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Lily wrote on May 30, 2008 10:48 AM:Thank you for writing this article. I am a Mormon and feel that our religion has a lot to offer blacks. I have been in congregations where blacks were very accepted as a part of our community. I hope they will continue to take a second look.

Johanan wrote on May 31, 2008 10:13 AM:Those that attempt to characterize our Church as "racist" simply have received bad information. I have personally talked to some of the people who insist on spreading false information about our faith (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and I have found that many of them are pastors of other Churches who are losing income as their people join our Church. In our church, this isn't a problem because we don't pay our leaders. In fact, we are all "pastors" and leaders and teachers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Maybe this opportunity for growth is one reason our Church is prospering?

Mark of Cain wrote on May 31, 2008 5:16 PM:I recall the mormon church stance at one time was that black skin was the mark of Cain. Then again this is the same organisation that makes women subserviant to men. Get out of the dark ages. Johanan's comments make me laugh, this church is all about money.

dee wrote on May 31, 2008 6:55 PM:I am an African-american mormon, and have been since 1981. My son is serving a mission in central america, and feels humbled to serve the Lord. Our other children are grown and married having been raised as LDS their entire lifetimes. My husband also serves in a stake presidency and has served in leadership roles for years, overseeing mostly white congregations here in the south. Those of us who are members work on equal footing and find direction in our path to serve the Lord, this church is where true peace can be found.

blooit wrote on May 31, 2008 7:27 PM:Very good article. As a mild criticism, the church declared the faith open to all people. All president Hinckley did was remind the membership that racism of any kind is completely unacceptable. This sort of reminder has been given regularly for 30 years now. Saying "In 2006, Mormon president Gordon B. Hinckley publicly declared the faith open to all people." makes it sound like it just happened. That's not the case.

Thanks

Off the Mark wrote on May 31, 2008 9:11 PM:Mark of Cain,

Just a few thoughts hopefully you will at least consider.

-It has never been official church doctrine that black skin was the mark of Cain.
- I am a woman in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I have been since birth. I have never been treated with anything but respect and dignity. Women are not subserviant to men in my faith.

-You ought to do a little research on the resources of our church and how they are used. There are a lot of people who donate to lds philanthropies who are not of our faith because they know 100 percent of their money will go to the people in need.

I hope all people will take a look at the church with new eyes. Its amazing what you might find if you do your own research instead of relying on the words of others.

Marx wrote on May 31, 2008 10:16 PM:said that religion is opium for the massess. Continue your narrow minded beliefs. I know a few mormons, and everytime I have been inside thier homes, the women were subservient to the men for fear of not being called up to the planet the men will rule upon death on earth according to doctrine. Divine spectacles? This cult borders on the bizzare and obscure and is right on an equal plane with scientology.

Mindi wrote on May 31, 2008 10:28 PM:I have been a member of the LDS Church since 1970 and I was born and raised in North Carolina. I feel that I have a good perspective on racial discrimination. One of the happiest days of my life was in 1978 when the priesthood of God was made available to all men, regardless of race. I agree with the sister who advised "..it's amazing what you might find if you do your own research..." That's why I love the LDS Church and appreciate the dignity that I receive from it.

mindi wrote on May 31, 2008 10:36 PM:Is it me or do any other people commenting notice that the LDS members are courteous and thoughtful and everyone else is not?
Hmmmmm.

To Mindi wrote on May 31, 2008 10:53 PM:Thank you for validating my points about the racism that has gone on in this cult. Not to mention the underage marriage and polygomy scandals that pop up every six months or so. What a tragedy so many men drag all these young women along this odd path with strange ritualistic beliefs and draconian customs. I am just glad that one young girl I know escaped from being forced to marry her uncle. So twisted.

Hanford wrote on Jun 1, 2008 4:32 AM:What a marvelous story. I hail from Columbia, SC and know a few Mormons. They are good people. I do not doubt some are twits like you find everywhere. But as a whole, what a good group of people. Good works as found in James. I admit I don't know much despite my friends offer to tell more. Maybe one day I should listen to what they want to tell me.

Josh wrote on Jun 1, 2008 7:35 AM:All the Mormons I've ever known have been very nice, but religion is a load of horsecrap.

