The Origin of the LDS Priesthood Ban (feat. Mauli Bonner and Kwaku El) 

This was the most refreshing take on the Priesthood ban (or "delay") I've ever heard. Love what Kwaku was saying about Africa in the latter days!

As a half black member of the church who is a convert and who knows of his own ancestors slavery I have often field race related questions with the preisthood. I didnt know of this specific history but not providing the priesthood to those who were inslaved to another or potentially would be inslaved as many new freeman would be makes tons of sense. The Church is True and this podcast is fantastic 😊

“It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America-it will fill the world.” - Joseph Smith Jr.

I’d totally watch an Elijah Abel movie starring Kwaku El. Make it happen!

Kwaku's theory makes sense to me. It reminds me of the stripling warriors. They were the children of the Anti Nephi Lehis, who had been Lamanites, i.e., they had the dark skin, and yet they came in at a crucial time in the great war described in the latter half of the Book of Alma to save the Nephites when they were facing severe risk of defeat. Recently one of the apostles made the comment that French may become the dominant language of the Church because of the growth of the Church in French speaking areas of Africa. The Lord is very good at orchestrating the results he needs from circumstances which we would not expect to yield those results. Kwaku, I think you are on to something.

I love Kwaku's take on holding Africa in reserve for the last battle. The African people that I have taught on BYU Pathways have been extraordinarily faithful and strong in their testimony. I love that perspective that God actually knew what he was doing. It's hard to feel like it wasn't just a horrible injustice but if there's a reason...this take is so helpful.

Mauli is correct, MM know their doctrine and history. I am always impressed with their recollection of scripture.

I like to think we gentiles were also denied the priesthood for so many years when only the house of Israel received the priesthood for so many years.

I’m with Mauli, every time I watch you guys I am blown away by the historical knowledge and critical thinking skills that you have. Seriously amazing

Well, I just learned that I don't know anything about this subject. Thanks for another great interview!

Kwaku's theory about Africa and black converts being a huge part of the final calvary near Christs return is brilliant!

Kuwaku was on fire in this episode. I have thought a similar thing as I studied women's history under California education system. Women are not part of history till recently and it kept many women out of positions of power which has saved many for good. Learned a lot of Mauli too. I am so glad I can learn from those who have done the research. Great show.

It is difficult sometimes for a people to step outside their culture. Sometimes I think all of it was a test of faith.

I don’t care about the priesthood ban. I think I would defend the church either way. I’m quite partisan. Here’s my only thing, to put this all in perspective. The restored Gospel was restored to Nordic People. Our ancestors were converted, often by force, in the 900’s. So it was roughly 900 years of exposure to Christianity before the Lord got around to establishing the church. Many things happened in the 900 years. There were many debates, discussions, martyrs like William Tyndale, and rebels like Martin Luther. It took us time to get to a point where the Lord could talk to us about his restored gospel. I feel like ordaining black people to the priesthood in the early 1800’s would be like Ordaining Whites to the priesthood in 1100’s. At that point we had not figured Christianity out. Things take time. People learn and change slowly. In fact come to think of it, there was a war in Germany in the life of Martin Luther called the peasants war. It was started by Anabaptists that took over the town of Munster Germany. They even had polygamy before the Lord took back the town and punished them. There a lot of crazy white people who had to get sorted out after they left the Catholic Church. We often disagree with the Catholic Church as well. Things just take time. It takes time to sort out Christian discipleship. What’s more hard efforts on the part of the Church to convert black people in the post-civil war era would fly right in the fact of what Booker T. Washington was trying to teach. His main thesis was that Black People can’t expect to have in one generation the society that white people took generations to build. His big criticism was that Blacks tried to learn obscure things like French grammar, instead of learning practical things like mechanics. He thought that benevolent charities from the North often sent the wrong things to south to help black people. He mentions this case where a charity bought a grand piano for the local school district that cost $600, when all the buildings in the district were worth about $2000. One of the best museums I ever visited was BB King’s in Mississippi. Segregation was hard on black people but they learned a lot,and accomplish quite amazing things in those years and integration wasn’t easy. So life was always tragic. I wish we didn’t have such a fallen world.

