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Mormonism and slavery

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Based on Wikipedia: Mormonism and slavery

In the heart of the 19th century, as the United States grappled with the contentious issue of slavery, a new religious movement emerged: the Latter Day Saint movement, more commonly known as Mormonism. From its inception, Mormonism found itself entangled in the heated debate over slavery, with its leaders and followers holding varied and often conflicting views. The story of Mormonism and slavery is not a straightforward one; it's a complex narrative filled with shifting stances, geographical influences, and scriptural interpretations.

Early Opposition and Scriptural Ambiguity

The early Mormons, primarily converts from the Northern United States, were staunchly opposed to slavery. They believed their anti-slavery stance was supported by Mormon scripture, which seemed to condemn bondage. However, as the church base moved to the slave state of Missouri and began to gain Southern converts, things started to change.

New scriptures revealed to the founder, Joseph Smith, instructed Latter-Day Saints not to intervene in the lives of the enslaved. This shift in doctrine allowed some enslavers to join the church and bring their enslaved people with them, even when the church moved to the free state of Illinois.

"It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another." - Doctrine and Covenants, Section 101:79

Despite this scriptural stance against slavery, the church taught against interfering with the enslavement of others, a common belief in America at the time. This ambiguity allowed Mormons to adapt to their surroundings, whether in free or slave states.

The Schism and Diverging Paths

After Joseph Smith's death, the church split. The largest group followed Brigham Young, who walked a fine line between pro-slavery and abolitionist sentiments. Young stated he was neither an abolitionist nor a pro-slavery man, yet he allowed enslavement within the territory he led his followers to: Utah.

Young taught that slavery was ordained by God and that efforts to abolish it were futile. He even encouraged the enslavement of Native Americans, viewing it as a means to 'civilize' them. Meanwhile, a smaller group followed Joseph Smith III, who opposed slavery and established the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now known as the Community of Christ).

Justifying Slavery: The Curse of Ham

Both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young used the biblical Curse of Ham to justify slavery. According to their interpretation, Black skin was a mark of Cain, passed down through Canaan, Noah's grandson. This curse, they argued, justified the enslavement of Black people.

"After all this, in the year 1844, I had the satisfaction of seeing the pure and hallowed principles of liberty and equal rights bearing away the prize of popularity... and I was not a little surprised to find the principles of liberty, equal rights and everlasting progress so deeply rooted in the public mind." - Joseph Smith, 1844 presidential campaign

Despite his earlier pro-slavery leanings, Smith began to express more anti-slavery positions later in his life. However, Young consistently argued for slavery, even after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Slavery in Utah: A Complicated Legacy

Under Young's leadership, the LDS Church tried to legalize slavery in the Utah Territory. Young taught that Black people were meant to be servants and that enslavement was for their benefit. He also advocated for the enslavement of Native Americans, viewing it as a way to elevate their spiritual and social status.

The church's stance on slavery was often criticized. Republicans in Congress condemned the Mormon view of slavery, and anti-slavery groups denounced the church's practices. Despite this, the church continued to participate in the trafficking of enslaved people, with some members even donating enslaved individuals to the church as tithing.

The End of Slavery and Beyond

When the American Civil War broke out, some Mormon enslavers returned to southern states, fearing they would lose the people they kept enslaved. After the Emancipation Proclamation, many formerly enslaved people left Utah for other states, particularly California.

Young continued to give discourses on slavery, characterizing himself as neither an abolitionist nor a pro-slavery man. He criticized both the South for their abuse of enslaved Black people and the North for their alleged worshiping of Black people. Slavery remained allowed under the Constitution of Utah as punishment for a crime until the constitution was amended by vote in 2020 with support from the LDS Church.

Modern Perspectives and Reckoning

The LDS Church today does not support slavery and disavows the theories advanced in the past that Black people's skin tone is a sign of divine disfavor or curse. However, the complicated legacy of Mormonism and slavery continues to be a topic of discussion and debate among historians and members of the church.