Whiteness in Modern Latter-day Saint History and Culture

Authors

Jessica Marie Nelson

Keywords

white supremacy, latter-day saints, racism

Abstract

In the wake of the Alt-Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a strong statement announcing its “great sadness and deep concern” regarding the violence and intolerance on display by those who gathered in Charlottesville to defend a Confederate statue. The church concluded the statement by saying: “Our prayers are with those who are suffering because of this intolerance and hatred. We pray for peace and for understanding. Above all, we pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion and goodness.” Two days later the church updated the statement with an addendum specifically condemning: some among the various pro-white and white supremacy communities who assert that the Church is neutral toward or in support of their views. Nothing could be further from the truth. . . . White supremacist attitudes are morally wrong and sinful, and we condemn them. Church members who promote or pursue a ‘white culture’ or white supremacy agenda are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Nelson, Jessica Marie (2020) "Whiteness in Modern Latter-day Saint History and Culture," Mormon Studies Review: Vol. 7: No. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/msr2/vol7/iss1/5