This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Mormonism's racial history may hurt Romney" (sltrib.com, Feb. 1):
LDS Church spokesman Michael Purdy quoted the Book of Mormon to explain the current views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on why blacks may be ordained to the priesthood: God "denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female" (2 Nephi 26:33). Later in the verse the general principle is succinctly stated: "All are alike unto God."
That passage resonates with St. Paul: "there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:20).
These are passages we Mormons now frequently quote whenever people mention that Mormons once denied blacks the priesthood. The late LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley frequently cited these verses. Once we were blind, but now we see that when God said black and white are alike, he included priesthood ordination. Glory, hallelujah!
Well, if black and white are alike to God, so are male and female — why not similarly allow women to be ordained to the priesthood? Please, God, another revelation telling us what is plain in the texts we so frequently quote.
Susan Campbell
Los Angeles