I agree with kuaku. God knows that we will screw up and factors that into his plans. But we also suffer for our mistakes. Joseph Smith and Martin Haris, lost the 116 pages and they suffered for it, but God clearly knew that was going to happen and had a plan for it. Also, God sometimes allows us to have the lesser law, if that's all we can handle. The US founding fathers should have eliminated slavery at the birth of the nation, but they weren't willing to accept that higher law of freedom, the result was eventually that freedom had to come through the bloodiest war in American history.

If I could pick 4 guys for a Saturday all night discussion, One would be Kwaku for one of them! And it would be glorious!

Kwaku, I love the delay idea, and that perhaps the African people were kept in reserve for the LAst days. Love MM and Ward Radio for their open, knowleadgeable, and forthright discussion. The Priesthood and those of African descent is one of the most misunderstood and controversial events in our church, but one day, hopefully soon, we will get the answers we seek. One thing we need to remember when it comes to the priesthood, is that a different times throughout history, one group of people were to hold it, while others seemingly were not. During the time of the 12 tribes (Moses) only the Tribe of Levi held the priesthood (at least the Aaronic), and seemingly only the prophet held the greater (Melchizidek) priesthood. They were assigned/blessed to be the bearers of the priesthood, and no other tribe had it. It wasn't until Christ's ministry (as far as we know) that the Melchizidek priesthood was given to the general population of the members (at least to the 12 apostles on either continent). We don't have enough info about it. We have no specific info about Priesthood from Adam to Noah, and the line of Ham. We're missing all that, but as God seems to continue to follow patterns repeatedly, likely only certain groups held the priesthood to (but that's just my specualtion). God repeatedly follows patterns, look at how many times the N.A. Continent seems to have been wiped of one group of people and prepared for another righteous people to inherit it. Something also to consider is that the priesthood is not necessary to be prophetic, or seamingly serve as a prophet. Joseph didn't hold the priesthood until after he had started translating the Book of Mormon. The Bro. of Jared is never mentioned as having the priesthood or the power of god, despite walking and talking with Him. Wayne May (of Heartland Book of Mormon fame) said in his address about the Jaredites, they may have been dark skinned according to the research on the Adena (if they are the Jaredites). Perhaps there was a reason for the delay of the priesthood going to all men? The gospel was held from the Gentiles at the time of Christ until the revelation given to Peter to go begin preaching to them. Even Peter had a difficult time with the change, and that was seemingly a conflict between him and Paul when it came to missionary work. On my mission, I learned that the African people are naturally a faith-filled, God fearing, and stalwart people when it comes to religion. Once converted they are unmoving. Regardless, all we can do is use the info we have from doncumentation/journals, etc. figure our what happened, and then just move forward, because every worthy man is now able to hold the priesthood, not just the lesser priesthood, but the greater as well. To all our thinking today, we can't imagine it being any other way. The priesthood is more readily available more worthy men than at any time in the history of the world, likely because we are in the Last Days, and are preparing for the Lord's imminent return, and he will need as many righteous men of every nationality as he can get to govern the Millennial worldwide Kingdom of God. May the Savior come swiftly so we can move on to a better world.

I'm of the radical modern view that it was completely of God. And that it was likely done for the express purpose of growing the early Church. And as a sifting trial (both in the beginning and end) to the members.

Kwaku at 31:00 throwing the big bone out there. Love it! Ironically, a version of the Brad Wilcox "maybe we're asking the wrong question" statement.

Y’all putting out too much 🔥 I can’t keep up!

The whole Joseph of Egypt story does this exact thing. He saved the entire Israelite gene pool by allowing Joseph’s brothers to sell him into egypt

Kwaku : you are a Gem! Thank you so much for your contributions.

That one comment about Africa has set off ringing bells for me; what an awesome idea. Maybe our African brothers and sisters will led us. First being last; and last first concept. Love that.

I've always struggled with if anything this stood for over 120 years. What I love is I grew up in a pretty much an all white town in rural Montana with an all white Ward and no one ever spoke of the 1978 lifting as negative. I was born in the 70s and grew up there in the 80s and 90s and anytime this was brought up it was love and excitement about the change. I never heard a negative remark.

