Delbert L. Stapley Letter
 

Any of you see this yet?

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/24/delbert_stapley.pdf

It's a letter from Apostle Stapley to George Romney in 1964. The note on the letter indicates that Romney answered with a hand-written letter. It sure would be interesting to read his response.

The letter is horrendous. And the most shocking part is the threat to Romney implying that God strikes down those that help the "negroes" with a quick, seemingly accidental death, including his friend who had the audacity to ask DOM if the priesthood could be extended to the blacks. If this represents the sentiment among the apostles in 1964, it is no small wonder that it took another 14 years for the change to be made.

I've seen it. It made the rounds right after Romney announced his candidacy. People who think that Church leaders don't ever hold erroneous opinions might be shaken up by that letter.

Folks, can it be any more obvious why it took until 1978? By the way I love that line at the end "now, don't think I am against the negro for I have several in my employ..."

That adds a little context to the heat Romney is taking for so enthusiastically embracing the religion of his fathers.

Honestly, how can people read stuff like that and still insist that apostles and prophets speak for God? It baffles me.

Now you tell me. What is more embarassing to the church. A letter like this or a "scandal" at BYU on the football team.

Because some of us aren't naive enough to believe God doesn't allow even his leaders to make mistakes and to hold erroneous beliefs. That really is as simpleton as believing in the inerrancy of the Bible.

Well, if I flippantly said that Romney was like unto someone who says they treat their slaves well, what is this guy like? Yikes.

This is unabashed racism, rationalized and justified by the sins of those that preceeded him.

It does tend to go agains tthe theory that the apostles were deserately hoping for a revelation that would bring blacks into full fellowship. I don't think this was on his wishlist at all.

With Alvin Dyer and Stapely, it's not wonder it took decades to get it right.

I really thought this was going to be a 10 page thread.