MORMONS AND THE BLACKS

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the 
living. Gen. 3:20 

Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Mal. 3:20 

...then both Philip and the (Ethiopian) eunuch went down into the water and 
Philip baptized him... (The eunuch) went on his way rejoicing. (parenthesis 
added) Acts 8:38-39 

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon 
called Niger... Acts 13:1 [editor's note: 'niger' means 'black'] 

     There can be no doubt that at various times and to varying degrees, substantial numbers of Christians have been, and still are guilty of racism 
However, they can find no direct Biblical basis for their views. Instead, they 
are forced into denying the universality of the Genesis flood, and then into 
twisting one or two other verses in an attempt to justify their position. 

     On the other hand, the following quotes from the Book of Mormon and the 
Pearl of Great Price, clearly document that racism is a fundamental part of the 
Mormon creed which is: Blacks are black because they are being punished byGod. To the Mormon religion, Black is not beautiful, it is a curse!!! 

1) (The Lamanites) "...inasmuch as they will not harken unto thy words...the 
Lord ...caused the cursing to come upon them... that they might not be 
enticing unto my people, the Lord did cause a skin of blackness to come upon 
them... and because of their cursing... they became an idle people full of 
mischief." 
(emphasis added) (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 5:20-24) 

2) "And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites 
were numbered with Nephites; and their curse was taken from them, and their  skin became white..." 
(emphasis added) (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 3: 14-15) 

3) Lamanites who accept the Mormon gospel "...shall be white and delightsome people." 
(emphasis added) (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 30:6, pre 1980 edition) 

[editor's note: In 1980 and later editions the word 'white' has been changed to 'pure.' Since the original edition contained the word 'white', and this edition was supposedly translated by Joseph Smith directly from the golden tablets which are no longer available for verification, what justification exists for making this change? This is especially true in light of the fact that Joseph Smith claimed to have been told "You must finish this book in 60 days, make no changes in it whatsoever-the first edition must stand forever." 

4) "For behold the Lord shall curse the land... and there was a blackness came 
upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people." 
(Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:8; see also vs. 9-12) 

     On March 3, 1836 a black man named Elijah Abel was ordained into the Mormon priesthood. Shortly after this event slave owners in the state of Missouri increased their harassment of those Mormons who continued to live there. Simultaneously, Joseph Smith claimed to have received a revelation from the Lord in the form of an ancient Egyptian papyrus which he translated. This writing became part of Mormon doctrine and is found in the Pearl of Great Price as the Book of Abraham. {Editor's note: Those Egyptologists who have seen the original papyrus claimed to be the Book of Abraham, state that it is nothing more than the account of ancient Egyptian funeral rites. Since there is so much controversay surrounding this particular document, and unlike the Book of Mormon's golden plates which Moroni supposedly took back to heaven with him, the original Book of Abraham is available for examination why doesn't the LDS leadership simply acknowledge that the Book of Abraham is incorrect? The answer of course is obvious. Remember, the leadership of the church will never admit that one of it's past leaders was ever in error, even when the facts clearly prove that to be the case. For our purposes, those portions of the Book of Abraham which are pertinent to the topic under discussion here are as follows: 

5) "...Pharoah signifies king by royal blood. Now this king of Egypt was a 
descendant from the loins of Ham and was a partaker of the blood of the 
Canaanites by birth. From this descent sprang all the Egyptians, and thus 
the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the land...Now, Pharoah being 
of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood, notwithstanding the Pharoahs would fain claim it from Noah..." 
Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 1:20-27) 

     Based upon the foregoing, the Mormon priesthood was subsequently denied to blacks between 1836 & 1978. 

6) Not only was Cain called to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. A curse was placed upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so while time endures. Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a black skin... they have been made to feel their inferiority." 
(Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way To Perfection p.101-102) emphasis added 

7) Blacks are '...cursed with a black skin, the mark of Cain so they can be 
identified as a caste apart." 
(Apostle Bruce McConkie) 

8) "Those who were less valiant in pre-existence and who thereby had certain 
spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known as the 
negroes... The present status of the negro rests purely and simply on the 
foundation of pre-existence. Along with all races and peoples he is receiving here what he merits as a result of the long pre-mortal probation in the presence of the Lord." 
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527, 1966 ed.) emphasis added [editor's note: these comments have been altered in post 1978 ed.] 

