From: ACUS10@WACCVM.SPS.MOT.COM (Mark Fuller)
Subject: A Response to a LDS Reader!
Organization: Motorola Inc.
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 04:16:53 GMT

From: slhw4@cc.usu.edu (Jason Hunsaker)
> In article <1992Sep24.054557.25906@newsgate.sps.mot.com>,
> ACUS10@WACCVM.SPS.MOT.COM (Mark Fuller) writes:
> [...]
> > It's not just an issue of making a mistake -- its an issue of the
> > truthfullnes, which appears to be substanially lacking with the
> > Mormon leadership.  Tell me if you see a problem with the following
> > statements by Joseph F. Smith.
> >
> >   'Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but ... he became the
> >   father of an inferior race...
> >    Millions of souls have come into the world with a black skin...
> >   they have been made to feel their inferiority and have been seperated
> >   from the rest of mankind from the beggining...
> >   the race of blacks upon whom the curse was placed...'
> > _Joseph F. Smith, The Way to Perfection_, 1931
> >
> >   'The ignorance on the part of writers who do not belong to the
> >   Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in relation to the
> >   view of the 'Mormons' on the status religiously or otherwise of the
> >   Negro is inexcusable...
> >   The Latter-day Saints, so commonly called 'Mormons' have no
> >   animosity towards the Negro.  Neither have they described him
> >   as belonging to an 'inferior race.'"
> > _Joseph F. Smith_, Deseret News, Church Section, July 14, 1962
>
> First of all, are you sure this is the same person making both
> statements?

Yes, I am.

> There is a Joseph Fielding Smith that died in the 1930s or 40s I
> can't remember which.  This one is commonly referred to as
> "Joseph F. Smith".

I checked my phone book and I saw one there too.

> There is another Joseph Fileding Smith that died in the early
> 1970s.  This one is commonly referred to as "Joseph Fielding
> Smith".

Yes, and there are probably a couple of "Joseph Francisco Smith"'s
too.

> Are you claiming that the same "Smith" made both statements?

Yes, I am.

> I do not have the sources to available at the moment to verify
> your quotations and sources.
>
> Taken at face value, I think we're taking about statments made by
> two different people.

No, they are not.

> One may have been unaware of the other's
> comments.

I doubt it since it is the same man.

> The first is clearly a quote from a personal
> publication.  The second seems to be more of a press release.

The first was a Mormon book on Mormon theology, and where the Negro
fits into it.  The second was his words printed in the Church
Section, employing a certain amount of subterfuge in order to deceive
the membership.

> This is a good indication of how authoritative (binding) the
> comments are.

Or, a good indication of his honesty.

> Or in other words, it helps to indicate whether
> the person is expressing their opinion/engaging in speculation,
> or in issuing/explaning a Church policy.

Or in other words, it helps to indicate when the whole truth is
not being said.

> I have problems with the first statement because it is not in
> harmony (IMHO) with the LDS standard works -- the standard by
> which all such things are compared, and seems to be based purely
> on conjecture and personal speculation.  It cannot be
> corroborated with anything in the LDS canon.

Do you mean to tell me the church was wrong on its doctrines
concerning blacks being a curse race?  I thought it came out of
the book of Abraham.  Although you dont feel it is in harmony,
(and I dont either), it certainly was considered to be in harmony.
'White and delightsome' ring a bell?  Personally, I am glad Mormonism
has moved away from its racist doctines.  I am just pointing out
the duplicity of Joseph F. Smith.

Mark
<standard disclaimer>

Xref: sparky talk.religion.misc:17158 alt.atheism:18028