In the 1960s, Mormon Apostle Hugh B. Brown made significant efforts to lift the priesthood and temple ban for Black members of the church, even speaking with the media about the possibility of change. President Harold B. Lee, however, demanded that Brown stop speaking to the press and removed him from the First Presidency. Lee also forced Brown to sign a statement reaffirming the church’s racist doctrines. Join us with historian Matthew Harris as we explore the impact of Brown’s release, his faith journey, and insights from Harris's book Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.
Purchase Matt Harris' book here!
“Second Class Saints” by Matt Harris
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Class-Saints-Mormons-Struggle-Equality/dp/019769571X/
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Show Notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/apostle-tries-to-end-priesthood-ban/
00:00:00 Introductions
00:04:23 Setting the scene during the Federal Investigation
00:08:38 Who was Hugh B. Brown?
00:16:35 Who was in attendance during this meeting?
00:24:09 Summary of what is happening
00:30:12 Mormonism’s Negro Policy article
00:38:00 Hugh B. Brown set up a meeting at the Hotel Utah with David O McKay
00:42:00 How solid is Taggert’s article?
00:50:17 If he could ask Taggert one question
00:58:55 Letter to Jerald Tanner
01:03:45 Hugh B. Brown falls into a depression because of this continued ban
01:20:00 Benson’s talk “The Book of Mormon Warns America”
01:29:19 Quote with Benson - “The Constitution hangs by a thread”
01:40:11 Context for this speech and Brown’s reaction to it
01:41:49 Hugh B. Brown’s response talk
01:50:30 Brown was thwarted by Harold B. Lee
01:56:18 Harold B. Lee makes a statement and Hugh B. Brown reluctantly signs it
02:00:04 Brown speaks to the media yet again
02:02:53 Harold B. Lee informed Brown that he was out of the First Presidency
02:10:58 Stories of how damaging it was for Hugh Brown to be dropped
02:18:11 Did Hugh B. Brown remain a believing member all his life?
02:26:41 Hugh B. Brown’s children
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