TROY - A friend showed me a quote from a G.A. from the 50's:
- "Now WE ARE GENEROUS WITH THE NEGRO. WE ARE WILLING that the Negro have the highest kind of education. I WOULD BE WILLING to LET every Negro DRIVE A CADILLAC IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT. I WOULD BE WILLING that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. BUT LET THEM ENJOY THESE THINGS AMONG THEMSELVES." LDS Apostle Mark E. Petersen, "Race Problems - As They Affect The Church," Address delivered at Brigham Young University, August 27, 1954
How do I respond to this quote? It sounds pretty racist.

JOEL - Sure it sounds racist in the year 2005, but back in the early 1950's it pretty much reflected the common attitude of most of the white population of that day, and no one would have thought much about it.
Also, the main topic of Elder Peterson's talk was about how the different races shouldn't inter-marry. The reason why he said this is that at that time(1954) the blacks could not hold the priesthood, and if a white LDS woman married a black LDS man(or visa versa) they could not enjoy a temple marriage in this life time. So he was suggesting that for now LDS members should marry within their own race. However, now that the blacks can receive the priesthood(since 1978) and enjoy the temple blessings, what he said back then is irrelevant today. And all the deceased blacks who were living during the time before 1978 can now have their temple work done for them and have the opportunity to be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom.
Also, church leaders have in the past recommended that people marry within their own race, simply because of the cultural differences that can sometimes strain a relationship. But you don't hear our leaders mention this much anymore because of how people are more accepting and tolerant of cultural differences in our modern day.