." (Zebedee Coltrin, Journal History of the Church, May 31, 1839)
The context of who was not to receive the Priesthoods, were that of slaves, who were subject to their masters.
His remarks were not meant for all black men, but were for those still under the curse of Canaan.
"And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
"And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid [it] upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces [were] backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
"And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
"And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
"And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant." (Genesis 9:22-26)
There were statements spoken of by others that followed Joseph Smith, who did not fully understand Joseph Smith's directives. They confused the directive of what Joseph Smith instructed to do with those Black men in slavery, to be done with all Black men.
"Said Brigham Young, concerning Blacks, on 18 FEB 1855: 'It is their privilege to live so as to enjoy many of the blessings which attend obedience to the first principles of the Gospel, though they are not entitled to the Priesthood'" (Journal of Discourses 2:184)
The evidence of what Joseph Smith directed to be done is the strength of the truth.
Was anyone given the Priesthood that was a Black man?
"...One individual was Walker Lewis, who was ordained in Lowell, Massachusetts, sometime before Joseph Smith's death. Said Brigham Young concerning him: '...we av [sic] one of the best Elders an African in Lowell.' (minutes 26 MAR 1847, Brigham Young Papers, LDS Church Archives). Several leading members (some of whom included Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff) made passing reference to 'a black Elder' in the Lowell area during the years of 1844 and 1845."
Another man by the name of Elijah Abel (Able) had been ordained to the Priesthood of an Elder on March 3, 1836 and to the office of seventy approximately a year later.
Were there any documents of blessings supporting the activity?
According to a Patriarchal blessing given by Joseph Smith sr., in 1836 that was cited in a council meeting on the fourth of June 1879, Elijah Abel was "equal to thy brethren" meaning to receive the Priesthood. (Adam S. Bennion papers, Provo, Utah)
Did the Prophet Joseph Smith show support of the ordination?
It is also documented that Joseph Smith told Elijah Abel that he was entitled to the Priesthood.
Not only was one of the Black men ordained to a Priesthood, but was called to the third quorum of the seventies to fulfill a mission!
This is deducted from the membership records that he received a certification as a seventy on April 4, 1841, and again in Salt Lake City. As well it is in the membership records that he was called to be a member of the third quorum of the seventy in 1833 when he left on a mission to Canada.
Were any Black men ordained following the death of Joseph Smith?
From the membership records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we know that descendants of Elijah Abel were also ordained to offices of the Priesthood.
1. Enoch Abel (son of Elijah Abel) was ordained to the office of an Elder on the 10 NOV 1900, by John Q. Adams in the Logan fifth ward, Utah.
2. Elijah Abel (the son of Enoch Abel) was ordained a Priest on 5 JUL 1934 by J.C. Hogenson and to the office of an Elder on 29 SEP 1935 by Ruben S. Hill in the Logan 10th Ward, Utah.
The evidence of Black men being given the Priesthood is without question.
Being authorized by Joseph Smith is without question.
The spirit of the mandate concerning Black men not receiving the Priesthoods, was meant for slaves that could not use their authority and powers of God while under the oppressive hand of a slave owner.
The proof of Joseph Smith being authorized to ordain men of any color is assured.
If the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says that the Priesthoods were never valid of the Black men, then they made the activities these men did null and void. This includes baptisms, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the Priesthoods, and any other activities that these Black men did.
This would surmount to affect probably tens of thousands of men, women and children to this day.
The idea of such an error being allowed by the Lord in His church would be without question unthinkable.