Brian wrote on Jun 1, 2008 8:20 AM:Mark of Cain, tell me, just who is making money? Does the President of the LDS Church live in a mansion? Do the local leaders drive expensive cars and live in $2 million dollars homes?
How is that stereotyping fetish working for you?

polygamy is not LDS Mormon wrote on Jun 1, 2008 9:21 AM:Just to clarify for one of our posters, polygamy is not allowed in the LDS (Mormon) church and has not been for over 100 years. The underage marriage scandals you're referring to are the FLDS church which has no connection.

To mindi and Josh wrote on Jun 1, 2008 9:59 AM:I also have found Mormons to be exceptionally friendly, open and humble. I don't buy into their particular beliefs, but something about their beliefs and culture is obviously good.

To Off the Mark wrote on Jun 1, 2008 12:15 PM:I too am LDS and enjoyed this article. I hope more people of color will check us out. If by their fruits you can tell... We are obviously doing something right.

To Off the Mark, I agree with you. There is such hope and comfort in knowing that every dime I tithe will go to helping the needy.

Lonnie wrote on Jun 1, 2008 1:29 PM:I am a black American and I have been
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints for 26 years and
I am thankful for the peace and happ-
iness that I have found.

To Off the Mark and Mark Of Cain wrote on Jun 1, 2008 1:44 PM:I am also LDS and love the church passionately. Mark of Cain is right. We have had church leaders teach the mark of Cain as doctrine. Just by the fact that they taught it makes it doctrine by the true definition of the word. Were they wrong? Yes. The fact that they were terribly wrong on just about all they taught is not so much the issue. The real issue is that they never cleared up the false teaching with corrections. Thus the members remain in ignorance on the issue. So this will be a stain until cleaned up. However the church is still true, depite this error of the leaders.

Those who want truth on this should see the new Blacks in the Scriptures DVDs. They demonstrate that our true doctrine, our scriptures, are not and have never been racist, just misunderstood.

John wrote on Jun 1, 2008 3:13 PM:To to Mindi,
You have confused the FLDS and the LDS Church's. They are very different. The LDS Church does not condone people marrying their uncle or polygamy in any form. Marrying you uncle is an illegal form of incest.
I also would take objection to the claim that President Hinckley's 2006 statement indicated the church welcoming all races. If anyone resides Official Declaration Two from 1978 they will see that the clearly at that point was rejecting any racial criteria for standing in the church.

Mark of Cain wrote on Jun 1, 2008 3:22 PM:I don't know how to spell organisation.

JD wrote on Jun 1, 2008 5:01 PM:My wife is a black Mormon. I sure am happy she took a second look!

For the record, Mormons picked up the "Mark of Cain" doctrine from southern Protestants. It's an idea that is obviously theologically false, and which both religions have now abandoned.

Nathan wrote on Jun 1, 2008 5:16 PM:I am a member of the LDS church in the Bronx. Our ward lives in harmony though we come from all walks of life. Christ unites us! Thank you to all who posted on their experience with this church - it always strengthens me to hear the testimonies of my fellow brothers and sisters. Also, thank you for a well-written article - Bravo.

Baptist wrote on Jun 1, 2008 7:13 PM:The only way to the Father is through the Son.

Jon wrote on Jun 1, 2008 8:21 PM:It is amazing to me that so many missunderstand so much when it comes to religion. Whether blacks have the mark of Cain is not of issue. Lamanites skin was darkened because their wickedness, and yet their decendants are not punished for it. Furthermore, all women are not cursed for Eve's choice, nor are men for Adam's.
It was neccesary for some things to happen in order that all people have the ability to redeem themselves. It was all part of the plan. This attitude has been used against the Jew for centuries to condem them for what a few did to Christ. The LDS church has always been one of the more tolerant religious faiths. What I have not heard from anyone that is condeming us is that Utah (at that time predominantly Mormon) was the first state to give women the right to vote.

No thats what I call INTOLERANT.

