The Atonement plays a key role in how investigators and church members view the priesthood limitation once practiced by the LDS church, said a Black History month symposium lecturer Thursday.

Ahmad S. Corbitt, director of the New York Office of Public and International Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that in his experience the former priesthood restriction is the most referenced reason for discontinued activity in the church by African Americans.

"Our effectiveness at retaining those who struggle with the history of the former priesthood limitation is best enhanced if, when and as we build such people on the Atonement of Jesus Christ," Corbitt said. "The Savior's promise of rest to our souls applies as much to unrest about the priesthood restriction history and other race-related issues as it does anything else that may burden our souls, or make them labored and heavy laden."

The first step to building on the Atonement is recognition of each person's true identity in relation to God, he said.

"Designations of our identities in relation to God are clearly first in rank and greatest in importance among all of our identifiers, because they most relate to our primary purpose in this life," Corbitt said. "Earthly cultural and societal designations, by contrast, are obviously secondary."

Corbitt cautioned students not to allow these secondary race-related concerns to violate primary principles that affect their relationship to God, not to "place the things of man higher than the things of God."

He also encouraged listeners to make the study of the Atonement a priority in their lives, and help others to do the same. Study must be balanced and mainly focused on subjects that are essential to salvation, Corbitt said.

"If we are to shrink and eventually eliminate the significant stumbling block of race for black investigators, new converts, and even some long-term members, we must elevate the atonement to its proper place and order in their lives," Corbitt said.

Another key way to build upon the rock of the Redeemer is to recognize mortal nothingness. This doctrine recognizes that mortals are nothing without Christ, and all that matters is salvation and returning home to God.

"Our need for a redeemer is so absolute and universal that no one of us can elevate himself above another," Corbitt said. "As we understand our all-important need for a Savior and experience the transcendent joy of our redemption, we suddenly find cultural and racial issues ever so minor-veritable distractions that we would just as soon ignore in favor of eternal, weightier matters."

Focusing on eternal matters will aid each church member to stand as a witness of Christ no matter what the circumstances.

"As Latter-day Saints, we must remember that as the light of the world and salt of the earth, we are called to hold up the Savior's light in the face of every form of darkness and to season every kind of food, not just the palatable ones."



Copyright Brigham Young University 8 Feb 2008