9) There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages 
while another is born white with great advantages. The reason is that once we had an estate before we came here, and were obedient, more or less to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here and those who were not faithful receive less... The negro evidently is receiving the reward he merits..." 
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p., 61 & 66) emphasis added 

10 "...the negro race...have been placed under restrictions because of their 
attitude in the world of spirits." 
(Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way of Perfection, p. 43) 

11) "The gospel message of salvation is not carried affirmatively to them, 
although sometimes negros search out the truth, join the church, and become 
by righteous living heirs of the celestial kingdom." 
(Mormon Doctrine, 1966 ed. p. 527) 

12) "... the Lord decreed that the children of Cain (blacks) should not have the 
privilege of bearing the priesthood until Abel had posterity who could have the priesthood and that will be in the far distant future. When this is accomplished on some other world, then the restrictions will be removed from the children of Cain who have been true in this 'second' estate." 
(Answer to Gospel Questions, Vol. 2, p. 188, given by Joseph Fielding Smith in 1958) emphasis added 

     Inspite of the foregoing doctrinal position, on June 4, 1978 the Mormon 
prophet Spencer Kimball announced that the Lord had shown him that from that point forward, blacks should no longer be denied ordination as Mormon priests solely on the basis of race. As was true in the case of Joseph Smith's original revelation, Kimball's announcement coincided with events which were adversely affecting the Mormon church. For a period of time immediately prior to Kimball's declaration, several major Universities, had announced that until such time as the Mormon church reversed its policy of racial discrimination, they would no longer take part in athletic events in which BYU participated. More importantly though, approximately two weeks prior to Kimball's surprising declaration,  President Jimmy Carter had phoned Kimball and informed him that the IRS was seriously considering removing the Mormon church's tax exempt status unless changes were made in their policy of discrimination. 

     As was true in the case of Smith's declaration, Kimball's announcement had the immediate effect of deflecting some criticism away from the church. However, the important thing for us to remember is that inspite of the fact that the right of the priesthood has been restored to Blacks, the Mormon church still has not renounced or changed their official doctrine. Blacks are still considered as being under the curse of God because of some transgression committed by them in their supposed pre-mortal spiritual existence. The teachings of the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price remain unchanged on this issue.

On October 24, 1992 the Mormon church's public affairs office issued the 
following statement: "It is morally wrong for any person or group to deny any 
anyone his or her inalienable dignity on the tragic and abhorrent theory of 
racial or cultural superiority." (Church News, p.4) Why then is the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unwilling to admit that the revelations of its 
prophets as late as 1958 were 'morally wrong'? 
 

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POLOGAMY & MARRIAGE

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his 
wife, and they will become one flesh. Gen 2:24 

... and the two will become one flesh Eph. 5:31 

When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage... 
Mk.12:25 

Jesus replied, 'The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But 
those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the 
resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they 
can no longer die, for they are like the angels.' Lk. 20:34-36 

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife... Titus 1:6 

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife... 
I Tim. 3:2 

     There can be no doubt that marriage is a divinely instituted union. In 
Eph. 5:22-33, the Apostle Paul uses the ideal relationship between husband and wife as an analogy for Christ's relationship to the Church. For all of Church 
history, this relationship has been considered holy, but it has not been considered necessary for salvation. In fact, Jesus specifically taught that marriage would not be a part of post-resurrection life. Furthermore, while openly acknowledging the polygamous relationships of certain Old Testament kings, (which was in direct violation of Deut. 17:17) no New Testament teaching condones this practice. In reality ,as can be seen from the above listed verses, such a relationship would specifically prevent an individual from holding a leadership position in the Church. 

     On the other hand, the Mormon church states that only those Mormons who have participated in temple marriage will have the opportunity to advance to the highest degree of salvation and obtain godhood status. Just as interesting though is the fact that their own scriptures contradict each other on the subject of polygamy. Furthermore, while they publicly denounce the practice today, they have not renounced the revelations which instituted the teaching of polygamy into their church. In point of fact, several of their leaders entered into polygamous relationships after the church had supposedly abandoned the practice. The following statements from their own standard works and publications reveal the checkered past of this teaching. 

