I didn't know it at the time but Taggart died of cancer that summer (1969). He had revised his essay somewhat, and added the McMurrin letter with its claims about the 1954 conversation with President McKay. He also added a statement from McKay's son, Llewelyn--to whom Taggart had written--in which Llewelyn confirmed the accuracy of McMurrin's account based on a recent [apparently Spring 1968] conversation with his father. Some twenty years later I learned that a copy of this revised version of Taggart's essay was mailed to Hugh B. Brown about the first of September [1969], and that Brown in turn had given a copy to McKay's son Lawrence suggesting he take the matter up with his father. He did this, in company with his brother Llewelyn and Alvin R. Dyer on September 10th. As recorded by Dyer in McKay's Journal Record [daily office journal] of that date,

[Quote from Dyer's words in McKay's Journal Record]

We sat in the President's office, the President seeming quite alert and roused for the discussion to follow. Lawrence explained that on the basis of his father's statement to Sterling McMurrin some time ago, that the withholding of the Priesthood from the Negro by the Church was a practice and not a doctrine. [sic] An article had been written for "Dialogue Magazine" by a Brother Taggart, who is the son of the president of Utah State University, which had received more or less an endorsement by Llewelyn based upon the reported interview which President McKay had had with Sterling McMurrin.

This article seemed, in Lawrence McKay's mind, to bring the whole Negro question regarding the right to hold the Priesthood into focus, and that if this truly was a practice and not a doctrine, as Sterling McMurrin had inferred from President McKay's statement to him, then why was this not the time to drop the practice.

He asked his father if this was not perhaps the time to announce that the Negro could be given the Priesthood, which he alone could announce, and to do so now voluntarily rather than to be pressured into it later.

Lawrence asked the question, "What proof do we have that Negroes are descendants of Cain?"

I [i.e., Dyer] felt it my responsibility to make some comments concerning this vital matter... [at which time he enumerated many of the traditional, generally prooftext arguments in support of priesthood denial, but also included the report of a 1961 conversation with McKay in which McKay said that the priesthood denial could only be changed by revelation.]

[Dyer then asked if he could obtain a copy of Taggart's article, saying that he] would be pleased to study it and make a report to the President. President McKay asked that I do this.

Lawrence then stood up and said, "Perhaps, father, we had better leave this with you and you can think about it." I [Dyer] suggested that perhaps it could be brought up at a meeting of the First Presidency at a later appropriate time. The President asked that this be done.

[Dyer concluded this account: "I have covered this incident in considerably more detail than is usually devoted to the Journal Record, but I feel that it is highly significant. After having glanced through the article, I am convinced that it has many erroneous statements and concepts in it concerning the relationship of conditions that withhold the Priesthood from the Negro at the present time."]

[End of Quote from Dyer]

According to McKay's Journal Record, a week later, September 17, Dyer reported to McKay "that he had read the article prepared for 'Dialogue' by Brother Steven Taggart, now deceased, and considered it one of the most vicious, untrue articles that has ever been written about the Church. He said it is filled with untruths and vilifications." Additionally, "President [Nathan L] Tanner" said that Eugene England, one of the editors of 'Dialogue' had called on him and was very serious about his connection with 'Dialogue' and said he wanted to retire from the project. President Tanner said he told him that there was one thing he had to do and that was protect his name and he did not see how he could do that with the kind of stuff that is going into the magazine. President Tanner said Brother England wants to do what the Church wants him to do."

Two weeks later, on September 30, Dyer reported to the Presidency (excepting McKay)" that "he had prepared an article in answer to Brother Steven Taggart concerning the origin of the priesthood in the Mormon Church. President Dyer gave the original article he had prepared to [McKay's secretary] and a copy to President Brown. President Dyer commented that it would not be well to publish this material because it amplifies the scriptures and the revelations that have been received concerning the curse of Cain." President Brown stated that the 'Dialogue' magazine had decided not to publish Brother Taggart's article."

The following week, October 8, another exchange between Dyer and Brown is recorded in McKay's Journal Record, and again written by Dyer. It is the last entry on the subject:

[Quote from Dyer in McKay's Journal record]

I [Dyer] mentioned to President Brown that I had prepared a supplement to my analysis report on the Taggart Article which purported to show the synonymous condition of the family order (Patriarchal) and the priesthood, that the Lord used these two conditions synonymously. This is what Cain rebelled against and Seth did not. (See Moses, Chapter 6.)

President Brown said that that is another matter. We should give the Negro the Priesthood, that we had only one scripture in Abraham that suggested otherwise.

I asked him if he had read the article which I had prepared and given to him, (which obviously he had not), which stipulates a number of passages in the Book of Moses, or the Inspired Translation of Genesis, by the Prophet which gives greater clarity to the reasons for our positions with regard to the Negro, more so than the passage in Abraham.

He then stated that George Albert Smith stated that withholding of the Priesthood from the Negro was a practice. "Yes," I [Dyer] replied, "but a practice based upon principles that have been revealed from the Lord."

President Brown then said, "We will wait and see what the next President of the Church will do."

(He had tried twice of late to get President McKay to withdraw the withholding of the Priesthood from the Negro, but President McKay had refused to move on it.