President Gordon B. Hinckley on Blacks & the LDS Priesthood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Zsvml57PE is a video describing how to learn more about the Mormon Church.

In 1978, an official declaration of the First Presidency reported that a revelation had been received by Mormon Church President Spencer W. Kimball directing that all worthy men be allowed to receive the priesthood. Until 1978, men of African descent had not been permitted to receive the LDS priesthood, although they could become members and serve within the church.

Elder David B. Haight was present when President Kimball received the revelation. Years later he bore this testimony in general conference:

I noticed an edition of the Chicago Tribune on the newsstand. The headline in the paper said, "Mormons Give Blacks Priesthood." And the subheading said, "President Kimball Claims to Have Received a Revelation." I bought a copy of the newspaper. I stared at one word in that subheading—claims. It stood out to me just like it was in red neon. As I walked along the hallway to make my plane connection, I thought, Here I am now in Chicago walking through this busy airport, yet I was a witness to this revelation. I was there. I witnessed it. I felt that heavenly influence. I was part of it. Little did the editor of that newspaper realize the truth of that revelation when he wrote, "... Claims to Have Received a Revelation." Little did he know, or the printer, or the man who put the ink on the press, or the one who delivered the newspaper—little did any of them know that it was truly a revelation from God. Little did they know what I knew because I was a witness to it (David B. Haight, "This Work Is True," Ensign, May 1996, 22).

Another leader in the Mormon Church related the following about one of the early Mormon converts in Africa:

Moses Mahlangu, of Soweto, South Africa, patiently but persistently waited sixteen years for baptism. When he speaks of his long wait to join the Church, Brother Mahlangu compares himself to Cornelius [the first Gentile to join the early Christian Church after Peter received revelation that the gospel was spread to the Gentiles], who he says was "very good in waiting to receive the word of God or to be a member of the Church until the angels came and told him what to do." (See Acts 10:1--7) Today, at age sixty-three, Moses is a grounds-keeper at the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, which he regularly attends. He is also the elders quorum president in the Soweto Branch. (E. Dale LeBaron, "Gospel Pioneers in Africa," Ensign, Aug. 1990, 40)
Since 1978, the Mormon Church has grown extensively in Africa and currently has temples in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. As of 2004, there were over 220,000 members of the Mormon Church in Africa.

For more information, visit http://www.blacklds.org

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[Drummur]

Cool. Anyway, my point from the start was that religious organizations have too much money... that's all I was saying. Big cathedrals of glass and pretty stone...like, it's all really attractive, but I mean true spirituality looks past that anyway, right? Nice chattin' with ya. :)

[lds9999]

Nice chatting with you too. I would encourage you to visit a local LDS Church to see what it's like. You can find the nearest one to you at maps*lds*org. Let me know if you ever have any other questions.

[Drummur]

That's cool, and maybe you're correct to a degree...but that's a lot of money is all I'm saying. lol. I just personally don't believe in having to build huge things for people to worship in, when small things work just the same. (It's like that for every religion is what I'm saying though of course)...

[lds9999]

But it also may be more economical to build larger ones that serve a larger area than to build many small ones, right?  The LDS Church bases the size off of the number of members in the area who will have access to and worship in the temple. Sometimes they are fairly large, sometimes they are relatively small.

[Drummur]

I DO have something against religion in general. lol. I'm just trying to say that the Mormon church is the richest church in the world, and I would love to get real data specifying where that money goes to...other than building pretty temples. (by the way I'm not at all trying to be rude, just so you know. I appreciate the discussion we're having).

[lds9999]

I think you've forgotten about the Catholic Church, haha, whose assets are worth far more than the LDS Church.

The LDS Church has released figures on the amount given to charity. It also supports missionary efforts throughout the worlds, builds chapels for millions of people to worship in, and helps millions across the globe.

[Rajaat99]

In March, 1836, Elijah Abel, a black man, was ordained to the office of Elder. He was the first black man to be given the priesthood, since the restoration.

[dallinkapp]

so many things ideologically wrong with this video.

[pilottim79]

I truly believe the members and people on earth weren't ready for the full gospel and the higher law at that time.

[DestinyAlready]

blacks couldn't enter the priesthood because of institutionalized racism inherited from the civil rights era and 300 yrs of slavery

[JohnRhysMusician]

They showed this video in my ward.

[JohnRhysMusician]

Yeah but we have now surpased them in per capita wealth, but that is a good thing not a bad thing, it shows that our members are educated and well employed.

[lyrical77]

@77thstriplingwarrior what is the"black"?

[THELDSLIFE]

Isn't it wonderful that the sacrifices of members of this church would honor God in the most reverent manner by erecting a house of the Lord unto the King of Kings! When members of the church enter into the house of the Lord, they feel his spirit within those walls.

[THELDSLIFE]

Its a simple as that. Follow the prophet of the Lord!!! It is God's priesthood. God's choice...

God is not influenced by Man but Man is influenced by God and by him alone.

[PierzStyx]

The Church does have a lot of money, but most of it is tied up in church buildngs, missionary purposes, and relief programs. But it is nowhere near teh richest in teh world. The Catholic Church has the distinction of having the most money in the world.

"Mormon America" is a book with a discussion on the money the church has if you are intrested.