In 2008, I sat in Randy Bott’s missionary preparation class at Brigham Young University when he told us why Black men could not be ordained to the priesthood until 1978. Bott claimed that Black men were not ready for the “car keys,” much like a young child is not prepared to drive. Bott was one of BYU’s most popular professors for years, and he repeated this rationale confidently, as he prepared missionaries to teach others about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am now ashamed that I did not stand up to denounce his racism. Over the years, I had heard many harmful, racist justifications as to why Black Latter-day Saints were not allowed to access temple and priesthood blessings until 1978. I know now I should have challenged these harmful beliefs and words.
In 2012, Bott repeated this repugnant, racist rationale to a national audience in the Washington Post. The outcry was embarrassing to the LDS Church. Mitt Romney was running for President of the United States, and Romney’s religion was the subject of intense scrutiny. It was only after this embarrassing interview that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided to publicly condemn Bott’s words, but the LDS Church stopped short of issuing a full apology for racial restrictions.
This week, Brad Wilcox repeated incredibly racist rhetoric about the priesthood and temple ban for Black Latter-day Saints. Wilcox’s view isn’t an aberration; it’s part of the fabric of LDS culture and belief. The Randy Bott of 2012 is the Brad Wilcox of 2022. Until the LDS Church officially apologizes for racial restrictions, this racism will fester in the pews. I call on the LDS Church to officially repent and fully apologize for racial restrictions on priesthood and temple blessing from 1849 to 1978.
Jacob Newman, Millcreek
