The Priesthood Restriction on Black Africans
Was it always a doctrinal teaching of the Church?
The claim that the priesthood restriction was an unchangeable doctrine of the Church, rather than a policy shaped by historical and cultural factors, is contradicted by both historical evidence and official Church statements. A thorough analysis demonstrates:
- Joseph Smith did not establish a priesthood restriction, and Black men were ordained in the early Church.
- The restriction began under Brigham Young and was presented as policy, not via canonized doctrine.
- Church leaders acknowledged uncertainty about the restriction’s origins, and various speculative justifications were used over time—none of which were doctrine.
- The 1978 revelation rescinded the restriction, and the Church has since disavowed past explanations.
1. Joseph Smith’s View and Early Church Practices
Elijah Abel was ordained an elder in 1836 and later became a Seventy. He also participated in temple ceremonies in Kirtland, Ohio (Church History). Walker Lewis was praised by Brigham Young himself as “one of the best elders we have.” There is no evidence that Joseph Smith ever taught or implemented a priesthood restriction.
2. The Restriction Began Under Brigham Young as Policy
The first official statement restricting Black men from receiving the priesthood came from Brigham Young in 1852—over two decades after the Church was founded. This restriction coincided with Utah’s debates over legalized slavery, suggesting it was influenced by the racial attitudes of the time rather than a revealed commandment. Brigham Young’s 1852 statement was a policy announcement, not a recorded revelation. Unlike major doctrines, this restriction was never included in the Standard Works.
3. The 1978 Revelation and the Church’s Disavowal
In June 1978, President Spencer W. Kimball and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles received a revelation confirming that the priesthood should be extended to all worthy male members, regardless of race. This revelation was canonized as Official Declaration 2.
Bruce R. McConkie, 1978
“Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding.”
The Church has explicitly disavowed past theories used to justify the restriction, and teaches that all are equal before God and that priesthood and temple blessings are available to all, regardless of race.