SMART wrote on Jun 1, 2008 9:39 PM:Let me start of by saying this, I am not bad mouthing mormons at all, I used to be one!! So, I will say this, they are not racist when it comes to age, gender, or race. However,I feel they do discrinimate against the less wealthy when it comes to callings. They are good peoeple, but don't mormons believe everyone is equal and should come together as one, making ALL feel welcome? You could go to any "Mormon" activity and clearly point out the more wealthy,particularly the woman. They group together and gossip worse than teenagers!! This bothered me more than anything!! If there is one thing god would have us do, it is to treat everyone with respect, just how we would want to be treated.There is no reason for anyone to act this way! Some of these woman act so stuck up. Maybe because their husbands make more money than others or because they are the bishops wife? Whatever the reason is, these actions go against all the teachings of christ!! Also to say you will be punished if you don't pay tithing, or rather you won't be blessed? Who teaches that? People can barely make it by these days and to say they won't be blessed if they don't pay 10%, is just rediculous!! So whatever your race, age, or gender, there are just some mormon woman who are always going to act like selfish, ungrateful Latter Day Saints and that is just sad!!

Keenan wrote on Jun 1, 2008 9:42 PM:Aloha! While attending high school in Hawaii, I became acquianted with the LDS Church through friends who were exemplary examples. I'm Hawaiian-Filipino-Chinese and I joined the LDS church while attending Albany State University which is a historically black college in Georgia.

As a member of the Church, I have met other members from all over the world (Polynesia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Holland, Sweden, just to name a few), and we are all united through Christ and His Restored Gospel. I have a good friend, I'll call Innocent, who is a Zulu from South Africa--he wanted to kill whites growing up because of institutionalized Apartheid.

After joining the LDS church, Innocent went on an LDS mission to England then later received university degrees from BYU-Hawaii and BYU. Finally, he moved back to South Africa to receive his PhD, works for the LDS Church and is a leader in an LDS Stake (similar to a Catholic diocese)in Johannesburg.

Why do I bring this up? Of all people, Innocent could have ridiculed and rejected the church. Instead, he prayed to Heavenly Father about the Book of Mormon and moder-day prophets. He ultimately received a witness of the LDS church through faith in Jesus Christ.

I hope that anyone who has an inkling of wanting to know the truth will, like Inncent, ask God what is truth and find it. God is the source of all truth...ask Him.

Holly wrote on Jun 1, 2008 10:24 PM:I also have heard the mark of cain theory- ironically from a black member! However, I always understood that it was just an idea and not really doctrine. I have a black niece and nephew and so have looked into Church history and am very sensitive to tolerance for my family. Their predominately white ward embraces them with love. It is truly the Church of Jesus Christ as it teaches Christlike love above all. to Mark of Cain and Mindy, you might want to research a little more. FLDS and LDS are so completely different its laughable and the money thing is such an old and silly claim that it also makes me laugh. The church does an audit report twice a year and then reports it to the members! You do yourselves no favors by spewing out such patently false ideas.

Holly wrote on Jun 1, 2008 10:34 PM:To SMART- I am sorry that you have experienced what I call "cliches" in the church. I am afraid it is human nature but it doesn't make the church less true. I too have experienced this and it is painful but I came to realize that it was their loss if they chose not to be my friend. I also gave them second chances- first impressions sometimes are false impressions. There are plenty of good women in the church that are wonderful no matter their economic situation. As for tithing. The church teaches that tithing brings you blessings. It is a law of obedience. I believe that if the lord wanted to tell his prophets where a gold mine was to fund the church, he could. He chooses to allow us to gain blessing by being obedient. I personally know that finacially things are always better when I pay my tithing. It defies any budgeting rule, but is true nonetheless. If you do not pay tithing, it does not mean that you can't have blessing just that you miss out on more. I hope this clears things up for you.

Concerning SMART wrote on Jun 1, 2008 10:55 PM:Paying tithing is not done in fear of being punished and/or to be blessed by Heavenly Father. It is done because we seek to be like Christ and therefore being obedient to him is Christ-like. I am deeply saddened that you left the church, whether it was from the gossip, or the "discrimination against the less wealthy." The callings are not done by how much money you have but what our Heaven Father asks of us. I being a new member, on May 31st, have been going to church for about a year and yes in some cases gossip does occur. But doesn't that happen everywhere else? We are human, we are all sinners. I am sorry once again you have left the church for it is one of the best things you can ever do and I hope you return some day.

