The Untold Story of Black Mormons
I ran across mention of this documentary on the Net and and tracked down the website dedicated to it. After seeing the trailer, I knew I had to own the DVD.
The documentary by Margaret B. Young and Darius A. Gray is utterly fascinating and often deeply moving as it follows the history of African American’s in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Much has been made of the Church’s past prohibition against men of color holding the priesthood and this film does not flinch from the hard questions around this. Being a lover of the truth, the absolute candor of Nobody Knows impressed me no end.
Highlights include accounts of Elijah Able and Jane Manning James. Able was a member of the LDS Church from the early days and a priesthood holder. Ordained an Elder and a Seventy, he even served as a missionary when that wasn’t that common. Jane Manning is better known in Church history as she was taken in by Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois. Her faith and trials showed what an amazing person she was in holding on to her faith.
Also standing out are all the interviews with members and nonmembers alike. For me, Darius Gray and Paul Gill’s conversation at the end is simply wonderful and the best. That’s not to short change the others, they are all interesting and inspirational.
Topics covered are the beliefs of the Latter-day Saints, the restriction on the priesthood, the “seed of Cain” theory, the “fence sitters” theory, efforts to seek revelation to remove the restriction, Genesis Group, lifting of the restriction in 1978, and what it is like to be black in a predominantly white church.
Rather than go into detail about the documentary, I encourage you to buy or borrow the DVD. I think it is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever watched and highly recommend it. The extensive extras are all worth watching. If you don’t feel your heart touched after watching it, you need to see a cardiac specialist to see if you have a heart.
Nobody Knows should be seen by everyone in the Church, but especially those who still hold on to prejudice. Sadly, there are still racists in this modern age but if they watch this I think they will be forced to face the truth – that we are all children of a Heavenly Father Who loves us.
Personally,
I want to thank everyone who made this beautiful documentary for they have done us all a great service.
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