1) "And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in 
the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines..." 
(Book of Mormon, Ether 10:5) 

2) "Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom you hate because of their 
filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more 
righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the 
Lord, which was given unto our father - that they should have save it 
were one wife, and concubines they should have none..." 
(Book of Mormon, Jacob 3:5) 

3) "Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which 
thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord." 
(Book Of Mormon Jacob 24) 

     Note that the foregoing verses of the Book of Mormon conflict directly with the following statement found in the Doctrine & Covenants, to wit: 

4) "...I, the Lord, justified my servants ...David and Solomon ...as touching the principle and doctrine of having many wives and concubines... David's wives and concubines were given unto him by me..." 
(Doctrine & Covenants 132: 1, 39) 

     According to the next two quotes apparently Joseph Smith did not initially 
believe in the practice of polygamy: 

5) "Insomuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy: we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again..." 
(Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 101, 1835 edition) 

6) "Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one? (Smith answered)  No, not at the same time." 
(The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as recorded in Elder's Journal, Vol 1 #2, pp 28-29, 1838) parenthesis added 

     But by July 1, 1841 Smith was busy teaching the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles the doctrine of Celestial Marriage even though he had not yet claimed to have had a revelation on the topic. (Helen Mar Kimball Whitney, "Helen Mar Kimball's Retrospection About Her Introduction to the Doctrine and Practices of Plural Marriage in Nauvoo at Age 15". A sealed letter to be opened at her death, LDS Archives; see also a letter from George A. Smith, (Joseph Smith's cousin) to Joseph Smith III dated October 9, 1868) 

By 1842 rumors were flying around Nauvoo about the 

7) "...introduction of principles that would soon be, that the ancient order of God that was formerly, would again have its rounds, as it was in the days of old Solomon and David. They had wives and concubines in abundance, as many as they could support. The secret whispering was, that the same will eventually be again." 
(Oliver H. Olney Journal, p. 5 found in William Robertson Coe Collection, Beinecke Library,Yale University.) 

     In the spring of 1842 Joseph Smith approached Sarah M. Kimball with his
teaching about plural marriage. He told her that God had 

8) "...instructed him to teach it with commandment, as the church could travel no further without the introduction of this principle." 
(Andrew Jenson, "The Historical Record: A Monthly Periodical Devoted Exclusively to Historical Biographical, Chronological, and Statistical Matters", 9 Vols, 1887'see Vol 6, p. 232 May 1887) emphasis added 

     On July 12, 1843 Joseph Smith claimed to have received a revelation about polygamy. In so doing, he made it clear that the rejection of his new revelation would have dire consequences: 

9) "Behold I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant and if ye abide 
not in that covenant then ye are damned, for no one can reject this 
covenant and be permitted to enter my glory." 
(Joseph Smith's original revelation of the doctrine of polygamy was first recorded secretly on July 12, 1843. It was later found in the Doctrine & Covenants, 132: 3,4, 6,28,61& 62) emphasis added. 

     CAREFULLY NOTE THAT THIS REVELATION CONCERNED A DOCTRINE WHICH HAD TO BE FOLLOWED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE ULTIMATE LEVEL OF MORMON SALVATION; YET, IT WAS  NOT PUBLICLY REVEALED UNTIL AUGUST 29, 1852. THAT MEANS THAT FOR 9 YEARS, THE MORMONS WERE HIDING A REVELATION WHICH THEY FELT WAS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH IN ORDER TO OBTAIN CELESTIAL GLORY!!!! (Journal of Discourses 1:53 and following) 

     In 1854 Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt reaffirmed Smith's view of polygamy's importance to the Mormon view of exaltation by stating that: 

10) "You will clearly perceive from the revelation which God has given that you can never obtain fullness of glory without being married to a righteous man for time and for all eternity." 
(Orson Pratt, "The Seer", p. 40, 1854) emphasis added 

