The BlackVoices Sunday Sermon Roundup: On Being A Black Mormon, Faith And Occupy Wall Street, And Reflections On Raising A Daughter

Welcome to The BlackVoices Sunday Sermon Roundup, where we offer sermons from a diverse range of religious and spiritual leaders from across the country that we hope will elevate, inspire and compel.

This week we hear from five markedly different voices. Brother Darius Gray, a co-founder and former president of the LDS Genesis Group, is also the co-producer of the documentary film "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Back Mormons," urges us to remember, as Mitt Romney's Mormonism has been a target of insult during his campaign, that this nation was founded by people who were seeking religious freedom.

A third-generation ordained elder in Church of God in Christ, the Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou is also the author of the 2001 book "Urban Souls," and the forthcoming "Gods, Gays, and Guns: Religion and the Future of Democracy." The Rev. Sekou talks about the "genius and gift" of Occupy Wall Street is an opportunity for progressive issues such as race, gender and sexuality can be connected in some way to the economic crisis.

The Reverend Otis Moss III filled some big shoes when he took over in 2008 as pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, where his predecessor, the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had served for 20 years over a congregation that included the Obamas. Rev. Moss talks about how imperative it is that we lead the charge against the horrific war in the Democratic Republic of Congo where sexual violence against women and children is a daily occurrence.

Atlanta-based Tanya Martin is the founder and president of The Master Plan.Biz, Inc., an artist management company, and a regular devotional columnist at StreamingFaith. Martin, who is also the author of “From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality," and the forthcoming “A Work in Progress: Working From the Inside Out,” playfully warns of the dangers when we don't follow the GPS both in our cars and our religions.

And finally, Reverend Michael W. Waters, founder and pastor of Joy Tabernacle A.M.E. Church, shares the important beauty he discovered through a harrowing experience with his young daughter.

Darius A. Gray

Producer, Activist

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"Wherefore by Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them"

The recent uproar caused by Pastor Robert Jeffress calling Mitt Romney's Mormon faith a "cult" is yet a another example of a political strategy that runs counter to the principles set forth in Article 6 of the United States Constitution.

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Comments

[Valerie Howard]

09:19 AM on 10/18/2011

Why is this story relevant today? Is this just a smoke screen to justify and glorify Mormonism. Looks like, this is in lieu of the recent statements made about a certain potential GOP's candidate's religion. No one gave a crap before, so why should we care today? But I heard the Broadway show was excellent.

[sunshine14]

10:09 AM on 10/17/2011

I find this interesting one should rather trace from the time and before  Abraham and after who they are and thus where their root came from. With an open mind, upon looking up called,    Israelite Heritage.

[sunshine14]

09:47 AM on 10/17/2011

God is not a religion, God is God. God is infinite and God is in all that He has created. We limit God in a religion for God is far beyond any religions. Jesus name no such religion he belonged to and identified himself as being only the son of man, son of God. I Am that I Am. If you see me you see My Father. We are all called to become One with God. We came from Love, to become Love, to serve Love, for Love serves us all. God said He created all in His Image, mankind. God is infinite God is Eternal, God is Spiritual, So we to are made of Spirit. God speaks of His Image. What is the Image of God? God's Image is his own personal, spiritual character. God is Love, All Righteous, All Truths, All Joy, All Compassion, All forgiven, All serving, All Joy, All Peace. There is no Laws for Love, Joy, Truths, etc. There is only Laws given for that which is unrighteousness only. Only Laws given for what is not good. Thus we all have a clearly understanding of what is good. Did Jesus come to start a new religion? Did Jesus come to save land? Jesus came to save souls did He not? God said. The earth is my footstool, did He not? All things on this earth belong already to God, for He created all . What does not belong to God, is our souls, our Love our accepting God. Adam and eve reject God, so God did not force them against their own Free Will. God left them to their own making, removed them from His House, His Kingdom, they both choice the other. And God forces no one to Love Him dearly, for God our Creator His Free Will and Desire was to give all Free Will also, because God is a off Righteousness, who Himself has chosen Freely to give equality rights to all freely also, His right also to do so in all that He has created. Love all.

