Official Declaration 2
Overview
Official Declaration 2 (specifically the 2013 introductory heading analyzed here) provides the historical and theological context for the 1978 revelation that ended the LDS Church's racial restrictions on priesthood ordination and temple worship. The text asserts that while early Mormonism under Joseph Smith saw a few Black men ordained, subsequent leaders instituted a ban on conferring the priesthood on Black males of African descent. Crucially, the 2013 text claims that 'Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice,' framing the ban as a historical ambiguity rather than a doctrinal mandate. It then explains that Church leaders believed a new, direct revelation from God was required to overturn the practice. This revelation was reportedly received by President Spencer W. Kimball on June 1, 1978, in the Salt Lake Temple, effectively opening all priesthood offices and essential saving ordinances (temple endowments and sealings) to all worthy members regardless of race. From an evangelical perspective, this text is highly significant. It highlights the LDS reliance on continuous, extra-biblical revelation and an exclusive, hierarchical priesthood. Because LDS theology requires priesthood authority and temple ordinances for exaltation (the highest tier of heaven), the pre-1978 ban effectively barred Black individuals from full salvation. The declaration thus underscores a soteriology based on works, rituals, and institutional authority, contrasting sharply with the biblical doctrines of justification by faith alone, the closed canon of Scripture, and the universal priesthood of all believers.
Key Figures
- God (The claimed source of the revelation altering the priesthood practice)
- Joseph Smith (The founder of Mormonism, noted here as having ordained a few black male members to the priesthood during his lifetime)
- Spencer W. Kimball (The 12th President of the LDS Church, who received the 1978 revelation lifting the racial ban)
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuing Revelation
Assertion
God provides new, binding instructions to the Church President to alter or reverse previous church practices and doctrines.
Evidence from Text
Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter this practice and prayerfully sought guidance. The revelation came to Church President Spencer W. Kimball...
Evangelical Comparison
In LDS theology, the heavens are open, and the living prophet receives direct revelation that is equal to or supersedes past scripture. This text demonstrates that a practice maintained for over a century—which carried eternal salvific consequences for Black members—could only be overturned by a new revelation. Evangelical Christianity, adhering to Sola Scriptura, teaches that the biblical canon is closed and sufficient for all faith and practice (Jude 1:3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Evangelicals believe God does not issue new, paradigm-shifting revelations that alter the fundamental requirements for approaching Him.
Exclusive Priesthood Authority
Assertion
The priesthood is an exclusive authority conferred by church leaders, which can be restricted or unrestricted based on divine mandate.
Evidence from Text
Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent... The revelation removed all restrictions with regard to race that once applied to the priesthood.
Evangelical Comparison
The LDS Church teaches that its specific, restored priesthood is the only valid authority to act in God's name and perform saving ordinances (like baptism and temple marriage). The fact that this priesthood could be withheld from an entire race highlights its institutional, exclusive nature. Evangelical Christianity teaches the 'Priesthood of All Believers' (1 Peter 2:9). Because of Christ's ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice as the Great High Priest (Hebrews 7:23-27), the veil was torn, and all who place their faith in Christ have immediate, unmediated access to God. No human organization holds the keys to restrict God's grace or presence from any believer.
Universal Equality Before God
Assertion
God views all people equally, regardless of race, gender, or social status.
Evidence from Text
The Book of Mormon teaches that 'all are alike unto God,' including 'black and white, bond and free, male and female'
Evangelical Comparison
The text asserts universal equality by quoting the Book of Mormon. Evangelical Christianity wholeheartedly affirms that all humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and that in Christ there is no distinction between ethnicities or social classes (Galatians 3:28). However, the evangelical critique focuses on the internal contradiction within Mormonism: if 'all are alike unto God,' the 126-year institutional ban on Black members receiving essential saving ordinances directly violated this stated doctrine.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text reveals a soteriology dependent on an exclusive human priesthood and continuous revelation. Evangelicals believe salvation is immediately accessible to all through faith in Christ, requiring no modern prophets or exclusive priesthood ordinations.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap centers on Soteriology (how we are saved) and Ecclesiology (the nature of the church and authority). In Mormonism, exaltation (the highest degree of heaven) is impossible without receiving temple ordinances, which in turn require the LDS priesthood. By banning Black individuals from the priesthood, the LDS Church effectively banned them from full salvation. The 1978 revelation was required to open the gates of exaltation to Black members. This entire framework violates the evangelical pillars of Sola Fide (Faith Alone) and Solus Christus (Christ Alone). Evangelicals believe that Christ's atoning work is entirely sufficient. When a person of any race places their faith in Christ, they are immediately justified, adopted into God's family, and granted full access to all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). No human organization, prophet, or priesthood hierarchy stands as a gatekeeper to God's grace. Furthermore, the reliance on a 1978 revelation to correct a 126-year-old error violates Sola Scriptura, as the Bible already clearly established the universal availability of the Gospel (Galatians 3:28).
