Latter-day Saint Leader Brad Wilcox Apologizes For Comments About ...

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Latter-day Saint leader Brad Wilcox apologizes for comments about race

by Victoria Hill & Daniel Woodruff, KUTV

Tue, February 8th 2022 at 10:16 PMUpdated Tue, February 8th 2022 at 11:23 PMPeople are reacting online to a video showing an upper-level Latter-day Saint leader making controversial comments about race. (Image via screengrab)

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Brad WilcoxFacebookJoseph SmithSalt Lake CitySalt Lake City,Utah,United StatesTWITTER, INC.TwitterSpencer W. Kimball

(KUTV) — People are reacting online to a video showing an upper-level Latter-day Saint leader making controversial comments about race.

Meanwhile, that leader, Brad Wilcox, second counselor in the Young Men general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, apologized late Monday evening for those remarks dealing with the church's previous ban on priesthood ordination for Black people.

The comments were captured on a Zoom recording during a youth fireside Sunday in Alpine and were widely shared Monday on Twitter. KUTV 2News later obtained a full recording of the event.

"I made a serious mistake last night, and I am truly sorry," Wilcox said in a statement on Facebook. "The illustration I attempted to use about the timing of the revelation on the priesthood for Black members was wrong."

In the clip,Wilcox is shown saying, “How come the Blacks didn't get the priesthood until 1978?" That was the year the longtime prohibition was lifted by then-church President Spencer W. Kimball.

Wilcox continued, "Maybe we’re asking the wrong question. Maybe instead of saying, ‘why did the Blacks have to wait until 1978,' maybe what we should be asking is, 'why did the whites and other races have to wait until 1829?'"

During the year 1829, according to Latter-day Saint teachings, the priesthood was given to church founder Joseph Smith. The church was organized a year later. The ban on people of "black African descent" receiving the priesthood was instituted in 1852.

Wilcox's speech Sunday elicited sharp criticism on social media with many calling his remarks racist.

"I don’t even recognize my old community anymore," wrote Eli McCann, a Salt Lake City attorney.

"This is evil and horrifying," added Calvin Burke. "Brad Wilcox should be released from both the General Young Men's Presidency and BYU's Religion Department." Wilcox works as a professor at Brigham Young University.

Late Monday, Wilcox walked back his remarks.

"I've reviewed what I said," Wilcox said in his statement, "and I recognize that what I hoped to express about trusting God's timing did NOT come through as I intended. To those I offended, especially my dear Black friends, I offer my sincere apologies, and ask for your forgiveness. I am committed to do better."

The church had no further comment Monday evening. Wilcox has held his position in the Young Men general presidency since April 2020.

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