Do Mormons believe black people are evil?

Answer 1

No, definitely not. This has never been a teaching of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) welcomes black people into full fellowship with open arms. Mormons believe that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, etc are beloved children of God and should be treated with love and respect. Black Mormons have all the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as members of any other race. They are ordained, head congregations, preach, perform weddings and baptisms, etc. In recent years, the Mormon Church has expanded quite rapidly in Africa and ordained a few black men as General Authorities in the Church. In the modern church, race is not an issue, everyone is equal.

The founder of the Mormonism movement, Joseph Smith, was quite accepting of blacks in his time. In the 1830's and 1840's, he welcomed blacks into the church so long as they were freed slaves or if they had the permission of their masters. He ordained at least a few black men into the priesthood, and black members were treated as equals with their white counterparts. Mormons advocated putting an end to slavery, which prompted the governor of Missouri to kick them out of his state by Extermination Order (this order also made it legal to kill a Mormon in Missouri!).

Despite all this, there were times in the past when the Church did have some policies which many, including church members, felt were unfair to black members. Blacks were always welcome to be baptized and worship together with their local congregations as well as to hold some responsibilities in the church. However, after the death of Joseph Smith, ordinations of black men dropped and only the descendants of those few that were already ordained could join the priesthood. Since black men could not be ordained, they could not hold leadership positions, could not perform the essential rites religion, and could not participate in sacred Temple ceremonies. Some leaders in the 1800's taught that dark skin was a punishment given to Noah's son Ham and his posterity for uncovering his father's nakedness in Genesis 9, which was a common teaching across many Christian denominations at the time. Because of this policy, throughout the early 1900's, many viewed blacks with more of a pity than an equal fellowship. Interracial marriages were practically prohibited. Preaching in Africa was almost nonexistent because of the logistical nightmare that would be a church entirely run by whites for native black members. However, some Africans traveling abroad came across the church and returned to Africa to set up independent branches - preaching and baptizing converts without ordination or the sanction of the governing bodies of the Church. In 1978, after decades of prayer by church members and leaders, it was announced that the policy would be rescinded and black members could once again have full fellowship in the Church. Today's youth and young adults can't imagine the church without blacks in full fellowship. Black ordinations and interracial marriages are commonplace, and the thought of them not being allowed seems absurd. There are many well-known black Mormons, such as Gladys Knight, US congresswoman Mia Love, NBA players Thurl Bailey and Jabari Parker, and YouTube sensation Alex Boye.

Answer 2

no we believe everyone is equal