I cannot believe you don't have more subscribers! We have got to do something about that! Your shows are awesome!!! 😎

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it." - Isaiah 2:2 OH YEAH!!!!

As an RN, I did observe that an enormous percentage of my patients were Coke addicts, or Mountain Dew. I don't touch soda, unless it's my birthday.

Amen, thanks for sharing

Thank God for this video.

Thanks, I love listening

Me being Gen X'r growing up believing the doctrine of black people coming from Cain.. being taught that from my grandmother who loved ALL people.. when a few years ago it started being questioned more as to it even being doctrinal.. it was hard for people of my generation because then we were thinking if that was not doctrine then what else is not doctrine that we think is.. How does one reconcile with instances where Prophets like David O McKay petitions the Lord and the Lord tells him not to ask any longer about the ban being lifted .. it's a very difficult topic from all angles... Because almost every prophet since Brigham Young prayed to the Lord about it.. Why didn't they receive the answer to lift it immediately!!

THANK YOU! FINALLY! I am so sick of hearing members who are terrified to appear as racist so they throw the baby out with the bath water...

Exciting and interesting to listen to THANKYOU

Is it true the Priesthood ban/delay was to coincide with Van Halen’s first album being released?

Thank you so much kwaku and Jonah and Cardin for bring this to the surface. The 2 stances of church history I’ve had concerns about is the priesthood ban and plural marriage. It makes sense Joseph smith did mean to give blacks the priesthood but because of the southern states and lds southern state sympathizers, Brigham young ended up banning blacks from the priesthood . Thank goodness for modern day revelation, President Kimball and the twelve were inspired. Wilford woodruff and the manifesto also truly inspired.

I jump around trying to catch up on your presentations the last 2 years. I try to share the awesome ones. Is there a way to find them by episode or ? Do you have them in order?

Such good information and thoughts! Thank you! Where can I find Mauli’s movie?

I was listengin to the beginning and was surprised to hear the name Zebedee Coltrin. I had to look it up to verify that it is my wife's 3rd great grandfather..

I have a slave ancestor on my fathers side (4× great grandmother). My father joined the church in the 70s and he swears he saw black people in the temple in his first visits when he could attend the temple.

Very impressed w production quality

"The first shall be last and the last shall be first."

Thank you, guys. Honestly, like much of our history, church history, even Biblical history, etc. there are so many things that we can't really know for sure, but interesting takes. Kwaku's theory is very interesting.

Great work guys, that was entertaining as well as insightful. Thank you for not shying away from the tough topics. LDS history, like all history is riddled with the bad actions of good people and the good actions of bad people. We cannot change the past but we certainly can admit what was wrong and learn from it and not repeat it. Repentance demands change, as we as a church and individuals continually strive to change for the better we will get stronger. I am so grateful for the strength and conviction of the members in the past and present who have been wronged and denied who stay the course. Your character makes us stronger as a whole.

You never give the example of God knowing that Joseph would ask and ask about giving Martin Harris the 116 pages. God had Nephi write his record for a reason that God knew (the lost manuscript) but Nephi didnt know why

Heavenly father is blessing Africa its growing fast i new He would make it up to them because He loves us all equally and they have been faithful

This is so eye opening! Thanks so much everyone! But just a thought…. Brad, yu should play Yukon Cornelius in Rudolph…. You’re perfect for the part.. especially your beard! ❤

here’s some examples of how God’s ends are accomplished or aided by wickedness… 1st example joseph in egypt to the point that Joseph absolves his brothers and attributes his being in egypt to God Gen 45:7-8 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. second example in the Book of Mormon the wicked priests of King Noah who burned Abinidi left their wives kidnapped lamanite daughters enslaved those that followed alma for a time until God delivered them… But in Mosiah 24:4 “4 And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon in every land which was possessed by his people; and thus the language of Nephi began to be taught among all the people of the Lamanites.” what’s significant about this is by teaching the language of the Nephites among the Lamanites they are laying the groundwork for the future mission of the sons of Mosiah

Just watched this. Learned a lot. Laughed a lot. Lots to think about.

Really great showthis one

This is probably one of the best serious Kwaku takes. I think his position makes the most sense.

