I have been spending time reviewing the political and religious rhetoric surrounding Mitt Romney's run for president.
The accusation of racism is frequently raised against the LDS and, now, against Romney. With just cause. Racism in the church is institutional.(1) It's in their 'scripture,' (Book of Mormon). This letter shows that many mormons not only tolerate the racism in the BOM, but practice it openly.
This post refers to a letter from Delbert Stapley, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, to George Romney, (Mitt's father), when he was governor of Michigan in 1964. After he had made a pro-civil rights speech.
In the letter, Romney is scolded for not adhering to church dogma about what Stapley called 'negroes'(2).
"When I reflect upon the prophet's statements and remember what happened to three of our nation's presidents who were very active in the negro cause, I am sobered by their demise."
Apparently, Stapley thinks championing civil rights will lead to one's demise. Even if you are president of the United States.(3) Why? Because Bringham Young said so. (He doesn't elaborate which presidents he is talking about, but I would think Lincoln and Kennedy would fit in this category. I have no idea who the third might be. If you know, please leave a comment so I can update this post.)
"A friend of mine... ...a great champion of the colored race... ...to see if the Lord would not lift the curse from the colored race and give them the privileges of the Priesthood... This friend of mine met a very tragic end by drowning."
I have a t-shirt with a carton by Gary Larson on it. The cartoon shows 'god' at his computer. On the keyboard, there is a key labeled, "Smite." Apparently, Smith has access to this computer, too, and uses it to smite people who advocate for racial equality in society.
"I am sure you know that the Prophet Joseph Smith... proposed to congress that they sell public lands and buy up the Negro slaves and transport them back to Africa... I am sure the Prophet... ...foresaw the problems we are faced with today with this race, which caused him to promote this program."
This statement is badly flawed for several reasons:
It is vehemently racist on its face.
The plantation owners in America wouldn't have sold their free labor force to anyone to ship back to Africa. The southern economy was dependent on cotton. Cotton farming was labor intensive. Using the slaves to perform 'free' labor was the only way cotton farming was profitable. The southern farmers wouldn't have 'sold' their slaves to the government, or anyone else. Their economy was dependent upon slaves.
The idea that this insight attributed to Joseph Smith, Jr. foretold the problems that were vexing the US as we crawled towards racial equality 100 years after the civil war is preposterous. The point to this statement is to keep the slaves/blacks right where he wanted them - in subjugation.
"I cannot... accept the idea of public accommodations; the taking from the whites their wishes to satisfy they negroes. (sic) I do not have any objection to recognizing the Negro in his place and giving him every opportunity for education..."
Stapley is willing to support the emancipation of blacks from a repressive, racist society, as long as they remained in their place.
"It is not right to force any class or race of people upon those of a different social order or race classification. People are happier when placed in the environment and association of like interests, racial instincts, habits and natural groupings."
Stapley was not only opposed to civil rights for all, he felt he was arbiter of how people should live and what would make them happy. This practice - of knowing what is good for people better than they do themselves - has remained in the LDS church in many forms. Some as pernicious as institutional racism.
"I am not against a Civil Rights Bill if it conforms to the views of the Prophet Joseph Smith. ...the Negro is entitled to considerations... ...but not full social benefits or inter-marriage privileges with the Whites... ...nor should the whites be forced to accept them into restricted White areas."
These 'beliefs' are being recycled wholesale to justify oppression and denial of civil rights to gay persons - human beings and citizens of the United States.
This statement shows how the mormon church felt that the measure of progress in society should be how well it conforms to the prophesies of Joseph Smith, Jr. It is a perfect example of how the LDS feels it is appropriate to force their religious beliefs on other, non-mormon, citizens under the color of law.(4) This is another example of why Mitt Romney shouldn't hold any public office, even that of dogcatcher...
"We must understand and recognize their status and then, accordingly, provide for them. I just don't think we can get around the Lord's position in relation to the Negro without punishment for our acts;... ...The Lord will not permit His purposes to be frustrated by man."
In these statements, Stapley moves from believing the Joseph Smith, Jr. had all the answers to calling the "Lord" a racist who wanted to oppress blacks. God is racist? And agrees with mormon social policies?
Finally, the letter ends with the statement: "This letter is for your personal use only (also Lenore), and is not to be used in any other way."