To Jon wrote on Jun 1, 2008 11:34 PM:Jon,

I am a member and I have to respectfully say that you, like most of the saints are wrong about the Lamanites having a darker skin. That misconception has been quietly corrected by the church. The darker skins being spoken of were actually spiritual darkness and not a literal skin color change. I just learned this myself at a recent fireside in CA. And that Utah was a slave territory. So even though the church is true, our slate is not clean. We need to be more educated on our true history. It will help others to respect more.

Joe

To Baptist wrote on Jun 2, 2008 4:44 AM:Baptist:
"The only way to the Father is through the Son."

Book of Mormon:
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh...
And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.
And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God." (Mosiah 5:7-10)

I think we are in agreement. Give it a read.

David

tlc wrote on Jun 2, 2008 4:54 AM:The church is true. The members of the church are not perfect that is why we are here on earth to perfect ourselves in Christ. We are all chidren of are Heavenly Father, who wishes for all of us to return to him.

Hopefully Wise wrote on Jun 2, 2008 5:12 AM:To Smart:

I am sorry that your experience in the LDS church carried with it the unfortunate experience/perception of socio-economic divisions and cliques. I won't excuse behavior like that, if in fact it was as you perceived. Sometimes our perceptions are shaped by our own prior experiences and personal biases as much as by the behavior of others.

But having said that, I can also acknowledge that imperfect people do imperfect things. The church is a hospital for sinners, not a country club for saints.

I hope that sometime in the future you will find it within yourself to come back and give the church a second chance. Only this time, try to step outside of your own boundaries, be they self-imposed, or otherwise, and reach out to others who may need a friend. Since you felt/perceived the problems you described above, then some other souls may have felt it also. Reach out in love, service, and friedship to them. As Christ said, to find your life, lose it in service.

A.G. wrote on Jun 2, 2008 5:29 AM:I am a member of the LDS-Church in Germany and we have approximately 30 Percent of black Members in our area. They have taught me so much about faith and dignity. They are fully integrated in every aspect of church-life. They are respected and it’s always something special to talk to them and hear their opinion. I wouldn't want to miss any of them. How about that for a racist church in a racist country!

KLD wrote on Jun 2, 2008 6:01 AM:I have been a member of the church since I was 16, I'm now 53. I have always been a "show me person". My conversion to Christ continues as I serve and am shown the great blessings that our Heavenly Father has for us. In no other place do I see equality like in our Church because we literally believe that all Gods Children, everyone not just Mormons, are literally sons or daughters of our same heavenly father. As that belief gets more inbedded into our daily actions we cannot help but treat each other with respect and dignity. As it becomes part of our heart we cannot help but become more Christ like and see those around us more as our Heavenly Father must see us all.

I enocurage all to personnally investigate the LDS faith, not FLDS, and experience for yourselves the goodness that is there.

caroljean wrote on Jun 2, 2008 6:42 AM:I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints my whole life. I'm 68 lears old. It's such a joy to see children of our Heavenly Father embracing one another in true fellowship and love regardless of race, color or financial status. This is what our Savior taught and still teaches through a living prophet. Our church is hardly about money, since no one has a paid position. We all gladly volunteer. Through the years I have seen many changes in the manner in which the "organization" of the church is administered, but the basic doctrines have never changed. We believe Jesus Christ is our Savior and the Redeemer of the world. We are taught to be like Him. We're not perfect, but we try. All the misconceptions about our religion are just that! If you want to know the real facts, go to LDS.org and read them for yourself. Perhaps the criticisms are coming from those who subscribe to the philosophies of men rather than finding the peace in their lives that comes from striving to live as Christ would have us do.

Angela wrote on Jun 2, 2008 6:49 AM:Great article. I had a wonderful friend named Ann from North Carolina(black) who was a member of our ward in Frederick, MD in the late 1980's. She was just awesome. If there is any prejudice from white members to blacks, that is very unfortunate. I live in Massachusetts now and we have a black family that attends our branch. They are great. I love them just like anyone else.

Reallyoffthemark wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:23 AM:I am lifelong LDS (NOT FLDS -- there is no connection) and my husband and I are the happy adoptive parents of a black daughter.

When our daughter was sealed to us in the temple, they pronounced upon her all of the blessings of a covenant child of God, and gave her the same status as if she had been born to us. These blessings are identical to the ones pronounced upon our white son.

Our family has been supported and loved in the church without exception or condition.