I swear, your shows just. get better and better!

God

Those factories never close down they run 24/7. At no point is there only one person there.

What I love about the talk that Brigham Young gave is the quote that Kwaku mentioned that, "blacks would be given all blessings denied them and MORE!" but also the fact that he never said it was revelation from God! In that one talk, we see the difference between the man and the prophet. I believe the van was racist, but God allowed it to happen because he knew that other prophets and apostles would end it. It also ended up filtering out who God's true people were when the ban was lifted. Many people left the church because of the ban being lifted. I believe it was an overall test of faith for all people.

I had never heard that about king Solomon, but I had heard Moses married an Ethiopian (along with Ziporah) which would have given Ezra a heart attack; Did all Of Moses’ seed hold the priesthood?

God saves the best for the last days and Africans are humble and strong please suport brother Gabriel Mariahs podcasts he had to walk away from his familys house to join the church Gabriel is African God lets those He loves to be tested to become stronger

Read FAITH OF OUR FATHERS series. It talks about this lds and people around the church during the civil war.

"Make lemons out of lemonade" 😅

Slight issues with the additional mic volume. Otherwise great job yet again.

That comment by Kwaku about Cardon's family moving to Ecuador got me like 💀😂 because I live in Ecuador with my Ecuadorian wife 😂

Kwaku almost sounded like James White had gotten to him 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

Brilliant show...far to many phenomenal pieces of information concerning the misunderstanding of the stance held by the church about being Racist

Race is a Social Construct that I stopped subscribing to as a child. There’s only one race, human.🙏🏽

We would love a lot more dark skin people to join the church The black skin king in GAHNA got baptized into the church and he went to General conference

hey can we gety paid to watch?

This is a new, interesting type of gaslighting.

Joseph Smith, Elder’s Journal, July 1838, “we do NOT believe in setting the negroes free.” (Joseph Smith Papers)

The Karl Marx dude zebedee Coltrane does make since he created the priesthood ban in the lds church .

Wasn't the Purpose of Christ Restoring His Church so that it would spread to the four corners of the Earth? 200 years later.... 7 million active members???

I dont understand, Joseph said we shouldnt baptize them but those two black men got baptized and even did temple work? so they were baptized correct? The quotes from Joseph mentioned were not given so this doesnt make sense. (the theory Joseph wanted them to have the priesthood)

"Cavalry" not "Calvary." One is soldiers on horses. The other is where the crucifixion happened.

Excellent! As always! Don't forget Oliver Cowderys letter about not preaching to blacks! The Gospel was necessarily one of emigration, and preaching it to blacks was literally against Missouri Law. Also, America had localize slave quarters because the South was agrarian. There were no large cities in the South to justify a slave city. Love your stuff. Love you guys.

I don't completely agree but interesting anyway.

I've always thought if we aren't punished for Adams sins then why would anyone think the Cain or Ham curse/ punishment would stand as a theory. Especially for Cain since the Noahs Flood would have wiped out that possibility as a theory. As far as priesthood banning (not justifying). But historically Levites were the only high priests not that I think this comparison is completely apples to apples. But priesthood complete inclusion wouldn't be historically correct and the reason for this wasn't a punishment to non Levites. I still believe there was racial historic bigotry in our church history that's very regrettable. I kind of think of Jews escaping Egypt wondering for years because they weren't ready for the promised land. I wonder if as a church we weren't ready for the blessings of this incorrect doctrine. Who knows what the church's growth would have been if earlier members were ready. Look at the growth in Africa. A bunch of thoughts hopefully I made sense.

This was a good one.

The priesthood ban was official church doctrine, It was stated so in a official first presidency doctrinal statement, it was confirmed by so many prophets snd apostles, it's mentioned in the books of Abraham and Moses, and Joseph Smith made this statement: "The curse is not taken off the sons of Canaan, neither will it be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come." The ignorance of this new generation amazes .me!

You guys are very good at bringing these issues to light and discussing truth instead of what exmos jump straight to

Brad's beard is going to need its own spot on the show soon

I really enjoyed this video guys, keep'em coming.

My great great great great grandpa Salmon Gee was baptized by Zebedee Coltrin. I need to get rebaptized

You guys got some great guests! Really enjoying the content lately!

