Jabari Parker has been compared to Grant Hill, but with better shooting abilityAs a devout Mormon, Parker strives to balance both athletics, Christian faithParker has already paid unofficial visits to Michigan State, Kentucky and Duke |
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/seth_davis/07/18/Jabari.Parker.Peach.Jam/index.html
Max Mueller, a Ph.D. candidate in religious history at Harvard University, wrote a response (to a recent Washington Post article) for Slate which stated:
For many Mormons, reading Bott’s words was like unearthing a theological dinosaur long thought extinct but suddenly rediscovered in the corner of an obscure BYU office. His positions seem radically out of place in a modern church with an international membership that includes probably some 500,000 Mormons of African descent. The church’s expensive and ubiquitous “I’m a Mormon” public relations campaign has been carefully and deliberately multiethnic; Mormon leaders want the world to view the religion as the diverse global community it has become. Unfortunately, Bott’s beliefs, though arcane, represent a strain of Mormonism that has persisted well past the 1978 revelation.
Here’s what he said via email:
“I can appreciate Rev. Dozier’s active participation in the 2012 presidential campaign and support for his candidate. But the delegate lead Romney currently has, demonstrates that most Americans do not share Rev Dozier’s concerns about a racial divide if Romney is the nominee. Americans are very smart and are most concerned about fixing the economy and together getting Americans back to work.As a 40 year old African American Bishop for the past five years here in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, I have experienced a multicultural atmosphere within our house of worship. When you step into our service, it’s hard to tell which cultural group is the majority.
Every religion has members that struggle with or embrace inequality in some form. Ours is no exception. However, just as in every religion, it’s important to separate the people and their personal struggles from the actual doctrine of the church. Three simple points help to illustrate that the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not prejudice against Blacks or any other group:
1. The Book of Mormon was originally written in, and translated from an African language, Egyptian.
2. The Book of Mormon and the LDS version of the King James Bible, actually clarifies that the use of the words “skin”, “black” and “darkness” are referring to the state of the spirit, heart and mind, and not a reference to race or literal skin color at all
3. The Doctrine & Covenants, the book of divine instructions for establishing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, clearly states numerous times that all are equal and all are to receive alike.
We would invite Rev Dozier and anyone else who would like to gain clarity on these issues to attend one of the African American Outreach Program classes put on throughout the country by regular members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or by simply viewing the Blacks in the Scriptures DVD series by Marvin Perkins and Darius Gray, two African American Latter-day Saints. Information on the DVD series and where classes are held can be found at www.BlacksintheScriptures.com
The Church’s position is clear—we believe all people are God’s children and are equal in His eyes and in the Church. We do not tolerate racism in any form.”
See also:
If perseverance in the face of persecution is a mark of divine chosenness and a key to Mormon identity, then black Latter-day Saints are “doubly Mormon,” argues Max Mueller, a Harvard-trained non-Mormon scholar.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/53668023-180/mormon-james-lds-mueller.html.csp
Because of a recent statement by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strongly denouncing all forms of racism within and without the Church both past and present, many are curious about the history of the Church’s restrictions on priesthood, a policy that ended thirty four years ago. An article in BYU Studies on this topic, published originally in 2008, has recently come available: “This article is the definitive scholarly treatment of the 1978 priesthood revelation,” says Professor John W. Welch, editor-in-chief of BYU Studies. …
Go to: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/racial-remarks-in-washington-post-article or
http://www.blacklds.org/church-statement-regarding-washington-post-article-on-race-and-the-church
See also http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/race-church or
http://www.blacklds.org/the-church-and-race-all-are-alike-unto-god
See a related blog at: http://www.fairblog.org/2012/02/28/dispelling-the-myth-of-the-curse-of-cain
See this article:
FORT LAUDERDALE — Bishop Fred Bethel sees his congregation as an example of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of brotherhood.
Bethel, 40, of the Fort Lauderdale Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1100 S.W. 15th Ave., ministers to a diverse congregation that represents almost every face known to man. …
http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8990&Itemid=331
http://ldsmag.com/church/article/9116?ac=1
“In this audio interview, BYU graduate Yeah Samake shares the story of his father’s vision for education which raised an entire family from hunger to prominence. We’ll hear how his actions eliminating corruption as Mayor of a small town brought him to the attention of national leaders in Mali, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected President of Mali in April of 2012. You’ll also learn what it’s like for brother and sister Samake and their children to be the only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a country with a population which is 90% Muslim.”