     Brigham Young echoed this position on August 19, 1866 when he said: 

11) "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." 
(Journal of Discourses, Vol 11, p. 269) 

     Young also taught that: 

12) "Plural marriage was the form of marriage lived by God." 
(Brigham Young and his Wives, by John Stewart, p. 41) 

(What is truly astounding though, is that as of 1866, other official writings of 
the Mormon church still recorded that: "polygamy was a crime..." (Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 109) ) 

     Mormon Apostle Joseph F. Smith, son of Hyrum Smith reiterated Brigham 
Young's thoughts in 1878 when he said that: 

13) "Some people have supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a 
sort of superfluity, or non essential to the salvation or exaltation of 
mankind... I want here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for 
I know it is false" 
(Journal of Discourses 20:28, July 7, 1878) 

     Church President John Taylor, while reacting to the many laws dating back to the Morrill Anti-bigamy Act of July 1, 1862, stated in no uncertain terms that: 

14) "Polygamy is a divine institution. It has been handed down direct from 
God. The United States cannot abolish it. No nation on earth can prevent it... I will defy the United States, I will obey God." 
(Salt Lake Tribune, January 6, 1880) emphasis added 

     Apparently because of the continuing external pressure being felt by the Mormons, on September 27 1886 President John Taylor supposedly... 

15) "Asked the Lord if it would not be right under the circumstances to 
discontinue plural marriages, ... (and received) a revelation ... in which the Lord told him that the principle of plural marriage would  never be overcome." (parenthesis & emphasis added, statement of Taylor's son as recorded in Abraham H. Cannon Journal, March 29, 1892; see John  Taylor Papers in LDS Archives for typewritten copy of revelation) 

     Upon Taylor's death in 1887 Mormon Apostle Wilford Woodruff ascended to the first Presidency of the LDS church. During a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve  in December 1888 a discussion concerning the problem which the doctrine of polygamy presented to the territory of Utah's statehood petition was ended by Woodruff's statement that: 

16) "The doctrine of plural marriage has come to stay for all time."
(John Henry Smith Journal, December 20, 1888) emphasis added 

     A few months earlier, at the dedication of the Manti Temple on May 17, 1888 Woodruff again stated that: 

17) "...we are not going to stop the practice of plural marriage until the coming of the son of man." 
(John Henry Smith Journal ibid) emphasis added 

     There can be no doubt that a substantial number of the church hierarchy 
practiced this 'divine calling'. While it is difficult to know for certain how many wives Joseph Smith had, estimates range from 27 documented cases (see Andrew Jenson ibid, Vol 6, pp. 233-234) to 84 (see Stanley S. Ivins Collection, Utah State Historical Society Library, all as recorded in Richard S. Van Wagoner, "Mormon Polygamy, A History", p. 48, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 1989) 

The point is, for 47 years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
taught that plural marriage was not only a divinely instituted doctrine which
must be followed in order to obtain the fullness of salvation, but it was the 
form of marriage practiced by God himself. 

Why then did Mormon Apostle and Church President Wilford Woodruff issue the following manifesto on September 26, 1890, to wit: 

18) "Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural 
marriages, ... I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws... And now I publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the laws of the land." 

     The answer of course is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
apparently valued statehood for Utah more than their supposedly divine revelation. It had become clear that Utah would not be granted statehood until the Mormons  had abandoned the practice of polygamy. 

     On September 27, 1890 the Salt Lake Tribune flatly stated that the... 

19) "Manifesto was not intended to be accepted as a command by the President of the church, but as a little bit of harmless dodging to deceive the 
people of the East." 

