Criticism of Mormonism/Video/8: The Mormon Proposition

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A FAIR Analysis of: 8: The Mormon Proposition

Claims

Claim

• Fred Karger states that Latter-day Saints "didn’t allow blacks in the Church until 1978."

Author's source(s)

• No source provided

Response

•  The author's claim is false Blacks were baptized and participated as members of the Church. They weren't allowed to hold the priesthood until 1978.
• In fact, it was the publication by W. W. Phelps of the article "Free People of Color" in the The Evening and the Morning Star, published in Independence, Missouri, that precipitated the destruction of the press by a mob, since Missouri was a slave state. The Missourians perceived that Phelps was outlining the process by which free blacks could come to Missouri.
• For a detailed response, see: Mormonism and racial issues/Blacks and the priesthood

Claim

• The following quote by George Q. Cannon is displayed:

"How will these be stopped? Only by the destruction of those who practice them. The only way is...for the Lord to wipe them out."
George Q. Cannon, Mormon Apostle

Author's source(s)

• Source not provided in the video.
• The quote is found in Conference Report, October 1897, Afternoon Session

Response

• The quote in context with the portions used in the film highlighted:

In England a short time ago a man who had posed in society as a man of culture and of taste, and who lectured upon esthetics, was found to be guilty of a most abominable crime a crime for which under the old law the penalty was death; a crime which was practiced by the nations of old, and caused God to command their destruction and extirpation. This crime was proved against this man, and some of his associates were what are called noblemen. He was sent to prison. His term of imprisonment having expired, he comes from prison, and is now engaged, it is so published, in writing a book, and, we suppose is received into society, though guilty of this nameless crime. And is this common; If we may believe that which is told to us, without going into researches ourselves, it and other kindred wickedness, is far too common. The same sin that caused the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah! This and other abominable crimes are being practiced. How will these be stopped? Only by the destruction of those who practice them. Why, if a little nest of them were left that were guilty of these things, they would soon corrupt others, as some are being corrupted among us. In coming to these mountains we hoped to find a place where we could live secluded from the abominations of Babylon. But here in this secluded place wickedness intrudes itself, and is practiced in this land which we have dedicated to the Lord as a land of Zion! How can this be stopped? Not while those who have knowledge of these filthy crimes exist. The only way, according to all that I can understand as the word of God, is for the Lord to wipe them out, that there will be none left to perpetuate the knowledge of these dreadful practices among the children of men. And God will do it, as sure as He has spoken by the mouths of His prophets. He will destroy the wicked, and those who will be left will be like the Nephites after the wicked were all killed off; they were righteous men and women who lived for over two hundred years according to the law of heaven.

• Elder Cannon refers to "it and other kindred wickedness, is far too common. The same sin that caused the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah!"
• Note the omission of the phrase: "The only way, according to all that I can understand as the word of God,is for the Lord to wipe them out." The omitted phrase makes it clear that Elder Cannon was offering his own opinion based upon his understanding of the scriptures, and not claiming to be the voice of God on the matter.