We are speaking historically.
I suppose you don’t understand that Utah has one of the best employment stats in the country. That out-of-staters are flocking in from EVERYWHERE. That we have the greatest snow on earth, and wonderful areas of temperate cliamate as well. Utah is experiencing MORE growth than almost any other State.
Blacks anyone? The consensus in Utah seems to be...Not in MY back yard. Please.
As I noted already you’all prefer Latinos ~ they are more willing to accept below-market wages (in cash) and take orders ~
It appears that there is a problem with racism among some LDS members in Utah. The church has publicly repudiated this attitude. Here is what LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley said in the April 2006 General Conference of the Chruch:
(link):LDS Apostle Dallin H. Oaks explained in an interview for PBS:
I remind you that no [person] who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ. How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color is ineligible?Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.
There is no basis for racial hatred among the [membership] of this Church. If any within the sound of my voice is inclined to indulge in this, then let him go before the Lord and ask for forgiveness and be no more involved in such.
Helen Whitney for PBS (HW): Another subject. Take me back to the time just before the ban on the priesthood was lifted.This does not 'apologize' for the Church doctrine prior 1978. The Church believes the priesthood restriction on blacks prior to 1978 was instituted by God and to 'apologize' for it would be to criticise God. Elder Oaks stated above:LDS Apostle Dallin H. Oaks (DHO): I can’t remember any time in my life when I felt greater joy and relief than when I learned that the priesthood was going to be available to all worthy males, whatever their ancestry. I had been troubled by this subject through college and my graduate school, at the University of Chicago where I went to law school. I had many black acquaintances when I lived in Chicago, the years ’54 through ’71. I had many times that my heart ached for that, and it ached for my Church, which I knew to be true and yet blessings of that Church were not available to a significant segment of our Heavenly Father’s children. And I didn’t understand why; I couldn’t identify with any of the explanations that were given. Yet I sustained the action; I was confident that in the time of the Lord I would know more about it, so I went along on faith.
Nobody was more relieved or more pleased when the word came. I remember where I was when I learned that the priesthood would be available to all worthy males, whatever their ancestry. I was at a mountain home that our family had purchased to have a place of refuge. I had my sons up there, and we were digging something. We had a big pile of dirt there. I’ve forgotten what it was now, but the phone rang in the house. I went inside, and it was Elder Boyd K. Packer. He said: “I have been appointed to advise you as a representative of the academic people, many of whom have been troubled by the ban on the priesthood, professors, and students, and so on. As president of Brigham Young University and as their representative [Elder Oaks was president of BYU at this time], I’ve been appointed to advise you that the revelation has been received that all worthy male members will be eligible to receive the priesthood, whatever their ancestry.” I thanked him, and I went outside and I told my boys, and I sat down [voice cracks with emotion] on that pile of dirt and cried. And I still feel emotion for that moment. I cried for joy and relief that the Lord had spoken through His prophet, that His blessings were now available to all: the blessings of the priesthood, the blessings of the temple, the blessings of eternity. That’s what we desired. I praise God for it.
I didn’t understand why; I couldn’t identify with any of the explanations that were given. Yet I sustained the action; I was confident that in the time of the Lord I would know more about it, so I went along on faith.In another era, God revealed to his Apostles that a racial restriction on teaching the Gospel was removed. In Acts Chapter 10, Peter has a vision revealed to him indicating that the Gospel and baptism should be extended to the Gentiles. Prior to this, only Jews could be taught and baptized.
I'm sure this will not be sufficient 'answer' or 'apology' for those demanding one, but I don't think it's likely that the Church will do more than restate what is stated above.
Oh, please. I work in Salt Lake and my company employs a large number of minorities and our corporate marketing manager is African-American. He grew up in North Carolina, came here for school when he was 19 and liked it so much that he stayed after graduation, got married and he and his wife are raising their 3 children here. Since my company is owned by a very prominent LDS member of the community and most of its workforce is LDS, your “not in my backyard” accusation is extremely weak, IMO. BTW, he’s not LDS either.