Darron Smith

[ERCougar]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

The dynamics of justice change when practically no one cares.

I don't care, ergo "practically no one cares".

There are plenty of people who care about this. A lot.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by ERCougar

I don't care, ergo "practically no one cares".

There are plenty of people who care about this. A lot.

There may be a few African/AA members who wrestle with this, and I hope The Church will go about this in a way that meets their needs. I would be fine if The Church apologized. But I'm willing to bet less than 2% of black members make as big of an issue out of it as some here.

None of this has stopped Africa from being the current hotbed of conversion. I came into contact with all major races on my mission, and blacks are by far the group most able to hear the Shepherd's voice.

Every entity has something that they aim to maximize, and The Church's function is to save souls. Thus everything it does should be judged through that lens.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

None of this has stopped Africa from being the current hotbed of conversion. I came into contact with all major races on my mission, and blacks are by far the group most able to hear the Shepherd's voice.

This has been my experience as well as the experience of virtually everyone I've talked to that has gone on a mission to Africa, Europe or parts of the US where there are higher concentrations of African-Americans.

There is a AA member that joined the church a year ago in our branch. He said that the church's stance pre-1978 didn't matter to him during his conversion because

1. He had an undeniable spiritual witness that the church was true
2. It was a thing of the past

Sure, there are plenty of black converts that aren't completely up to speed on this issue, but I don't think this brother's attitude/experience is all that atypical either.

[Goatnapper'96]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

This has been my experience as well as the experience of virtually everyone I've talked to that has gone on a mission to Africa, Europe or parts of the US where there are higher concentrations of African-Americans.

There is a AA member that joined the church a year ago in our branch. He said that the church's stance pre-1978 didn't matter to him during his conversion because

1. He had an undeniable spiritual witness that the church was true
2. It was a thing of the past

Sure, there are plenty of black converts that aren't completely up to speed on this issue, but I don't think this brother's attitude/experience is all that atypical either.

Call it what you want but the fact is that the policy has changed. That is what should matter, in fact can't that be the tacit mea culpa admittance that it was wrong in the first place? I find the calls for "apology" rooted more in the time and effort some have spent researching the topic and self-dubbing themselves "sooooooooooooooo-JERS!" in this war. I feel that perhaps they are motivated by pride and such an apology proves that they were right. In my opinion what is right has already happened.

Much like Chino an apology wouldn't bother me, I just don't think it is relevent when the policy no longer exists and hasn't for 30 years. But it is important to note that the historians have usurped the Prophets on this subject.....those watchmen on the towers need to turn their damn towers in the other direction, damnedit!

[Indy Coug]

Somewhat ironically, a 16 year old Dominican in our branch stopped coming to church because (he claims) he found out about the church and polygamy. For whatever reason, that bothers him more than blacks and the priesthood.

[SoCalCoug]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

There is a AA member that joined the church a year ago in our branch. He said that the church's stance pre-1978 didn't matter to him during his conversion because

1. He had an undeniable spiritual witness that the church was true
2. It was a thing of the past

I think the concern is for those for whom this might be an issue. Not for those for whom it isn't.

How many black people failed to join the church in your branch because of the church's pre-1978 stance?

Rhetorical question - of course there's no way to know. But isn't that sort of the point?

I think the real question is how many black people refuse to ever listen to the missionaries in the first place because they know it's a racist church because of the pre-1978 stance?

My feeling is that horse has already left the barn, and an apology wouldn't have a huge effect on the general feeling. However, it might have an effect on a few, and isn't that worth it?

Also, I believe an apology is the right thing, and isn't that worth it?