Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness

Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness by W. Paul Reeve

Mormons today are viewed as being very "white". in the past they were viewed as being of an inferior race (even as they were "whiter" then than they are today.) This book explores the odd injection of "race" within non-genetic areas. It uses the cartoon of "Elder Berry" and his multi-racial offspring to explore the view of Mormons to the American public.

At first the religion was viewed as "different" than other mainline protestant religions. The different beliefs and practices resulted in a shunning. There were also economic and political implications as Mormons occupied land and tended to vote as a block. Later they adopted polygamy which gave people more ammunition for haring them. They were viewed as a degenerate people that had evolved backwards. They were lumped with blacks and other minorities as being "inferior".

The church dropped polygamy and Utah became a state. Then they moved to become more acceptable to "white America". The role of blacks in the priesthood was reduced, with the "seed of Cain" doctrine used to prevent blacks from holding the priesthood. The book explores much of the history of the arguments used. (There seemed to be a lot of hearsay and selective sources.) Eventually, the LDS church was seen as being very white. It finally achieved the goal of "whiteness" just as whiteness was going out of style in the civil rights era. Now the church has enabled everyone in leadership positions and is widespread throughout the world. It celebrates mixed marriages. Yet, it fights the perception that it is just a "white" church.