Mauli? In High School we just called him Jr.

Nice another episode of this great channel

😂hello from Arkansas

I really wish you guys had delved into the foundational question here, which is "why should we assume the ban was a bad thing?". Everyone is on the "it was definitely a mistake" train" and I don't see why that assumption is just eaten up.

What do you think the world would look like if the ban never happened?

I believe that Kwaku is closer to the truth here. I get that we should be comfortable talking about the bad just as we are when talking about the good. But Kwaku makes some good points: What IF God actually intended it to happen? What IF God has in the past restricted the priesthood to only some men? Also, in the 1852 speech, doesn't Brigham Young claim to have received the revelation that Kwaku quoted? Let's not let wokeness blind us from the truth.

34:24 - Look what's happening with the baby formula right now. Some babies and died and many got sick due to negligence in the factory. And NOW there is a shortage. This is some scary crap, not being able to feed babies. I would also think there is far more breastfeeding happening in Africa than in the Western world.

Washings and anointings to get the priesthood?

Zebedee didn't come up with the ban, please...

I love this show so much, that I smash the like button BEFORE I watch it!!!!!!

3 week old video. more views than subscribers.

A thing I’m coming to understand is poor policy vs revelation and ordinances in the church. People need to separate the two. I think it was just a major oversight by church officials and confusion after Joseph Smith died. I think the leaders were waiting for god to tell them what to do rather than just doing the right thing. There never was a revelation to take the priesthood away from black men. Sometimes leaders of the church make huge mistakes. We have to accept that or Judas was never an apostle

In tone with this video i wanna remind yall that Jesus came from the lineage of solomon, the “sin” child of david

Had to take a cold shower after Kwaku talked about shirtless hard workers. Thanks.

It is ridiculous to think that a simple misunderstanding (or any other possible reason) would lead to a priesthood ban for 150 years, when, a "true" prophet (or multiple true prophets in a 150 year timespan) would have been prompted to fix the damn error and not make his prophets, apostles and apologists look like dumb a**es. To use the excuse that Prophets are human and God is silent and lets anything happen, begs the question, What is the value of a church led by men and a silent God?

"That would wipe out 90% of the population of the world except for one continent."... what an ignorant statement.

The other professed it happened the opposite way around but not so romantic. Everybody said "OH", as if it were ground breaking news, like they don't know real history, that 99% of the SA was forced and brutal. This is where you lose sir, and the words you spill from your mouth are not credible. People can believe what they want to believe and agree to disagree but it should be done in a truthful manner. Why should anyone (besides the people who Pat you on the head) believe that you know anything about the priesthood when you don't even know anything about history....I can see why you believe what you believe... 😢

So did the Priesthood Ban come from God? Because for 126 years, prophets, apostles, and seventies have stated copiously that God commanded it. Bruce R. McConkie: “Negroes in this life are denied the priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty...but this inequality is not of man’s origin. It is the Lord’s doing, is based on his eternal laws of justice, and grows out of a lack of spiritual valiance of those concerned in their first estate” (Momon Doctrine, 1958). Brigham Young also stated, "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Journal of Discourses, volume 26, p.110-111) Now the Church backs away from this theology: “Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else.” (Race and the Priesthood, 2013). So if the Priesthood ban was not of God for those 126 years then all those prophets, apostles, and seventies from Brigham Young down to Spencer W. Kimball violated one of the most basic commandments of God: “And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:12). Additionally, how can the LDS Church be influenced by the “apostate” teachings of southern Baptist or Evangelical Christianity in those days? Did God not reveal to Joseph in the First Vision that “all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom” and that “ All churches and their professors were "corrupt",[31] and "all their creeds were an abomination in his sight”? Why then did the LDS Church retain the “Curse of Cain” theology if it was a corrupt creed? The first thing that God should have revealed to Joseph and all other proceeding prophets was the universal brotherhood of man; this in order to correct the racist doctrine of Cain. Instead, we see the LDS Church retain and perpetuate this racist doctrine for 126 years. How can this be the one true Church on the face of the planet?

Carden needs to stop drinking sodas - getting brain fog.