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, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality

Donate to Matt Harris directly for this series with Donorbox

_________________________

• Mormon Stories Website

• YouTube

• Patreon

• Apple Podcasts

MormonStories@gmail.com

PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

• Insta: @mormstories

• Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast

• Join the Discord

Join us as we uncover what drove change within the Mormon Church, from government pressure on BYU to admit more black students to the church’s troubling response. We’ll dive into shocking letters sent to black prospective students, a five-step plan to keep them out, and the protests that followed. Learn how government intervention eventually forced the end of discrimination and explore why Mormon leaders were so uneasy with black students. This episode, featuring historian Dr. Matthew Harris, is part of our series on his book Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.

Show Notes

YouTube

Purchase Matt Harris’ book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality

Donate to Matt Harris directly for this series with Donorbox

_________________________

• Mormon Stories Website

• YouTube

• Patreon

• Apple Podcasts

MormonStories@gmail.com

PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

• Insta: @mormstories

• Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast

• Join the Discord

Join us as historian Matthew Harris returns to discuss what happens when members of the Mormon Church First Presidency go rogue. We explore George Romney's support of Civil Rights versus Ezra Taft Benson's involvement with the John Birch Society. We'll also dive into the impact of white church members marching in the Civil Rights Movement and how figures like Stewart Udall, Cleon Skousen, Robert Welch, and Hugh B. Brown challenged the Brethren at Church Headquarters with their views and publications.

⁠Show Notes⁠

⁠YouTube Episode⁠

Purchase Matt Harris’ book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality

Donate to Matt Harris directly for this series with Donorbox

_________________________

• Mormon Stories Website

• YouTube

• Patreon

• Apple Podcasts

MormonStories@gmail.com

PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

• Insta: @mormstories

• Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast

• Join the Discord