It has been quite a while since I last posted here. Not because of lack of material; I have a laundry list of topics I want to cover in this forum. Not because of lack of conviction; time does dampen the shock of discovering lesser-known facts about Mormonism but implication of these facts still affect me greatly. No, life just gets in the way sometimes. However, there are events in the world from time to time that strike a nerve and motivate me to write.
This motivation recently came after hearing all of the national media's attention on BYU's recent suspension of starting forward Brandon Davies for violating the honor code. Reaction to the suspension has run from admiration for the university sticking to its policies regardless of financial or social consequences, to disgust that a center of higher-learning would police its students in such socially acceptable adult behaviors.
Davies actions and BYU's subsequent reaction really aren't my business. But what was so striking about the whole episode is that if Brigham Young, the founder of the University Davies has been forbidden from representing, had it his way, the penalty would have been MUCH more severe.
Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so. (Journal of Discourses 10:110)
The mixing of races between Davies and his white girlfriend appears to be more heinous in the eyes of Brigham Young than mere immorality. I knew that the church frowned upon interracial relationships, but never realized the violent commands that came from a professed prophet of god. It is shocking that a man with direct communication with god would have such extreme views on human relationships.
This view of blacks as an inferior race was not exclusive to Brigham Young. Rather than reproduce a bunch of quotes, I would encourage you to read a collection of them at MormonHandbook.com. It is clear that Brigham Young did not have an isolated rogue opinion, but rather a common belief taught as doctrine throughout the history of the church.
Luckily for Davies (and all of us for that matter), the sentiment towards blacks has softened with time. You're not going to find Sunday School lessons on enforcing Young's declaration. Wikipedia provides a fairly good overview of the change over time. In 1978, males of African descent were granted the same priesthood opportunities their white counterparts had enjoyed since the church began. Blacks often take a high profile in church public relations, demonstrating the church's racial acceptance. However even with this progress, no formal apology has been given and you will still find remnants of the doctrine in scripture and official church lesson manuals currently in use. An example is a lesson in the aaronic priesthood manual which includes a quote discouraging interracial marriage.
FAIR does provide an apologists view on Brigham Young's quote, claiming it was to protect black women from rape by white men and that his desire to keep races separate was the prevailing opinion of the time. FAIR also attempts to clarify perceived racism in the church on a more broad scope.
I understand that any person is in part a reflection of the time and culture in which they live. Some of these church authorities lived during times where their statements would not be as shocking. But wouldn't we expect more from a prophet of god? Wouldn't we expect god's one and only true church to lead the way in assuring fundamental human rights to all? Shouldn't they lead rather than follow social trends?
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