40 years ago today - Feb 22, 1978

First Presidency letter to all stake and mission leaders: "the fact that there may be some question as to man's ancestry cannot be rightfully considered as evidence that he has Negro blood... If there is no evidence to indicate that a man has Negro blood, you would not be justifies in withholding the priesthood and temple blessings from him, if he is otherwise worthy." This stops the denial of priesthood merely on the basis of black African appearance and is a significant prelude to the end of the ban althogether less than four months later.

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

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