The doctrine I was raised on is found in the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 26:33), which teaches that the Lord "inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, BLACK AND WHITE, bond and free, MALE AND FEMALE; and he remembereth the heathen; and ALL ARE ALIKE UNTO GOD" (emphasis added)

I have witnessed the sincere, outward expression of this doctrine throughout my life in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Angelo wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:48 AM:Ditto, great article. I joined the LDS Church when I was 19 years old. I am now 63. I served a mission in Italy. I have 5 children and 15 grandchildren. I cannot immagine what my life would have been had I not joined the LDS church. We live in Las Vegas, NV. We hometeach black members of our ward. How could anyone even hint that the LDS are racist when we know that we all lived in a premortal life together as children of our Father in Heaven, God. So in this life we are still all brothers and sisters and our color nor race makes a different. What makes a difference is who and how we worship. My mother is Jewish and my father is Italian. Joseph Smith revealed the grand eternal simple truth that Adam and Eve taught to their children, which is that any and all who want to be saved in God's Kingdom, must be adopted into the Eternal Family of Jesus Christ because he is and will be our Eternal Father from this mortal life through eternity. To be adopted into his family requires the submission of the Articles of Adoption, which are Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by a legal Administrator and the laying of hands to receive the Holy Ghost, also only by a legal administrator. Only the restored Church of Jesus Christ can provide those legal administrators on earth today. Our Father in Heaven is no respector of persons, but he has order and has made it abundantly clear that all of his earthly children can become his sons and daughters in His Eternal Gospel Family by adoption and then by living and keeping his commandments, ordinances and covenants. To all my brothers and sisters, truth does exist upon the earth.

Dotty wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:58 AM:I'm origianlly from Idaho, currently living in Georgia with my husband, where we are serving a mission for the LDS church. We don't get a salary (maybe money isn't the issue). The congregations throughout Georgia are diverse, as is the leadership of those congregations. We love all we have met...mormons and non-mormons alike. We're grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who allows us all to work together to make the whole world a better place...and we do it all through Christ. The Book of Mormon (another testament of Christ) is a companion to the Bible and has simply helped me understand faith in Christ better. I'm grateful for it.

RESMART wrote on Jun 2, 2008 8:19 AM:To: SMART

You are right, there can be some conceited and prideful people of the LDS faith. But I don't think it's fair to judge or comment on the whole faith by those kinds of people. If you used to be LDS yourself, you should know as well as anyone that all Latter-Day Saints are encouraged to be charitable and live Christlike lives and exercise Christlike virtues and attributes. Of course, we all fall short of perfection, and thus we all need the grace of Christ. I'm confident that those who are LDS who continue to be prideful will someday find themselves in a situation that God will intend them to be humbled by.

Joke wrote on Jun 2, 2008 8:33 AM:Honestly, I would never accept a Mormon in my house. NEVER. It's simple, your religion is messed up. "The Book Of Mormon"?? you bring that thing anywhere close to me, I would slap you with it. Hence why I kicked my friend outta my house.

THE BIBLE is enough for me. I don't need anything else.

If you feel you need another book outside the BIBLE to help you in your faith, I suggest you quit.

"In VAIN do they worship me" let that sink into your brains.

Closing comments; I guess some of us Believe in the living GOD and some of us just believe in Joseph Smith...hmmm, I wonder where you Mormons fall in. Shame.

Gregory wrote on Jun 2, 2008 8:41 AM:I think African Americans should look very cautiously at the Mormon Church. Remember, LDS didn't allow African Americans to become clergy or have "Temple Recommendations" until the mid-1970's when Congress looked at redefining the 501C non-profit status for Churches. I remember reading that one of the Mormon Presidents "Living Prophet", said that Blacks were sent to Earth as representatives of the Devil. There's a very good PBS Series on the Church of LDS, that answers so many questions.

SearchingForTruth wrote on Jun 2, 2008 9:57 AM:The Mormon church is one of the most inclusive of any church I know when it comes to "holding the priesthood". What percent of men in other denominations are ordained to the priesthood? One percent or less? In a Mormon congregation it could potentially be 100%. That is different and admirable.

