Millennial messenger March-April 1978 reproduced
- 1. The March-April 1978 MILLENNIAL MESSENGER Photographic three decade review July 2007 Click to advance
- 2. The Millennial Messenger, of March-April 1978, Triggered the Mormon Church to abandon its Racist policy of denying priesthood rights to Black male members. The issue preserved on the following pages introduced the sinister Side of Mormonism. A side which very few members of the church are Aware of. Byron Marchant, one of the contributing writers, in his article concerning The Brazil temple suggested that it would be impossible for the church To identify candidates for temple recommends from the mixed racial Composition of Brazilian members of the church. He was arrested on Temple Square in Salt Lake City at the Sunday Session of the 1978 April annual conference for trespass as he was distributing Copies of the Messenger. The church later caused a dismissal of the charges Doug Wallace was sought out for interview by the church on June 8, 1978 The day the church reversed its policy. When he refused to cease embarrassing The church about its sinister corruption, a Shelton WA attorney JOHN C.RAGAN Was assassinated as a ploy to lure Wallace into an elaborate scheme of discredit. That too failed and Wallace has waited upon the Lord until the present time .
- 3. The Millennial Messenger was first published as a monthly news letter beginning in September, 1977. Each month had a different colored paper. In 1978 , the Messenger was published three times only. It was published as magazine in January, February and the March-April edition. The May-June issue was never published because the church reversed itself on June 8th 1978 with an expedient search for worthy Black male members whom the church could feel justified in ordaining to the priesthood. As to which article contained in the March-April issue caused the church to make that reversal, it is certain that they could not dedicate the Brazil Temple without removing the exception to temple rites as affecting Black males. Based on subsequent events, the criminal past of the church was also a deciding factor in the reversal. In any event there is no question that the March-April issue prompted the church to timely reverse its racist policy. Apologies have been extended for the appearance and editing of the Messenger due to the lack of time in its preparation. It was a one day- two finger typing operation without the benefit of more modern computer word processing.
- 4. Contributing writers to the famed edition who have passed on to their rewards as known are: C.D. McBride 1895 - 1992 G.T. Harrison 1901 - 1995 John W. Fitzgerald 1904 - 1998 Irene S. Leland 1916- 2005 Miranda Young Snow AKA LaPriel James 1915- 2001 May their memories be cherished for the bold actions they took during their lifetimes to sound the alarm that intelligent discovery provokes! They were Heroes in their time. * Byron Marchant still retains several original collectors copies *
- 5. ENJOY!