![Mormons to Celebrate 1978 Lifting of Ban on Blacks in Priesthood](http://townsquare.media/site/96/files/2018/04/GettyImages-83851540.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Mormons to Celebrate 1978 Lifting of Ban on Blacks in Priesthood
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church says it will celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of its reversal of a ban on blacks in the religion's lay priesthood. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Monday night that the celebration will take place June 1 in Salt Lake City. The ban on men of African descent being allowed to participate in the religion's lay clergy ended in 1978 when the religion says its top leaders received a revelation from God after praying about it. Black Mormons still account for only a small percentage of the church's 16 million members worldwide. A 2013 church essay disavowed the ban and explained that it was put into place during an era of great racial divide that influenced early Mormon teachings
More From Kool 96.5
![5 Important Things I Learned Driving To Salt Lake City From Twin Falls](http://townsquare.media/site/96/files/2018/11/attachment-Road-Trip-DL.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Blue Collar Comedian’s Farewell Show Will Be In Salt Lake City](http://townsquare.media/site/94/files/2020/07/bill-engvall.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Popular Toy Store Returning to Idaho Later this Year](http://townsquare.media/site/94/files/2022/07/attachment-Add-a-heading-2022-07-19T122242.547.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Should Idaho Ban Father’s Day For Good?](http://townsquare.media/site/94/files/2022/06/attachment-Add-a-heading-2022-06-14T105641.542.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Why The Twin Falls Co. Fair Must Book Iconic Idaho Spud Truck Now](http://townsquare.media/site/97/files/2022/05/attachment-truck.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![VIDEO: Three Hiking Pals Shotgun Beers Atop Idaho’s Tallest Point](http://townsquare.media/site/97/files/2022/02/attachment-beer2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Music, Fireworks & Cold Beer At Rupert ID New Year’s Beet Drop](http://townsquare.media/site/97/files/2021/12/attachment-rupert.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Twin Falls CSI Tree Lighting Gala To Have Carolers, Hot Chocolate](http://townsquare.media/site/97/files/2021/11/attachment-tree-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![President Biden Once Again Calls For U.S. Assault Weapons Ban](http://townsquare.media/site/97/files/2021/03/Untitled-design-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)