The Doctrine Behind the LDS Priesthood Ban that Nobody Talks About

How did LDS Leaders justify the practice of barring black Latter-day Saints from holding the priesthood?

Prior to 1978, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were not permitted to hold Priesthood Authority because of their skin color. LDS leaders justified this practice in a way unique to Mormonism’s theological framework. Many people don’t realize that the Priesthood Ban wasn’t just a cultural policy, it was repeatedly defended theologically by LDS prophets and apostles using the LDS doctrine of a premortal life (the pre-existence).

Latter-day Saints have a unique claim: to be led by modern day Apostles and Prophets. Yet when the teachings of these prophets are so often tossed aside, it raises the question about whether we can really trust them.

In this video, I cover (1) the theological justification for the priesthood ban, (2) what LDS leaders taught about the preexistence and how it relates to our circumstances here on earth, (3) how the modern LDS church responds today, and (4) why Christians disagree with the notion of a preexistence.