My post yesterday about the “eyebrow-cocking” tenets of Mormonism earned me a few interesting emails — including this one, from Scott Gordon, President of a California-based Mormonism-defense group called FAIR. In the interests of presenting both sides, here is his note:

As Jonathan Kay writes, “Christopher Hitchens has been a one-man hit squad…” and ” he has an especially buzzy bee in his bonnet about Mormonism.” Mr. Hitchens finds many of the tenants of religion, objectionable, but seems to find Mormonism especially repugnant. With that in mind, I found the following paragraph quote from Christopher Hitchens interesting. “Later, in antebellum Missouri and preaching against abolition, Smith and his cronies announced that there had been a third group in heaven during the battle between God and Lucifer. This group had made the mistake of trying to remain neutral but, following Lucifer’s defeat, had been forced into the world and compelled to “take bodies in the accursed lineage of Canaan; and hence the negro or African race.”While it does make an good read, it is pure fantasy on Mr. Hitchen’s part. Joseph Smith ordained several black men to the priesthood and never taught anything even close to what Mr. Hitchens claims. He advocated the release of slaves. One of the planks in Joseph Smith’s campaign for the presidency was the abolition of slavery. While racism was rampant in America, black Mormons worshipped in integrated LDS congregations. Black LDS member Jane Manning James had a special seat reserved for her in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. It was in the front row.

It is true that after the death of Joseph Smith, between 1846 and 1978, most blacks could not have the priesthood in the Mormon church. But, this was not an absolute hard and fast rule; there were exceptions. It is also true that many LDS members started to believe the neutral in heaven nonsense even though it was never taught by Joseph Smith and was specifically repudiated by Brigham Young.

Mormons are not perfect in the area of race relations. White Mormons shared many common beliefs with their Protestant brothers about the origin and condition of blacks. It is unfortunate that our common ancestors believed many myths about blacks. It is also unfortunate that commentators like Mr. Hitchens continue to propagate myths about Mormons. I would call upon Mr. Hitchens to rise above his divisive language and selective reading of history. Such polemical excess, while entertaining, has no place in intelligent discourse.

For more in-depth information about blacks and Mormons, please visit this site.

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