For All Ages
Imagine you want to talk to the King, and the King has already said, 'My door is open to everyone, no matter who you are, just come in!' That is what evangelical Christians believe Jesus did for us. But in this text, the church taught for a long time that people with a certain skin color couldn't get the special VIP pass (called the priesthood) needed to get all the King's blessings. They said they had to wait for a new message from the King to change the rule. Christians believe the King's door was never closed to anyone based on race, and we don't need a special VIP pass from church leaders because Jesus is the only pass we need.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text relies on extra-biblical, modern revelation to establish who is eligible for God's full blessings, superseding the biblical witness.
Universal Priesthood of Believers
The text assumes the necessity of an exclusive, hierarchical priesthood that acts as a gatekeeper to saving ordinances.
Sola Fide
By linking full spiritual participation to priesthood ordination (a works-based requirement), it denies that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Priesthood"
In This Text
The exclusive authority and power of God delegated to worthy male members of the LDS Church to act in His name and perform saving ordinances.
In Evangelicalism
The status of all true believers in Christ, who have direct access to God without the need for a human mediator, because Jesus is the ultimate High Priest.
"Revelation"
In This Text
New, authoritative instructions given by God to the modern LDS prophet that can alter or reverse previous church doctrines and practices.
In Evangelicalism
God's completed disclosure of Himself and His will, culminating in Jesus Christ and perfectly recorded in the closed canon of Scripture.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: In the context of this declaration, full salvation (exaltation) involves receiving the priesthood and participating in temple ordinances.
How Attained: Attained by being a faithful member, being ordained to the priesthood (for males), and receiving temple ordinances.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on personal worthiness, obedience to church leaders, and the reception of priesthood ordinances.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text operates on a paradigm entirely opposed to Sola Fide. If salvation were by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), a ban on priesthood ordination would have no bearing on a person's eternal destiny. The very fact that the ban was a crisis requiring divine intervention proves that LDS soteriology requires human works and institutional rituals.
Mandates & Requirements
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Spencer W. Kimball as a true prophet of God.
- Accept that the lifting of the ban was a result of divine revelation rather than social or political pressure.
- Accept the historical narrative that the origins of the ban are unclear.
Ritual Requirements
- Worthy Black males are now required to be ordained to the priesthood to fulfill their spiritual duties.
- All worthy members, regardless of race, are now expected to participate in temple ordinances.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed the introduction says that church records offer no clear insights into the origins of the priesthood ban. Have you ever read what Brigham Young or the 1949 First Presidency said about why the ban was in place?
- If past prophets taught the racial ban was a direct commandment from God, and modern leaders say the origins are unclear, how do you determine which prophets are speaking for God?
- How does it make you feel to know that for 126 years, an entire race of people was denied the ordinances necessary for eternal families based on the decisions of church leaders?
- If Jesus tore the veil in the temple so everyone could have direct access to God, why is a human priesthood necessary today?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Universal Equality ('All are alike unto God')
The deep desire for God to love and accept all people equally, regardless of race or background, is perfectly fulfilled in the biblical Gospel. In Christ, there truly is no division, and no human institution can bar anyone from His grace.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
Believers must grapple with the reality that God's supposed 'one true church' enforced a racist policy that denied exaltation to Black people for 126 years. If the prophets were wrong about something so vital for so long, the believer carries the heavy burden of uncertainty regarding whether current prophetic teachings are actually from God or just the prejudices of modern men.
The text reinforces that a person's eternal destiny is tied to receiving ordinances from a specific human institution. The believer carries the burden of maintaining worthiness to access this priesthood, knowing that without the institution's approval, they cannot achieve full salvation.