[Ezra Black]

07:04 AM on 10/17/2011

If you can't find your religion spelled out in the Scriptures, than you are in a man made religion. There is no direction in the Bible to be a Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Mormon or any other religion outside of Judaism. With Judaism came Christ Jesus to do away with that religion. Jesus did not come to bring men to religion, He came to bring eternal life to men who turned to faith in Him.

That is not a religion but a faith. Men would rather worship idols than worship God in the manner in which he has said. Man is his own worst enemy when it comes to God and men like to be religious because it makes man feel good in his own mind.

[sunshine14]

09:12 AM on 10/17/2011

Read the Bible God gives the Laws of the Priest who are all Levities all coming from the Tribe, blood line of Leviti.  Did Moses Abraham call it also Judaism religion? God has chosen as his own, the 12 Tribes of Israelites, Jacob, renamed Israel, had 12 Sons, thus 12 Tribes,   1 Tribe, 1 Tribe only was called Judah, thus the name too root, Ju/dah, Jew.  Tribe of Judah, was one of Jacobs sons. Each Tribe identified who, what Tribe they came from, by the Name of their Tribe,  all sons of Jacob, where given huge parcel of lands upon entering the Promise Land, called by God and named. Each Tribe, son named his land after himself.

  Tribe of Levi, were known as Levities and where they settled. All would know when one called themselves a  Jew, it identified where they settled, lived in,  and which Tribe they come from,  out of the 12 Tribes and came from The Tribe of  Judah. Christ bloodline can be traced to the Tribe of Levities, his mother and father were a Levite, the Priestly line which God had chosen out of the 12 Tribes  to be God's Priest, Royal King Line. Moses, Aaron, John Baptize, Joseph, Mary, Jesus were Levities from the Tribe of Levities, the Priestly Line. No one could be a Priest, having to come from the Tribe of Levities, the Law of God. And also chosen Line of order, who was to be High Priest. Just like Kings today and who takes over the Throne upon the kings passing.   Jesus mother   Mary', her own father was a Levite and He was High Priest in the Temple. Why King Herod felt threaten by Jesus, because King Herod was King and wanted his sons to be Priest also n the Temple. King Herod new full well Jesus was the King High Priest in that line of order, rightful heir. Why Caesar put on the cross, of Jesus, King of Kings of the Jew. To mock Jesus, look at your royal king now. Both Kings were threaten by Jesus even priestly line.

[Ezra Black]

12:18 PM on 10/17/2011

My point is the same, if you can't find your modern day religion spelled out in the bible than it is false. There is no provision for Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Mormon in the Scriptures. Thus it is a man made religion, made to honor man and his so-called greatness.

[Robert Joaquin Foster]

11:09 PM on 10/16/2011

Not sure if this saved earlier. I am a Black Mormon, father of 3, an Eye Doctor and a Priesthood leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints. I am proud of my African American heritage and I celebrate it often. I am also proud and grateful to he a Latter Day Saint. I have a strong family history of drugs, weakened families and substance abuse. This Church has changed my life and the life of my children. I feel that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints will strengthen our African American families more than any other Church.

[jbrumf5632]

01:41 AM on 10/17/2011

You did not need the Mormon church to take charge of your life. You had it within yourself to change, you just did not know it. How can an intelligent man read the history of Mormonism and believe it? It's a total fairy tale just as all other forms of religion. I'm not looking for a hostile exchange, I just find it incredibly sad that we cannot accept the fact that religion was born during mans intellectual infancy. Religion is something that we as a race (human race) need to outgrow and let go.

[Robert Joaquin Foster]

01:09 PM on 10/17/2011

I have had experiences that tell me different. I guess we have to agree to disagree on the need for Religion. I do not believe my faith to be a fairy tale but something with substance that keeps on centered and grounded. I am not one promoting religion however I do promote that our Heavenly Father wants us know Him and be like Him.

