Wow, I didn’t realize those changes were made so recently.
It is my understanding that at one time, blacks were not allowed to receive a “priesthood”. If so, can blacks receive it now? How did the church leadership handle the switch in this teaching?
I was also a teen when that occurred. And the general membership of the Mormon church were very excited and very happy that this change was made. I was actually off with a youth church group, away from tv and radio, and when we got back it was all anyone was talking about. It was a very welcomed changed. I think people should understand this.
Prior to this time, I was taught that the curse of Cain is black skin. And that God had declared that this was a permanent curse, never to be lifted. Because of Cain’s first murder his male descendants could never have the priesthood.
How to justify the change? Simple. The prophet at the time said he received a revelation from God that all worthy male members should have the priesthood. That’s it. God said so. No other reason needed.
I will add, the Mormon church itself, those in authority, have never stated the ban was wrong. Only that God had decided it was time for a change.
Also, a lot of the elation at the ban being lifted was based on the idea of “spreading the gospel”. Everyone was abuzz about how now, Mormonism in its entirety could be taught to black people…which would be cause for more black people to join Mormonism.
The changes re: Native Americans and the BoM, nothing official was ever released about it. Like most of the changes the Mormon church make, they just make them, and people are left to wonder why. Thus, you get mormon apologists, like Lindsay…people like him are doing nothing but guessing at the “whys”.