Yes, very interesting. The new full introduction to Official Declaration 2 (which states that the revelation to allow all males, regardless of race or color, to be ordained to the priesthood) is this:
**
The Book of Mormon teaches that “all are alike unto God,” including “black and white, bond and free, male and female” (2 Nephi 26:33). Throughout the history of the Church, people of every race and ethnicity in many countries have been baptized and have lived as faithful members of the Church. During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, a few black male members of the Church were ordained to the priesthood. Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice. Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter this practice and prayerfully sought guidance. The revelation came to Church President Spencer W. Kimball and was affirmed to other Church leaders in the Salt Lake Temple on June 1, 1978. The revelation removed all restrictions with regard to race that once applied to the priesthood.**
My thoughts: Well firstly, I’m not sure why 2 Nephi 26:33 was referenced at the beginning. Females certainly aren’t ordained to the priesthood, so I’m not sure of its relevance.
I’m glad that it does mention that a few black males were ordained to the priesthood during Joseph Smith’s time, such as Elijah Abel. Many are not aware of that.
As far as “no clear insights into the origins”, well, that is nothing new. The Church has claimed for some time that it does not know why the practice started. It is interesting that the intro says that “Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter this practice”. I think that this statement maintains the Church in a neutral position on the matter, not saying/knowing whether the ban originated from God through revelation or if it was from man (though apparently it is clear that Church leaders believed that they couldn’t change it on their own, but a revelation from God was needed). This allows members to still believe whatever they want about the origins.
Now as to the origins and reasoning behind the Priesthood ban, well, yes, there are various statements by individual prophets and apostles on the matter. However it is also interesting to read official statements by the First Presidency on the matter:
**“From the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel.” (Statement of The First Presidency on the Negro Question, July 17 1947, quoted in Mormonism and the Negro, pp.46-7)
August 17, 1949
The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: “Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to.”
Official Statement of First Presidency issued on August 17, 1951, reads:
Code:
"The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the pre-mortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality, and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the principle itself indicates that the coming to this earth and taking on mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintained their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.....
"Man will be punished for his own sins and not for Adam's transgression. If this is carried further, it would imply that the Negro is punished or allotted to a certain position on this earth, not because of Cain's transgression, but came to earth through the loins of Cain because of his failure to achieve other stature in the spirit world."
**
I think it is especially important that we have an official statement from the First Presidency claiming that the attitude of the Church on the matter was resulting from “direct commandment from the Lord”. Were they wrong on that understanding?