     In fact, by September 30, 1890 Woodruff was clearly hedging on his sweeping prohibition of polygamy, for he said: 

20) "This Manifesto only refers to future marriages, and does not affect 
past conditions. I did not, could not, and would not promise (the nation) that you would desert your wives and children. This you cannot do in honor." (Abraham H. Cannon Journal, October 7, 1890) parenthesis and emphasis added 

     Joseph F. Smith said the same thing at a meeting of church leaders: 

21) "God will not justify you in kicking out your families... We do not want 
you to leave your wives because of the Manifesto." (ibid October 7,1891) 

     But this official winking at the Woodruff Manifesto went far beyond the mere condoning of pre-manifesto marriages. According to the marriage records of  Anthony Ivins in the Utah State Historical Society Library, 

22) Mormon apostles Matthias F. Cowley, John W. Taylor, Brigham Young Jr., George Teasdale, Abraham O. Woodruff, Marriner W. M<erill, John Henry Smith, Anthon H. Lund, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith were involved in sealing plural marraiges in Mexico, Canada and the United States after the 1890 Manifesto. 

     Furthermore, President Wilford Woodruff, John W. Taylor, Brigham Young Jr, Matthias F. Crowley, George Teasdale, Marriner W. Merrill, Abraham H. Cannon and Abraham O. Woodruff were themselves post-manifesto polygamists in that they married additional wives after September 20, 1890. (Wagoner, ibid p. 162.; see also Salt Lake Tribuine, October 8, 1910) 

     Indeed, the problem of post-manifesto polygamy was so serious that the then current church president Joseph F. Smith, issued a second anti-polygamy manifesto on Sunday April 7, 1904: 

23) "Inasmuch as there are numerous reports in circulation that plural marriages have been entered into contrary to the official declaration of President Woodruff, ... I Joseph F. Smith ... do hereby affirm and declare that no such marriages have been solemnized with the sanction, consent, or knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" 
(Journal History, April 6, 1904, p. 6 LDS Archives) Editors note: Ironically, Joseph F. Smith, who became the sixth president of the LDS church on October 17, 1901 would eventually plead guilty himself to violating the Utah State anti-polygamy law in 1906!!! 

     Further proof that even though the Mormon hierarchy made official pronouncements against polygamy they had not truly changed their doctrinal stance concerning the necessity of polygamous marriage is found in the statements of Heber J. Grant 7th president of the LDS church, to wit: 

24) "We never believed polygamy was wrong, and never will." 
(July 25, 1937 interview in London, as reported in Wagoner, ibid p. 185) 

     The current teaching that polygamy is wrong does change the fact that as we saw in the section of this study entitled 'Mormons and Their Prophets' church officials say that their prophets will never mislead. However, the foregoing  history of the Mormon doctrine of polygamy/celestial marriage clearly shows that their prophets have not only contradicted each other and their own standard works, but they have actively engaged in a campaign to mislead both government officials and their own followers. 

     The very fact that polygamy is still practiced among significant numbers of 
Mormons worldwide is further evidence that even though the LDS leadership publicly denounces the practice, there is a vast difference between words and deeds. If the leaders of the present day Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were truly bent upon wiping out the practice of plural marriage, why don't they simply declare that Joseph Smith's revelation of July 12, 1843 was in error? Why don't these same leaders state that the plural marriages entered into by some of  their own apostles and presidents after the Woodruff Manifesto were a violation of God's word? The answer is quite clear. Like it or not, official LDS doctrine still requires plural/patriarchal/polygamous marriage for those who wish to attain the highest level of celestial glory. Like it or not, official LDS doctrine states that polygamous marriage is the type of marriage practiced by god himself. 

     There is one final doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints which concerns sealing which I will not examine in detail. However, I 
would be remiss to ignore it completely. I mention it in passing simply to point 
out the fact that there are additional teachings about future 'sealings' which 
the Mormons do not want either the general public, or members of their own church to know much about. 

25) "Brigham Young speaks about a time when men will be sealed to men in a 
more solemn ceremony than the one in which women are sealed to men." 
(`Isn't One Wife Enough' p.280) emphasis added 

26) Brigham Young stated that the sealing of men to men is a "... great and 
glorious doctrine." (Journal of Discourses, Vol 9, p. 269) 
 

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REALITY

    The Mormon church portrays an image of idyllic family life. Through its 
media campaigns it paints a picture of truthfulness and integrity. The officials of the church give the impression that the vast majority of its members are not 
only hard working, fiscally responsible and successful, but productive and stable members of society. In fact, official documents of the Mormon church make the following claims: 