I am sure many mormons would say that the last paragraph shows that Stapley's views were his own and did not reflect the views of the LDS. Stapley doesn't say that his views are the views of the church. Earlier, Stapley says that the prophet is the only one that can speak for the church. However, this letter is on LDS stationary and, therefore, must speak for the church.
So, are we to believe that Stapley went rogue and misstated church beliefs and policy? Hardly. Everything, (except the part where Stapley infers the "Lord" is a racist), is based on the prophesies of the Joseph Smith, Jr. The only way the church could distance themselves from this is to say they don't believe what Smith said... Fat chance...
Distribution:
It is easy to believe, in the pre-Internet early '60's, that Stapley believed that his typewritten letter would never see the light of day. The means to spread information in 1964 was limited to the mails. All information relating to the church is carefully controlled by the church. Somehow, I don't think the church appreciates this letter being brought to the attention of the millions who have connections to the Internet. That this letter should surface 47 years later shows that nothing that gets out of one person's hands will ever remain private for any length of time. Your speech, your writing, your actions all have the potential to come back and bite you in the ass...
Conclusion:
Don't even consider voting for Romney for president.
(1) Bringham Young was an unapologetic racist… who's interpretation of scripture institutionalized racism within the LDS church. Under his leadership, Utah became a slave territory and the mormon church supported the aims of the confederacy during the civil war.
(2) All use of the word, 'negro' and 'colored' arise from the original text of the letter.
(3) Apparently, there is some basis in LDS history for what Stapley says/believes – as Bringham Young put it in 1851: "…any President of the United States who lifts his finger against this people shall die an untimely death and go to hell."
(4) Bringham Young, upon establishing the mormon stronghold in the Great Basin, set out to dis-empower the federal government in his new theocracy. He usurped the federal courts by " …radically expanding the powers of the local probate courts, which Bringham controlled, thereby usurping the jurisdiction of the federal government. Most probate judges were mormon bishops, and the juries who assembled in their courtrooms were made up almost entirely of good mormons who obediently based their verdicts on instructions received from church leaders.
Krakauer, Jon; Under the Banner of Heaven; Anchor Books; 2004; footnote, page 208
The accusation of racism is frequently raised against the LDS and, now, against Romney. With just cause. Racism in the church is institutional.(1) It's in their 'scripture,' (Book of Mormon). This letter shows that many mormons not only tolerate the racism in the BOM, but practice it openly.
This post refers to a letter from Delbert Stapley, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, to George Romney, (Mitt's father), when he was governor of Michigan in 1964. After he had made a pro-civil rights speech.
In the letter, Romney is scolded for not adhering to church dogma about what Stapley called 'negroes'(2).
"When I reflect upon the prophet's statements and remember what happened to three of our nation's presidents who were very active in the negro cause, I am sobered by their demise."
Apparently, Stapley thinks championing civil rights will lead to one's demise. Even if you are president of the United States.(3) Why? Because Bringham Young said so. (He doesn't elaborate which presidents he is talking about, but I would think Lincoln and Kennedy would fit in this category. I have no idea who the third might be. If you know, please leave a comment so I can update this post.)
"A friend of mine... ...a great champion of the colored race... ...to see if the Lord would not lift the curse from the colored race and give them the privileges of the Priesthood... This friend of mine met a very tragic end by drowning."
I have a t-shirt with a carton by Gary Larson on it. The cartoon shows 'god' at his computer. On the keyboard, there is a key labeled, "Smite." Apparently, Smith has access to this computer, too, and uses it to smite people who advocate for racial equality in society.
"I am sure you know that the Prophet Joseph Smith... proposed to congress that they sell public lands and buy up the Negro slaves and transport them back to Africa... I am sure the Prophet... ...foresaw the problems we are faced with today with this race, which caused him to promote this program."
This statement is badly flawed for several reasons:
It is vehemently racist on its face.
The plantation owners in America wouldn't have sold their free labor force to anyone to ship back to Africa. The southern economy was dependent on cotton. Cotton farming was labor intensive. Using the slaves to perform 'free' labor was the only way cotton farming was profitable. The southern farmers wouldn't have 'sold' their slaves to the government, or anyone else. Their economy was dependent upon slaves.
