Doctrine and Covenants, Connected

Official Declaration 2 Every faithful, worthy man

In the Church’s earliest years a few Black men, including Elijah Able, were ordained to the priesthood. In 1852 President Brigham Young announced that men of Black African descent could no longer be ordained, and for more than a century that restriction remained, though leaders taught that a day would come when it would be lifted. As the Church grew in Brazil, Africa and elsewhere, President Spencer W. Kimball and the Twelve prayed for direction. On June 1, 1978, in the Salt Lake Temple, they received the revelation announced in this declaration.

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Official Declaration 2

  1. Summary: On June 8, 1978, the First Presidency—Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney—sent a letter to all general and local priesthood officers of the Church.
  2. Summary: They wrote that they had watched the Lord’s work spread across the earth and had felt a deep desire to extend every blessing of the gospel to every worthy member.
  3. Summary: Aware of promises made by earlier prophets that the day would come, they had pleaded long and earnestly with the Lord in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple for guidance.
  4. Summary: The Lord confirmed by revelation that the long-promised day had come: every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows from it, including the blessings of the temple.
  5. Summary: All worthy male members may be ordained to the priesthood without regard to race or color, and leaders were asked to follow the established interviews for worthiness.
  6. Summary: On September 30, 1978, President N. Eldon Tanner presented the letter at general conference, and the Saints voted unanimously to accept the revelation as the word and will of the Lord.

Read Official Declaration 2 on the official scripture site

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Data version: D&C Connected v1 · built 2026-10-15 · conference through 2026-10