1) "We are, notwithstanding our weaknesses, the best people in the world... 
We are morally clean in every way equal and in many ways superior to any 
other people." 
(Joseph Fielding Smith "Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1 p. 236) 

2) "Those who are converted follow a pattern of virtue which exceeds the 
pattern followed by many outside the church" 
(Book of Mormon Student Manuel, 1981 edition by the Corporation of the First Presidency, p. 221) 

3) "There are no better people in all the world (Ensign May 88, p. 85) 

4) "... on the average (Mormons) are ... just a little better in these respects (virtues) than most other communities or individuals" 
(Gospel Doctrine, p. 413) (parenthesis added) 

5) "(T)he Latter Day Saints have stricter notions of virtue, and consider 
themselves under greater obligations to refrain, not only from unvirtuous acts, but from unvirtuious thoughts than any other people under Heaven." 
(The Seer, p.29) 

6) "The best people are in this territory (ie. Utah)" 
(Birgham Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9. p. 154 - parenthesis added) 

 We are also encouraged to believe that almost all Mormon youth are so deeply committed to their beliefs that they willingly spend two years on the mission  field. Remember, according to Brigham Young, the Mormons who live in Utah, are living in Zion and have, since 1847 been the dominant force behind everything which transpires there. 

Let us examine the facts from 'A' to 'Z' 

A) Utah has a population of 1.7 million people, 68% of which are or claim to be Mormon (conservative estimate). Ninety-five percent (95%) of the members of the state legislature claim to be Mormon. (Las Vegas Review Journal, 3/6/88 p. 6c) 

B) 1. Utah has a bankruptcy rate 3 times higher than the national average.(Deseret News, 4/3/88, p.A5 also The Salt Lake Tribune 7/19/90, Sec.B p.3) 

    2. As of 2001 things had ‘improved’ to the extent that Utah had a bankruptcy rate of only TWICE the national average. As of August 2002 though, the slide continued, for an 8/13/02 article in the Deseret News stated that a recent month’s filings represented a 22% increase over the same period from 01. And it’s filing rate is still the highest in the nation. (Deseret News, 7/2/02). 

    3. According to a report dated 3/26/04 in The Deseret News, Utah's current banckruptcy rate is 1 for ever 36.6 of it's citizens, making it the highest in the country.

C) Utah has a home foreclosure rate 4 times higher than the national average -
4.35% compared to 1.03 percent. (Deseret News, 3/24 & 25/87) 

D) Utah leads the nation in the number of mothers who work outside of the home. (Salt Lake Tribune, 8/13/89, p. B1) 

E) Utah ranks 48th out of 50 states with per capita income of $10,743 in 1986. (Idaho State Journal, July 19, 1987) 

F) The amount of tax money spent per child for public education by the State of Utah is lowest in the nation. (NEA Today, p.8, Nov. 1990) 

G) Child murder rate in Utah is 5 times higher than the national average. (The 
Denver Post, Empire Magazine, 11/21/82, p.30) 

H) The incidence of sexual child abuse in Utah is 33% higher than national 
average. (National Association for the Protection of Children, ibid.) 

I).1 Child abuse investigations have doubled in only one year in Utah. (The Salt Lake Tribune, April 16, 1990, p. 1B) 

  .2 Child abuse increased in Utah 170% between 1982 & 1990 (Utah Division of Family services) 

  .3 Reported incidents of child abuse rose an additional 20% in 1991 (Utah 
Division of Family Services - Salt Lake Tribune May 7, 1992, p.A 14) 

J) The incidence of rape has increased by 50% in Salt Lake City between 1988 and 1989. (The Daily Herald {a Provo Utah paper}, April 10, 1990, p. B3) 

K) 1. The indicence of reported rape in the State of Utah itself has increased 30% between 1989 and 1990, giving it the 3rd highest increase in the nation (The Washington Post, March 22, 1991, p. A3) 

     2. According to a newspaper article in Utah "Sexual harassment in Utah is high   for its population when compared to other states." (Vernal Express, Nov. 13,  1991) 

L) Teen suicide rate in Utah is 3.5% higher than national average, second 
to that of Minnesota. (ibid) 

