Quote:
Originally Posted by Na'vi
Is that an indictment on the "religion"?
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You can take it for what you will.
Although there is not now, nor has there ever been a black apostle in the LDS Church, there have been some black Seventies which is one step down from an apostle in the Mormon hierarchy, from
here:
Quote:
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4 April 2009 – Elder Joseph W. Sitati of Nairobi, Kenya was called as a General Authority of the Church to the First Quorum of the Seventy...He is the first Black African General Authority of the church. Other church leaders of Black African descent have served in the Seventy quoroms. The others were Elder Helvecio Martins from Brazil who served as a General Authority from April 1990 – September 1995 in the Second Quorum of the Seventy, and Elder Elijah Abel, an African American, who was ordained in 1839 to the Third Quorum of the Seventy.
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I share that not to defend the LDS Church, but to put the following quote in context. I am having trouble finding the originial quote (I'll post it when I find it). But, this conversation happened after blacks were given the priesthood in the late 1970's, but before there were any black General Authorities. [General Authorities are members of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the first two quorums of Seventies.] A Mormon asked an apostle why there were no black General Authorities. The apostle answered that the Genral Authorities were not selected to represent the people to God, but were chosen by God to represent Him to the people.
I'll see if I can find the quote. As a former Mormon, I see the church as an entirely human, and private institution. So, although I am disappointed whenever I see an organization like this not include minorities in their leadership, I am not surprised, and I respect their right to discriminate if they choose to as a private organization. If members don't like it, they can leave.
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