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It's interesting because I've always perceived Mormonism (at least the dogmatic kind) as being intolerant given its history of racism and sexism. I suppose a lo

by warent 7y ago

It's interesting because I've always perceived Mormonism (at least the dogmatic kind) as being intolerant given its history of racism and sexism. I suppose a lot has changed over the years, although I've still never met a black mormon and I even lived in Boise for like 4 years

samatman 7y ago
Neither race nor sex are beliefs, so that wouldn't be in contradiction to the comment you're replying to. I have no opinion on whether Mormons are racist, sexist, or tolerant of different beliefs. My limited experience with them suggests that they're easy-going and work hard, that's about all I've got.
paulddraper 7y ago
> I've still never met a black mormon and I even lived in Boise for like 4 years You live in Boise. So... I know many black Mormons, but only in places with a significant black population. FWIW, Utah had a black LDS Congresswomen for the past several years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Love https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Love
- darksaints 7y ago
  As a former Mormon, black mormons were so rare that they were treated like celebrities.
  - paulddraper 7y ago
    Where did you live? The LDS Church is headquarted in Utah, and the whole state is literally 1% black. I'm a Mormon and grew up in Florida, and the LDS Church had a typical blend for a "mostly white church." (Realize that virtually every church has a clear racial majority of some kind.)
    - darksaints 7y ago
      In California. There were two black families, a total of five people, in our stake with over 1000 active members.
snuxoll 7y ago
> I've still never met a black mormon and I even lived in Boise for like 4 years Boisean myself, it’s not exactly like we have much diversity here to begin with - on any given day it feels I’m as likely to spot a non-Caucasian individual as I am a unicorn. That said, I’ve known plenty of LDS members over my life, and just like any religious group you can see ones that are actually tolerant of other beliefs and ones that put on a mask and speak differently behind your back. Then there’s the ones that would speak poorly directly to your face.
jacurtis 7y ago
This is largely because up until 1976 the Mormon church didn't allow Black members into its temples or to receive the priesthood (which is an essential step within Mormonism). Imagine joining and/or believing in a church that said "because you are black, you can't go to our glorious temples that we talk so much about. And you can't go to the highest form of heaven because you are black." This is literally the way it was (not exaggerating whatsoever). Luckily the NCAAP started to attack the church since they were one of the most blatantly open racist institutions going into the 1980s. The leadership of the church realized they wouldn't win this fight and changed the rules.

by warent 7y ago

samatman 7y ago

Neither race nor sex are beliefs, so that wouldn't be in contradiction to the comment you're replying to. I have no opinion on whether Mormons are racist, sexist, or tolerant of different beliefs. My limited experience with them suggests that they're easy-going and work hard, that's about all I've got.

paulddraper 7y ago

> I've still never met a black mormon and I even lived in Boise for like 4 years You live in Boise. So... I know many black Mormons, but only in places with a significant black population. FWIW, Utah had a black LDS Congresswomen for the past several years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Love https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Love

darksaints 7y ago
As a former Mormon, black mormons were so rare that they were treated like celebrities.
- paulddraper 7y ago
  Where did you live? The LDS Church is headquarted in Utah, and the whole state is literally 1% black. I'm a Mormon and grew up in Florida, and the LDS Church had a typical blend for a "mostly white church." (Realize that virtually every church has a clear racial majority of some kind.)
  - darksaints 7y ago
    In California. There were two black families, a total of five people, in our stake with over 1000 active members.

snuxoll 7y ago

> I've still never met a black mormon and I even lived in Boise for like 4 years Boisean myself, it’s not exactly like we have much diversity here to begin with - on any given day it feels I’m as likely to spot a non-Caucasian individual as I am a unicorn. That said, I’ve known plenty of LDS members over my life, and just like any religious group you can see ones that are actually tolerant of other beliefs and ones that put on a mask and speak differently behind your back. Then there’s the ones that would speak poorly directly to your face.

jacurtis 7y ago

This is largely because up until 1976 the Mormon church didn't allow Black members into its temples or to receive the priesthood (which is an essential step within Mormonism). Imagine joining and/or believing in a church that said "because you are black, you can't go to our glorious temples that we talk so much about. And you can't go to the highest form of heaven because you are black." This is literally the way it was (not exaggerating whatsoever). Luckily the NCAAP started to attack the church since they were one of the most blatantly open racist institutions going into the 1980s. The leadership of the church realized they wouldn't win this fight and changed the rules.