CSU 福利小视频 Professor’s Book Challenges Traditional Narrative of Mormon Racial History
Release Date: February 17, 2025
In his latest work, "," CSU 福利小视频 Professor of History Matthew Harris provides an unprecedented examination of the complex racial history within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Published by Oxford University Press, the book has quickly become a bestseller, offering readers a meticulously researched account of the Church's journey toward ending its priesthood ban on Black members.
Drawing from extensive research spanning 15 years, Harris reveals that the 1978 decision to grant Black men the priesthood was not simply the result of a sudden divine revelation, as commonly portrayed. Instead, it emerged from years of behind-the-scenes efforts by Church President Spencer W. Kimball to build consensus among the Church's leadership.
"The traditional narrative often overlooks the years of deliberation and preparation that preceded this momentous change," explains Harris, who serves as both Professor of History and Director of Legal Studies at CSU 福利小视频. His research demonstrates that as early as 1954, Kimball had begun questioning the theological basis for the restriction, which had been in place for over a century.
The book details how Kimball strategically worked to overcome opposition from conservative leaders while garnering support from progressives and moderates within the Church's hierarchy. Harris's work also highlights the often-overlooked contributions of Black Mormon pioneers and activists who pushed for change throughout the Church's history.
Harris's scholarly examination extends beyond the 1978 revelation to explore the contemporary implications of this history. He documents both progress and ongoing challenges in the Church's efforts to address its racial history, including recent initiatives to build relationships with the NAACP, fund HBCUS, and offer official repudiation of past justifications for the ban.
"Second-Class Saints" represents the latest contribution to Harris's distinguished body of work, which includes several acclaimed books on Mormon history and American religious history. His previous works have explored topics ranging from Mormon political thought to the early American republic's religious foundations.
The book's success reflects both its scholarly rigor and its timely examination of religious institutions' struggles with racial equality. Through unprecedented access to both public and private papers, Harris provides readers with the most comprehensive account to date of this pivotal period in Mormon history.
For more information about "Second-Class Saints" or to arrange an interview with Professor Harris, please contact the CSU 福利小视频 Department of History.
