Black Mormon discusses race and religion with CNN

The key to easily doubling convert baptisms in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is by understanding the church's "black issue," according to Marvin Perkins.Perkins said he discusses the "black issue" — the topic dealing with blacks being unable to hold the priesthood until 1978, when the revelation came to the prophet to extend those blessings to "all worthy males" — along with related topics in "CNN Presents: Black in America," airing Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT. Perkins said he is unsure whether the entire interview will air that night. A preview can be seen online here. Perkins, co-chair of public affairs for the Genesis Group, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' auxiliary support group for black members, said CNN contacted a member of the group's presidency "to see if there was such a thing as a black Mormon." The presidency member forwarded the message to Perkins, who accepted an interview with CNN. Perkins said he hopes the interview will change some of the views the world has about black Mormons. "There are black Mormons that believe in the LDS Church, and they are increasing in numbers," he said. He also hopes the interview brings to light the "Blacks in the Scriptures" DVD set, which Perkins co-authored. On the DVDs, Perkins and Darius Gray utilize the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price to answer questions regarding blacks in the eyes of God. The preview for the CNN interview shows Perkins telling how he often asks others — without telling them that he is LDS — about the black conflict in the church. "None can answer," he said. And even if they do, he throws a scripture at them that confuses them and makes them nervous. Many Latter-day Saints misunderstand the black issue and exactly what the 1978 revelation did, he said. "The 1978 revelation didn't correct anything," Perkins said. Instead, it cleared up the doctrine. Perkins said people have often told him that blacks are cursed. He said this statement comes from misunderstanding the scriptures. To clear up the confusion, Perkins said, members need to address the topic "as part of our history." They also need to understand and know the doctrine. When the scriptures refer to the "blacks," they are not referring to skin color, he said. "If we address the topic through scripture, we'll have a tremendous time," he said. This is happening, he said, but it needs to happen more in sacrament and other meetings. This is the most significant question for blacks coming into the church, he said, and he learned it from his own conversion experience. When he was around 11 or 12 years old, Perkins said he was attending a different church when he received a distinct impression that there was only one true church. He went home and told his brother about that, but it wasn't until he was in his late teens that he started looking for the true church.Through his work at the time, he met a woman who had joined the LDS Church a year earlier. She talked with him, and he read Joseph Smith History. "When I started reading about this 14-year-old boy searching for the truth, it reminded me of myself," Perkins said. After reading that and praying, all he had left to do was tackle the black issue. Perkins went to a stake president, who said that although he couldn't answer Perkins' questions, if the Book of Mormon was true, answers would come. So Perkins "joined the church on faith," and said the answers are still coming. Perkins said he hopes the CNN interview helps others who have the same questions he did. "A person who was once a prisoner of war and now isn't, they will never lose compassion for those on the other side," he said. "I want to spend the rest of my days helping those people." Perkins said he applauds CNN for doing this program. "They've figured out a way to proactively tackle the issue. Now, the success will depend on the passion of those who watch it."