Dee wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:02 AM:To Joe and Gregory

African Americans have been attracted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since the time of Joseph Smith.
A large part of the reason the LDS were driven from Missouri was because of the large voting block that they were becoming. A voting block that was against slavery (Missouri was then a slave state).
Utah was never a slave state! In fact it was not even made a state until after the Civil War.
The PBS Series has a lot of good information, unfortunately not all of it accurate. Many of the ideas presented on the series are actually not LDS, but splinter groups such as FLDS. That is like saying Lutherin beliefs are an accurate representation of Catholism.
I've seen and heard many confusing things throughout my life. The only way to know the truth is to study the scriptures (don't just listen to what others say about them read them yourself), and pray to find your own answers. That is what there is a Holy Spirit - to help you know the truth!

Wendy wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:09 AM:To Joke: It is evident that you haven't heard that mormons believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. This is our first article of faith, as stated by Joseph Smith. Smith never taught anybody to believe in him instead of God. The whole premise of the LDS faith is to ask God if what we teach is true. Please research before writing with such animosity about something you know nothing about.

D Black wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:14 AM:I am amazed at the amount of ignorance and flat our hatred that still exists for Mormons. I assume those that spew such hatred consider themselves Christian. I would think Christ would not say such things at all (Might suggest reading Luke 8). I do not see Mormons as a threat at all. They are usually good people with kind hearts and very good intentions. They believe in strong families, make good neighbors, and strengthen communities. I am sure there are bad apples among them as there are amongst any faith.

I believe the majority of the Mormon church is female and non-Caucasian. As far as African-Americans, I think all faiths have a few skeletons in their closest in this country. Racism, bigotry and simple ignorance are common trait of humanity; I have found no such vehicles of hatred in the Mormon literature I have read. I also know that the LDS (Mormons) and the FLDS (the Polygamists in Texas) churches are no more related to each other than Greek Orthodox is to Southern Baptists.

Dan wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:20 AM:An elderly black women converted to my LDS/Mormon faith years ago. My mostly-white NJ congregation loved, cherished, and served her as we do any other member. She told me that she had NEVER been treated with respect and dignity by whites until she joined our church.

The gospel of Jesus as taught and lived by Mormons produces true color-blindness that comes from the heart.

--Dan

KT wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:33 AM:To Gregory:
I think ANY person should look very cautiously before joining ANY church. It's a committment, and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.
To Joke:
So sad you feel that way. Maybe a more Christ-like attitude would change your behavior. Just a suggestion.

Dee wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:41 AM:I appologize to Joe,

After re-reading your comment I realized that you said that Utah Territory not the State admitted slavery.

Interestingly, as people came some blacks were free, and some came as slaves with their owners from the south. Utah Territory allowed the southerners to keep their slaves, until slavery in all US territories was abolished.

It must have been a confusing time to live in.

Look Very Cautiously wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:52 AM:Joining the Mormon church is not an easy thing to do. You have meet with the missionaries to study and learn about the Mormon faith. You have to attend church and commit to certain things. Everyone who joins the Mormon church does CAUTIOUSLY look at the Mormon faith! I encourage everyone to study with the missionaries and learn about the Mormon faith. Once you have done that, ask Heavenly Father if the Mormon faith is right for you!

Adam wrote on Jun 2, 2008 11:01 AM:Being a member of the LDS faith for 45 years I can say the "Mark of Cain" is church doctrine but did not originate with the church and was a common belief in the 1700-1800's. While Joesph Smith did give the priesthoods to blacks he also gave it to women. After his death Brigham Young who was very much a racist took the priesthood away from blacks and women. The church was baptizing people in Brazil for years not realizing they had black heritage in the 70's. A few years later they allowed everyone to have the priesthood. This is church history and can be researched very easily.

manaen wrote on Jun 2, 2008 12:00 PM:If you want to see for yourself how black people fare in the Mormon Church, go to YouTube and see these videos (less than 5 minutes each): (1)Here's the branch of the Mormon Church in Watts (Los Angeles), do YouTube search on - WATTS BRANCH 2003. (2) This is the 6th annual "Discover Your Roots" African-American seminar hosted by the Mormon Church in Los Angeles, do YouTube search on - ROOTS 15MAR2008. (3) Here's the Adams Ward of the Mormon Church in Los Angeles, do YouTube search on - ADAMS 20JAN2008.

reader wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:05 PM:What a wonderful article. Thanks so much for sharing it.