[simon102006]

05:12 AM on 10/18/2011

Why would we listen to you? Maybe you have no need for GOD, nor religion, nor a savior , but we who believe in GOD know that we need a savior, we have faith and hope in a personal GOD. I am glad that you have outgrown GOD and religion.

[kadene]

09:24 AM on 10/17/2011

Did you know that until just recently, Blacks were considered (according to Mormonism) persona non grata in heaven? How can you embrace a faith that looks down on you? And even if they changed their position, what does that tell you about the god they worship? That he was racist until political expediency caused him to change his mind? Come on, this is ridiculous. What specifically are you "proud" of regarding your heritage, if you are clinging to the faith of those who hate you and your kind?

[Robert Joaquin Foster]

01:36 PM on 10/17/2011

I produced a Film on the LDS Church and Blacks called Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons. I am very aware of what I believe to be racist History in the Church along with racist History throughout all Christianity. If you are interested in seeing the film it is airing right now on the Documentar­y Channel on Monday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. (Check local listings.) Documentar­y Channel is 197 on DISH or 267 on Direct TV. Or you can order it from http://www.untoldstoryofblackmormons.com/

Just because people believe in Christ does not make them perfect. I'll give you two examples in Christianity were people were racist.
1. After Christ appeared to the 12 Apostles when he was resurrected he told them "to teach all people baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost". It took further revelation from Peter in Acts chapter 2 for the Apostles to teach non Jews or "Gentiles" Many still did not believe that "Gentiles" should be taught. Paul was at the forefront in teaching the Gentiles.
Another example is one that is clearly documented. Christians used the Bible to promote slavery. A great African American Poet name Phillis Wheatley talked about the dogma out there during her time in the 1780's Many years before the LDS Church.
"Poem to come in Continued comment"

[Robert Joaquin Foster]

01:40 PM on 10/17/2011

...Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic dye."
Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.´
The concept of Christians using the "Curse of Cain" was a rationalization for Slavery. Should I reject Christ because people professing to believe in Him made such poor statements and did horrible things for the cause of Christianity?
Also to be clear the God we worship is our Heavenly Father in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I do not believe that God is racist. I believe that His people can be. God has never been completely please with his people. A good look at the Prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible let's us know that. God's people have always had weaknesses. However they are his people's. weaknesses. Not His.
As far as my heritage, I am proud that we as a people could shake off the chains of slavery and within 140 years have such great success. I am proud of our poetry, music, culture, and political strength. My twins who are 6 are name Malcolm and Maya. Malcolm named after Malcolm X and Maya name after the great Maya Angelou. There are so many great things about our people. I just hope and pray that we do better when it comes to Family. Our families are being destroyed. This I believed started through the Slave trade, but has continued through poor choices

[Robert Joaquin Foster]

10:52 PM on 10/16/2011

I'm a black Mormon, also a father of 3, an Eye Doctor, and a Church Priesthood leader. I'm proud of my African American heritage and I celebrate its culture. I am also proud of my faith and what living the Gospel o Jesus Christ for families. I have a family history of drug abuse and addiction. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints that turned it around for our family. I firmly believe that the LDS Church can help is as African Americans better our families and make them even stronger.

[B Y Rogers]

10:52 PM on 10/16/2011

For those who have an interest, Darius Gray's "Nobody Knows..." is an excellent documentary.

[Kelley Smith]

08:34 PM on 10/16/2011

See, so few blacks in the Mormon church, only 2 comments. Black Mormons for Herman Cain. Still 2 comments.

[B Y Rogers]

10:49 PM on 10/16/2011

Kelly, I am not sure how many Blacks are in The Church of Jesus Christ, but regardless of how many there are, the number of comments by Black members of the Church is not a way to measure comments. It is my experience that Black members are extremely faithful.

[ZenSufi]

10:45 AM on 10/16/2011

I've heard of Jack Mormons, and now Black Mormons. Are there any Jack Black Mormons?

[tchoupitoulav1]

11:08 PM on 10/16/2011

HILARIOUS!

[Vimentin]

08:47 AM on 10/17/2011

I use Jack Black products!