Fundamentalist LDS church members object to new black priest doctrine

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon Church's acceptance of blacks into its priesthood has gained apparent approval in most church circles, but one group calling itself Concerned Latter-day Saints says the change was wrong.

Several blacks have been given priesthood offices since the June 9 announcement that God had told church leaders no longer to exclude their race from full participation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A handful now are in demand as speakers in local church meetings.

A spokesman for the 4 million-member church, Jerry Cahill, said Thursday reaction to the doctrine, even among an all-white congregation he visited in racially troubled South Africa, is one of "grateful acceptance."

A measure of discontent has been apparent, however, in some letters to the editors of Salt Lake City newspapers and in a full-page ad in the Salt Lake Tribune last Sunday.

Much of the criticism comes from fundamentalists, some of whom have been excommunicated from the church for advocating or practicing polygamy, abandoned by the church in 1890.

The chairman of the Concerned Latter-day Saints, sponsor of the $2,676 ad, said Thursday he wanted to warn fellow Mormons "that they re moving more and more toward changes that will suit the world" rather than God.

The church announced the change as a revelation to church leaders. Sources said it came during a meeting in the Salt Lake Temple eight days before it was announced to the public. Few official details have been given.

Chairman of the group sponsoring the ad, identified as Joseph Jensen, said that is his real name but "not one I am known by." He asked not to be further identified because threats had been made against his life.

He said his group includes more than 2,000 people, many of whom have been excommunicated from the church for their views.

Asked if he were excommunicated, Jensen declined a direct answer, but said, "I was born LDS, raised LDS and have taught in every organization in the church. I'm fully converted to Mormonism."

He said reaction to the ad has been about 60 percent unfavorable. He said he had received about 100 letters addressed to a post office box given in the ad.

He said those who support the ad feel the church is about to repudiate works now accepted as scripture. He said if founder Joseph Smith were a Mormon today, he'd be excommunicated.

Cahill said the church had no response to content of the 5,000-word ad. Asked if a person who held the views expressed in it would be excommunicated, he said, "It's a possibility. The views certainly are not in harmony with those of church authorities."

The ad says, "There are still a few valiant, uncompromising men, within and without the official church, whose integrity leaves no room for changing the doctrines and ordinances, breaking the everlasting covenant, or for presuming to bestow blessings out of season."

"This is in no way whatsoever against the Negro," Jensen said, "I know some I'd just as soon be pals with as any white man." He said his objection is to the change in church doctrine.

He said only "one or two or three" letters he has received in response to the ad have racist overtones.

The ad quotes Mormon colonizer and second president Brigham Young as saying that on the day church leaders give "the descendants of Cain" the priesthood, "On that very day and hour . . . the Priesthood is taken from this Church and Kingdom and God leaves us to our own fate. The moment we consent to mingle the seed of Cain, the Church must go to destruction. . ."

The church, in making the revelation announcement, said every president of the church has said all men may one day receive the priesthood.

Jensen said sponsors of the ad believe blacks were to receive it only in the hereafter.