| Response |
On June 8, 1978, the Prophet Spencer W. Kimball who was also the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said this:
"As we have witnessed the expansion of the work of the Lord over the earth, we have been grateful that people of many nations have responded
to the message of the restored gospel and have joined the Church in ever-increasing numbers. This, in turn, has inspired us with a desire to extend to
every worthy member of the Church all of the privileges and blessings which that gospel affords.
Aware of the promises made by the prophets and the Presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time in God's eternal plan all of our
brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded
long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful
brethren, spending many hours in the upper room of the temple,
supplicating the Lord for divine guidance.
He has heard our prayers and by revelation has confirmed that the long promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man of the Church may receive the
holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of
the temple. Accordingly, all worthy male
members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Priesthood leaders are instructed to follow the policy of
carefully interviewing all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or the Melchezedek priesthood to ensure that they meet the
established standards for worthiness. We declare with soberness that the Lord has now made known his will for the blessing of all of his children
throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his
authorized servants and prepare themselves to receive every blessing of the gospel."
The Priesthood of God has been made available and also been withheld from people through all the generations of time depending upon a variety of
circumstances. For example, in the early years following the children of Israel's release from Egypt as they followed Moses in the
wilderness, only he was allowed to hold the highest office in the
Melchezedek priesthood, even though many others wanted it, the Lord chose not to give it to them because they were not ready for it. If you will read
Numbers 16, there is a most interesting story about those who wanted Moses' priesthood power, but because they were not prepared to
receive it there was a great curse put upon them. It is a most
remarkable story. Perhaps you already know it.
In another place in the scriptures we find that only Aaron and his sons were allowed to exercise certain priesthood responsibilities while other members of
the House of Israel were denied the opportunity because the
time was not right. The difference between what you have called a
"racist" response from the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints toward those of African decent is no more racist or discriminatory
than Moses' refusal to allow the 250 "princes of Israel" who were demanding the priesthood. This was not Moses' priesthood. It
is not Aaron's priesthood. It is not the priesthood of the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the priesthood of God and
we have no ability to dictate to God when he will and will not allow certain people to hold that priesthood.
If you agree that we actually have the priesthood, then you must also agree that it is God's priesthood and will only be endowed when he wishes, just as we
see throughout the Old and New Testaments. If you
do not believe that we hold the priesthood, then what is it that we
actually deny anyone, black, white, or brown?
I have no great answer as to specifically why those who are of African descent have not been allowed to hold the priesthood before June 8, 1978, I
only know that it was so and that it was God's will that they be allowed the great and wonderful privilege of holding it then and thereafter.
As you probably know, there are hundreds of thousands of men throughout all countries of the world who are black, but who not only hold the priesthood, but
also are leaders in the LDS church. They are bishops, branch presidents, stake presidents, and general authorities
throughout the world. We've discriminated against none of them. We love them and count them as our brethren in Christ and revere them and all others who
are faithful to their callings in the priesthood.
I hope you can figure out a way to overcome your anger and your bitterness over what you perceive as racial discrimination in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and humble yourself to just experiment to
learn the truth of these things. If you will pray and ask God in total humility, in complete faith, nothing wavering, believing that he will keep his
promises to answer you when you ask with that kind of humility and sincerity, you will have the great privilege of asking him if the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints is true
and whether the priesthood which we hold is his priesthood. I promise you, Andre, that he will manifest the truth of that unto you by the power of the
Holy Ghost and the feeling which will come over you and the peace which you will have regarding your former anger will be so startlingly clear and more
different than you have ever felt about these things. Then you will know that there has been no discrimination. I want you to know that we all (sometimes
impatiently) have "waited upon the Lord" to learn his will and his timing regarding the offering of this holy priesthood.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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