1978 Revelation on Priesthood

1978 Revelation on Priesthood
Name	1978 Revelation on Priesthood
Date	June 1978
Location	Salt Lake City, Utah
Organization	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Key persons	Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney, Gordon B. Hinckley
Outcome	Extension of priesthood ordination to all worthy male members regardless of race

1978 Revelation on Priesthood The 1978 revelation on priesthood was a pivotal administrative and doctrinal decision announced by Spencer W. Kimball and ratified by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June 1978. The action ended a long-standing restriction on ordaining men of African descent to the priesthood and allowed black members to participate fully in temple ordinances, reshaping relations with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP-affiliated groups, and affecting interactions with nations like Brazil and South Africa.

Background and doctrine before 1978

Before 1978, leaders such as Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and John Taylor had influenced practices concerning race and priesthood within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which evolved amid debates over teachings from the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and early statements in Journal of Discourses. Policies were affected by cultural contexts including Reconstruction Era, Jim Crow laws, and relations with institutions like the Freedmen's Bureau and political actors in the United States. The priesthood restriction affected temple access tied to ordinances in temples such as the Salt Lake Temple and practices overseen by governing bodies including the First Presidency (LDS Church) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Controversies engaged commentators from Time (magazine), The New York Times, and civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. predecessors and organizations like the Congress of Racial Equality.

Announcement and implementation

The announcement on June 8, 1978, followed meetings of the First Presidency (LDS Church) chaired by Spencer W. Kimball with counselors such as N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney, and with input from apostles including Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson. The First Presidency submitted a statement to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the wider membership, and the change was communicated through publications like the Ensign (LDS magazine) and broadcasts from Salt Lake City. Implementation involved local leaders—stake presidents, bishoprics, and mission presidents—adjusting ordination practices and temple procedures in facilities ranging from the Laie Hawaii Temple to the Cardston Alberta Temple. The decision intersected with international considerations in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Text and theological interpretations

The official statement read by the First Presidency declared that divine direction had been received to extend priesthood ordination and temple blessings to all worthy male members, and it was later incorporated into statements published by the Church Historian's Office and in the General Conference (LDS Church). Theological interpretations invoked concepts from scripture like the Book of Mormon and passages in the Doctrine and Covenants while responders referenced early leaders such as Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Church apologists and scholars including those associated with FairMormon and writers in the Religious Studies Center analyzed interpretations concerning prophecy, priesthood authority, and revelation models compared to precedents like the Wilford Woodruff Manifesto or the Manifesto (LDS Church) on polygamy.

Reactions and impact within the LDS Church

Within the church, reactions ranged from affirmation by leaders including members of the Presidency of the Seventy to questioning among some members influenced by earlier statements attributed to Brigham Young and other nineteenth-century leaders. Church publications and local meetings in stakes such as those in Utah, California, Arizona, and international areas documented shifts in membership engagement, missionary work overseen by Missionary Training Centers, and changes in temple attendance at locations like the Oakland California Temple. Discussions appeared in internal channels, seminaries administered by the Church Educational System, and in correspondence involving the Relief Society and Young Men's Organization.

Responses from other religious and secular groups

Secular media outlets including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Time (magazine) reported on the announcement, while religious organizations such as the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, and various evangelical groups offered commentary. Civil rights organizations, diplomats from nations like Botswana and Nigeria, and commentators in publications such as The Christian Science Monitor and The Atlantic reacted to the policy change in the context of broader debates on race relations and religious freedom. Academics at institutions like Harvard University, Brigham Young University, and the University of Utah published analyses in journals that addressed legal and social implications.

Subsequent developments and official statements

After 1978, the church issued materials clarifying policy in statements by subsequent presidents such as Hinckley and Russell M. Nelson, and institutional offices like the Church History Department and the Public Affairs Department released historical essays and fact sheets. Later official publications, including those on the church's website and in the Ensign (LDS magazine), revisited historical explanations and repudiated past theories; leaders referenced by name in later clarifications include Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and Russell M. Nelson. Institutional changes affected temple construction policy, missionary deployment by Missionary Department offices, and genealogical encouragement through FamilySearch activities.

Historical analysis and scholarly perspectives

Scholars in fields associated with institutions like the Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago have examined the 1978 change using archival sources from the Church Historian's Office, oral histories collected by the Joseph Smith Papers Project, and contemporary media coverage in outlets such as The New York Times and Time (magazine). Analyses have engaged themes involving leadership decision-making, race and religion studies connected to scholars at Howard University and Princeton University, and comparisons with reforms in other faiths such as changes in Roman Catholic Church teachings and developments within Mainline Protestantism. Debates continue in journals and conferences hosted by entities like the American Academy of Religion and the Mormon History Association.

Category:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints