Drawing Our LDS Circle Inclusively

[_moksha]

I think it is very important for LDS members (as well as many other people) to see pictures such as this one. Ending racial barriers does not come from decree alone. The attitudes of all need to be on the same page. If we learn acceptance by example, then this is a marvelous example. Let's always try to draw our circle to include the other.

The next milestone will be a picture of two guys holding hands while seated in the pew or of young women blessing the emblems of our Sacrament.

[_Drifting]

I assume the picture was taken by Church PR.
I'm basing that on the lack of any other black faces in the congregation, other than the three peope front and centre of the photoshoot.

[_subgenius]

...The next milestone will be a picture of two guys holding hands while seated in the pew or of young women blessing the emblems of our Sacrament.

you are confused....a milestone is typically associated with "progress", what you describe here is actually a decline or degeneration.
The immature and rather inept insistence that people consider the "homogenization" of society as progress is the single most detrimental thought that our society, and the world, faces today.
You should exercise the "tolerance" as you insist that others do.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tolerance

[_bcuzbcuz]

"homogenization" of society...............is the single most detrimental thought that our society, and the world, faces today.

Wow! You really DO see the world around you in Glaring black and white, no shades of grey at all. And your classification of the "SINGLE MOST Detrimental Thought", WOW, again.

You need to spend more time reading your scriptures for understanding and less time on the internet. Poison has seeped into your brain.

[_just me]

The next milestone will be a picture of two guys holding hands while seated in the pew or of young women blessing the emblems of our Sacrament.

I would -srsly weep. That would be so beautiful and awesome.

Of course, I'd have to actually go to church to see it...

[_Quasimodo]

The little girl in the front is having a WTF? moment.

[_bcspace]

Ending racial barriers does not come from decree alone.

There are no racial barriers in the Church.

[_moksha]

There are no racial barriers in the Church.

What about the pale complexions of those sitting on the front row of the dais at General Conference? Are you certain there are no invisible barriers at play there or could we simply say that it is the will of God waiting for those to color to catch up in worthiness?

Could be that the answer has not yet revealed to us.

[_bcuzbcuz]

There are no racial barriers in the Church.

A rhetorical question. You're white, aren't you?

As a white, a member of "in" group, of course you'll never see the barriers. I didn't. Couldn't. I'm white and the barriers didn't exist. I thought Canada was a country with no racial barriers. I was unbelievably naïve. But then I lived eights years an amongst the native peoples of Canada and witnessed first hand how barriers just suddenly appeared if a person was the wrong "colour". I have status grandchildren; I fostered a native child for 15 years, my second wife has been called "blackie" because of her skin colour. I have seen the hidden barriers.

The Mormon church is a "white", male, hierarchical, priesthood system. A church that systematically denied priesthood to people who had the wrong "colour". That policy was changed by decree in '78. It takes more than a decree to change racial barriers.

You'll have to do better than just make a simple statement. Up to proof. Go interview Mormon people of "colour" (Not just the black, but hispanic and native peoples) and ask them if the church has barriers.

[_Drifting]

Ending racial barriers does not come from decree alone.

There are no racial barriers in the Church.

We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally (Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3; Lesson 31 'Choosing an Eternal Companion')