Church History Art

Salt Lake Temple

Artist’s depiction of the Salt Lake Temple.

Salt Lake Temple, by Joseph Alleman

As many people of African descent joined the Church in the 1960s and 1970s, President Spencer W. Kimball and other Church leaders became increasingly concerned about restrictions on priesthood ordinations and temple participation. In June 1978, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met in the Salt Lake Temple and prayed for revelation. They received the answer that the restrictions should be lifted, as recorded in Official Declaration 2.

“[The Lord] has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple” (Official Declaration 2).