M) The elderly (age 75+) suicide rate for the nation is 19.2 per 100,000. For 
Utah it is 57 per 100,000 which is surpassed only by that of Nevada. 
(Deseret News, 12/29-30/86, p.2B) 

N) Adult abuse has escalated 51% in Utah in the past four years says the state coordinator for Aging and Adult Services. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 20, 1992 
p. B 2 ) 

O) One third (1/3rd) of all Mormon marriages end in divorce. (Latter Day 
Sentinel, 3/5/88, p.24) Twenty percent (20%) of Mormon women marry non- 
Mormon men. Together, these two figures represent 50% of all Mormon 
marriages. This is in spite of the fact that Mormon doctrine states that 
"temple marriage is essential to your salvation." (Deseret News, 4/13/88, 
p.A7) 

P) 1. Salt Lake County's divorce rate is 50% higher than the national average.
(The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan 11, 1990, Sect. E, p.1, see also Provo Daily 
Hearld, 5/25/94). 

    2. The increase in martial instability among Mormons is higher than for most 
other religious groups (Dialogue, Fall 1992, p. 26-27 - note, this is a Mormon publication) 

Q) 1. 70% of Salt Lake County's high school seniors and 35% of the 5th and 6th graders have used alcohol, and 4% of the 5th and 6th graders have used 
heroin and cocaine. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 21, 1990, p.B9) 

     2. 1/5 of Utah women under 18 are addicted to alcohol and other drugs. (Deseret News February 19, 2002)

R) A 400% increase in job related accidents has been directly attributed to the use of illegal drugs among Utah's citizens. (Ibid) 

S) According to the chief of police in Salt Lake City, there are 400 locations 
in Salt Lake County alone where illegal drugs are sold openly. (Ibid) 

T) The American Medical Association reported in 1986 that Utah ranked 3rd in the nation in the use of Amphetamines and jumped to 2nd place in 1988. (Salt  Lake Tribune, 8/31/89, p.B1) 

U)  1. The children of Utah are given more of the drug Ritalin than are those of  any other state. "Utah uses more Ritalin per capita than any place on Earth." (The Denver Post wire service, 8/88, The Spotlight, 3/6/89) 

      2. Antidepresent drugs are prescribed in Utah more often than in any other state,at a rate nearly twice the national average. Findings of an impartial national study conducted by Express Scripts Inc, of St. Louis which tracked perscriptions of 24 drug types amoung 2 million people throughout the country.
(Los Angeles Times, 2/20/02 as found at:  http://latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-022002depress.story?coll =la%2Dhome%2Dtodays%2Dtimes)

     3. Utah leads the nation in the use of narcotic painkillers such as codine and morphine-based drugs. (ibid)

V) 50% of all births in Utah are to teenage girls. 7 out of 10 of these are 
illegitimate. (Dallas Morning News, 7/26/83, Salt Lake Tribune, 11/20/81, 
p.B9, Ogden Standard Examiner, 12/15/79) 

W).1 Coed pregnancy rate at BYU is among the highest of major Colleges and Universities in the U.S. (ibid) 

    .2 "...the increase in premarital sex has been greater among Mormon women than any other religious group." (Provo Hearld, 8/9/91, p.B3) 

X) BYU is proudly proclaimed to be the largest privately owned university in 
the nation (owned by Mormon church). Yet, what does it offer its students? 
BYU student/faculty ration is 21:1; whereas, the better universities throughout the nation have a ratio of 16:1, and schools like Stanford are 10:1. Most major universities in the U.S. spend approximately $20,000 per student per year for educational expenses. BYU spends $8,000. (Salt Lake Tribune, August 29, 1990) 

Y) 1. Utah's prison population increased by 21.3% in 1989; whereas, the national average was 12.1%. Utah now ranks fourth in the nation in prison population increase. (Provo Herald, May 24, 1990) 

     2. According to the Utah Department of Corrections, Utah has the 2nd highest rate of parole violations which result in return to prison in the United States. (The Deseret News, 11/28/01)

Z) 68% of all Mormon young people do NOT go out on the mission field. LDS by 28% Church News, 5/10/87, p.3)  

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