Here are two people I wish I could have met. They showed passion. Yet after their presentation at the FAIR conference yesterday, and while I was caught up in conversation, they disappeared. Rats.
I watched the 10 minute preview of their upcoming documentary, Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons. Darius Graywanted to make sure everyone heard what President Hinckley told Cecil “Chip” Murray.
And here was the big question posed to Darius – “Why was there a ban on blacks entering the priesthood?”
His two fold response:
1. “We don’t know why. This is the official answer of the Church. None of the other offered answers stand the test.”
2. “This answer is not considered doctrine. It is not in the standard works. And permission is granted by the brethren for me to express this. Notice John 9:2,3. So ‘that the works of God should be made manifest.’ This ban was not imposed by God; it was allowed by God – a test to see how we would treat one another. And when it became too much of an impediment, God removed it with the revelation in 1978.”
Can I be honest? As an outsider, I am scratching my head over this LDS conundrum.
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
I had never heard the second answer before. I’ll have to say that it is refreshing that Darius said that the brethren permitted him to say that God did not impose the ban. It never made sense to me that Joseph Smith ordained blacks to the priesthood, but somehow when Brigham Young took over that changed without any formal revelation being announced. If the brethren really do believe the ban was not imposed by God I really wish they would say so instead of letting Darius deliver the news second hand. I think a lot of people would find this refreshing. Thanks for posting it!