The idea that this insight attributed to Joseph Smith, Jr. foretold the problems that were vexing the US as we crawled towards racial equality 100 years after the civil war is preposterous. The point to this statement is to keep the slaves/blacks right where he wanted them - in subjugation.
"I cannot... accept the idea of public accommodations; the taking from the whites their wishes to satisfy they negroes. (sic) I do not have any objection to recognizing the Negro in his place and giving him every opportunity for education..."
Stapley is willing to support the emancipation of blacks from a repressive, racist society, as long as they remained in their place.
"It is not right to force any class or race of people upon those of a different social order or race classification. People are happier when placed in the environment and association of like interests, racial instincts, habits and natural groupings."
Stapley was not only opposed to civil rights for all, he felt he was arbiter of how people should live and what would make them happy. This practice - of knowing what is good for people better than they do themselves - has remained in the LDS church in many forms. Some as pernicious as institutional racism.
"I am not against a Civil Rights Bill if it conforms to the views of the Prophet Joseph Smith. ...the Negro is entitled to considerations... ...but not full social benefits or inter-marriage privileges with the Whites... ...nor should the whites be forced to accept them into restricted White areas."
These 'beliefs' are being recycled wholesale to justify oppression and denial of civil rights to gay persons - human beings and citizens of the United States.
This statement shows how the mormon church felt that the measure of progress in society should be how well it conforms to the prophesies of Joseph Smith, Jr. It is a perfect example of how the LDS feels it is appropriate to force their religious beliefs on other, non-mormon, citizens under the color of law.(4) This is another example of why Mitt Romney shouldn't hold any public office, even that of dogcatcher...
"We must understand and recognize their status and then, accordingly, provide for them. I just don't think we can get around the Lord's position in relation to the Negro without punishment for our acts;... ...The Lord will not permit His purposes to be frustrated by man."
In these statements, Stapley moves from believing the Joseph Smith, Jr. had all the answers to calling the "Lord" a racist who wanted to oppress blacks. God is racist? And agrees with mormon social policies?
Finally, the letter ends with the statement: "This letter is for your personal use only (also Lenore), and is not to be used in any other way."
I am sure many mormons would say that the last paragraph shows that Stapley's views were his own and did not reflect the views of the LDS. Stapley doesn't say that his views are the views of the church. Earlier, Stapley says that the prophet is the only one that can speak for the church. However, this letter is on LDS stationary and, therefore, must speak for the church.
So, are we to believe that Stapley went rogue and misstated church beliefs and policy? Hardly. Everything, (except the part where Stapley infers the "Lord" is a racist), is based on the prophesies of the Joseph Smith, Jr. The only way the church could distance themselves from this is to say they don't believe what Smith said... Fat chance...
Distribution:
It is easy to believe, in the pre-Internet early '60's, that Stapley believed that his typewritten letter would never see the light of day. The means to spread information in 1964 was limited to the mails. All information relating to the church is carefully controlled by the church. Somehow, I don't think the church appreciates this letter being brought to the attention of the millions who have connections to the Internet. That this letter should surface 47 years later shows that nothing that gets out of one person's hands will ever remain private for any length of time. Your speech, your writing, your actions all have the potential to come back and bite you in the ass...
Conclusion:
Don't even consider voting for Romney for president.
(1) Bringham Young was an unapologetic racist… who's interpretation of scripture institutionalized racism within the LDS church. Under his leadership, Utah became a slave territory and the mormon church supported the aims of the confederacy during the civil war.
Krakauer, Jon; Under the Banner of Heaven; Anchor Books; 2004; footnote, page 209
(2) All use of the word, 'negro' and 'colored' arise from the original text of the letter.
(3) Apparently, there is some basis in LDS history for what Stapley says/believes – as Bringham Young put it in 1851: "…any President of the United States who lifts his finger against this people shall die an untimely death and go to hell."
(4) Bringham Young, upon establishing the mormon stronghold in the Great Basin, set out to dis-empower the federal government in his new theocracy. He usurped the federal courts by " …radically expanding the powers of the local probate courts, which Bringham controlled, thereby usurping the jurisdiction of the federal government. Most probate judges were mormon bishops, and the juries who assembled in their courtrooms were made up almost entirely of good mormons who obediently based their verdicts on instructions received from church leaders.
Krakauer, Jon; Under the Banner of Heaven; Anchor Books; 2004; footnote, page 208
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