Black ordained after 'God gives word’
NZPA-Reuter Salt Lake City A black telephone company employee was ordained, into the priesthood of the Mormon Church on Sunday.' becoming what is believed to be he Church’s first' black priest. ; The ceremony came after' * startling change of policy; m the 147-year-old Church, last Friday when the Church; president "(Mr Spencer Kim- ; ba! ) announced • that God had revealed that blacks, reed no longer be barred from holding Church office. ler-y Freeman, a member rf the Church for five years,! C ared "a good, faith-, f.;. worthy member who has been living the gospel" and
Bishop Jay Swain performed the laying" on of hands. , The exclusion of blacks from the priesthood was (based on a teaching of the Church’s founder, Joseph ; Smith, that people of African lineage wore the ! “curse of Cain” and could 'not.hold the priesthood until (the Lord said they could 'through revelation. The ban on blacks sparked several protests against the; (Church, particularly through; I athletic teams playing I against the Church-owned! Brigham Young University jin Provo, Utah. Several lawsuits also were filed against the Church charging dis- i crimination.
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Press, 13 June 1978, Page 9
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188Black ordained after 'God gives word’ Press, 13 June 1978, Page 9
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