William McCary

William McCary was an African American convert to Mormonism who was expelled from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1847 for claiming to be a prophet. Some researchers have suggested that McCary's actions led to the LDS Church's subsequent policy of not allowing people of black African descent to hold the priesthood or participate in temple ordinances.

Conversion to Mormonism

Little is known about McCary's life prior to his conversion to Mormonism in 1846 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was half-African American and half-Native American and was a skilled ventriloquist and musician.Newell G. Bringhurst (1981). "Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People within Mormonism" (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press).] McCary was baptized into the church by Apostle Orson Hyde and he probably was ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood. In the winter of 1846–1847, he joined the Latter Day Saints in Winter Quarters, Nebraska.Larry G. Murphy, J. Gordon Melton, and Gary L. Ward (1993). "Encyclopedia of African American Religions" (New York: Garland Publishing) pp. 471–472.]

Prophet and excommunication

While in Winter Quarters, McCary began claiming powers of prophesy and transfiguration — he claimed to have the power to appear as various biblical and Book of Mormon figures. In early 1847, McCary was excommunicated from the church for apostasy and expelled from Winter Quarters. Shortly after his expulsion, Hyde preached a sermon against McCary and his claims.

McCary settled a short distance from Winter Quarters and began attracting some followers from Winter Quarters. He instituted plural marriage among his followers, and had himself sealed to several white wives.

Effect on LDS Church policy

McCary's behavior angered many of the Latter Day Saints in Winter Quarters. Researchers have stated that his marriages to his white wives "played an important role in pushing the Mormon leadership into an anti-Black position" and may have prompted Brigham Young to institute the priesthood and temple ban on black people. [Connell O'Donovan, [http://people.ucsc.edu/~odonovan/elder_walker_lewis.html#_ftn107 "The Mormon Priesthood Ban & Elder Q. Walker Lewis: 'An example for his more whiter brethren to follow'] , "John Whitmer Historical Association Journal", 2006.] A statement from Young to McCary in March 1847 suggested that up until that point, race had nothing to do with priesthood eligibility ["Its nothing to do with the blood for [from] one blood has God made all flesh, we have to repent [to] regain what we av lost — we av one of the best Elders an African in Lowell [referring to Walker Lewis ] .": Brigham Young Papers, March 26, 1847, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.] and the earliest known statement about blacks being restricted from the priesthood from any Mormon leader was made by Apostle Parley P. Pratt a month after McCary was expelled from Winter Quarters. Speaking of McCary, Pratt stated that he "was a black man with the blood of Ham in him which linege was cursed as regards the priesthood". [General Minutes, April 25, 1847, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.]

The LDS Church generally did not allow men of black African descent to hold the priesthood again until 1978 (although some male descendants of Elijah Abel did hold it).

ee also

*Blacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
*Blacks and the Latter Day Saint movement
*Official Declaration—2

Notes