Sister Mkhabela’s presence marks an important point in a history marred by anti-black racism conflated with an interpretation of the Curses of Ham and Cain and other scriptures pertaining to physical bondage. It’s been less than 125 years since one of the first black Mormons, Jane Elizabeth Manning James was sealed by proxy (as she was not allowed to perform the ordinance) to Joseph Smith, Jr. as “a Servitor for eternity to the prophet Joseph Smith and in this capacity be connected with his family and be obedient to him in all things in the Lord as a faithful Servitor.” (Salt Lake Temple Adoption Record, May 18, 1894, Book A, p. 26) So to hear Sister Mkhabela’s prayer and to see her stand before us was not just an act of faith; it challenged the theology that drove various prophets, apostles and other Church leaders to declare that people of black African descent were under a curse. In many ways, it reaffirmed for me that faith and prayer can be an act of liberation; from the spiritual bondage that was placed on black people by denying us access to the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom to the physical barriers that kept us from appearing before our brothers and sisters. That is what makes the moment so memorable for me and perhaps so many black Saints. An excellent article from Janan Russell rationalfaiths/we-are-here/
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:26:21 +0000
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