Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons (2009)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates under a lay priesthood, one too which all 'worthy' male members over the age of 12 are entitled. That is since June of 1978, prior to that time, and stretching back into the middle of the 19th Century, members of black African decent, even those with only trace amounts of black ancestry, were bared from the priesthood. This meant that blacks could not service as missionaries, bishops, or hold most any leadership position in the Church. It also meant that they were not able to receive temple endowments, and as a consequence could not enter into eternal marriage. The origins of the black priesthood ban are debated, but it is known that during the life time of Church fonder Joseph Smith (1805-1844) a number of black men were ordained to the priesthood and allowed to service in various church offices including Elder and Seventy. This practiced changed early in the administration of Smith's successor Brigham Young (1801-1877), and the priesthood ban stayed in place until a revelation received by Church president Spencer W. Kimball in 1978.

Given this history being a 'black Mormon' comes with a lot of baggage and that is what this documentary aims to explore. The movie is co-produced by Darius Aidan Gray, who starting in the early 1970's had served as head of 'The Genesis Group' the Church's then auxiliary for black members. The documentary thus comes from a faithful perspective, but does not just wash over a complicated history, there would be little point to the movie if it did. Though the black priesthood ban was global in scope the film concentrates on the United States, telling stories of black Mormon pioneers in both the 19th and the 20th century's. Of particular interest are the stories of those blacks who joined and remained faithful too the LDS Church prior to the priesthood revelation, particularly during the racialy charged 1960's. The flotsam of various racist folk beliefs that churned up attempting to justify or explain the priesthood ban are also explored. Today the Church has no official explanation for the ban, and neither has it apologized for this past practice. The story of black Mormons thus in many ways remains untold.

Good