Spencer W. Kimball, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

 Kimball's Announcement

In June of 1978, President Spencer W. Kimball made a big announcement for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Spencer W. Kimball, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978, extended that all worthy male members of the church may receive the priesthood, regardless of ancestry. 

Prior to this point, males of African decent were not allowed to have the priesthood. This also meant that women married to black men could not participate in temple mearriage ordinances, restricting their salvation. The issue caused many different views inside and outside the LDS church. 

Public Reaction 

Before this announcement, many church members were torn between listening to the prophets and handling civil rights issues. There were many members who did not want members of black decent to receive the priesthood. However, there were also members saying it was about time this restriction was lifted.

Before this announcement members of African decent were still very active in participating in what blessings they could from the LDS church. The “Blacks Join Mormon Tabernacle Choir” was pretty big news to the church because this was before the restriction was lifted. Once the ban was lifted there was not an influx of African decent members join the church. The numbers for the church stayed pretty relativley constanst. Although, the numbers of priesthood members did increase. There also was an increase in the LDS missionary force.