While an assistant, Bennett was assigned to deal with work in Africa, and was involved in an ordeal in which missionaries were confused as to whether they were to baptize a number of black South Africans who wished to join the Church, despite the restrictions on blacks in holding the priesthood at that time. Bennett and other officials approved baptisal, but the missionaries had concerns that such a move would anger the South African government, which they believed had reached a tacit agreement with the Church in the past stipulating that Mormon missionaries could preach in the country provided that they did not proselytize black South Africans. The missionaries were also worried about the complications involved in intermingling blacks with the white believers, as the blacks, lacking priesthood authority, would not be able to assist with things such as home teaching. They also pointed out that the whites needed government permits to enter black areas. After consulting with Marion G. Romney, Bennet wrote back to a missionary saying "It appears that we have received direction from the Brethren that this is not the time for us to move ahead with a program for baptizing the Bantus in South Africa." This policy stood in place until the 1978 Revelation opened the priesthood to men of all races.[2]
^ abClark, David L. (2001). "Earning Respect in Wisconsin: Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Mormons". Journal of Mormon History. 27 (1): 165–191. ISSN 0094-7342. JSTOR 23288625.
^Turley, Richard E.; Cannon, Jeffrey G. (2016). "A Faithful Band: Moses Mahlangu and the First Soweto Saints". BYU Studies Quarterly. 55 (1): 8–38. ISSN 2167-8472. JSTOR 43957246.
Sourcesedit
“Elder William H. Bennett Dies,” Ensign, Sep. 1980, p. 79
Leon R. Hartshorn. Outstanding Stories by General Authorities. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1975) Vol. 3, p. 1
External linksedit
Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: William H. Bennett
April 12, 2024
william, bennett, mormon, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2019, learn, when, remove, this, template, mes. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message William Hunter Bennett 5 November 1910 23 July 1980 was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints LDS Church from 1970 until his death William H BennettEmeritus General AuthorityDecember 31 1978 1978 12 31 July 23 1980 1980 07 23 First Quorum of the SeventyOctober 1 1976 1976 10 01 December 31 1978 1978 12 31 End reasonGranted general authority emeritus statusAssistant to the Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesApril 6 1970 1970 04 06 October 1 1976 1976 10 01 End reasonPosition abolishedPersonal detailsBornWilliam Hunter Bennett 1910 11 05 5 November 1910Taber Alberta CanadaDied23 July 1980 1980 07 23 aged 69 Bountiful Utah United StatesBennett was born in Taber Alberta Canada He attended the School of Agriculture in Raymond Alberta and earned bachelor s and master s degrees in agriculture from Utah State University USU in the US followed by a Ph D in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin Madison He joined the faculty of USU as a professor of agronomy Bennett married Patricia June Christensen they had six children Bennett was an avid sportsman and in 1936 tried out for the Canadian Summer Olympics team in the shot put and discus throw In 1970 while serving in the LDS Church as a regional representative Bennett was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 1 and a general authority of the church Bennett served in this position until 1976 when the position of Assistant to the Twelve was abolished and he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy 1 until 1978 when he was designated as an emeritus general authority While an assistant Bennett was assigned to deal with work in Africa and was involved in an ordeal in which missionaries were confused as to whether they were to baptize a number of black South Africans who wished to join the Church despite the restrictions on blacks in holding the priesthood at that time Bennett and other officials approved baptisal but the missionaries had concerns that such a move would anger the South African government which they believed had reached a tacit agreement with the Church in the past stipulating that Mormon missionaries could preach in the country provided that they did not proselytize black South Africans The missionaries were also worried about the complications involved in intermingling blacks with the white believers as the blacks lacking priesthood authority would not be able to assist with things such as home teaching They also pointed out that the whites needed government permits to enter black areas After consulting with Marion G Romney Bennet wrote back to a missionary saying It appears that we have received direction from the Brethren that this is not the time for us to move ahead with a program for baptizing the Bantus in South Africa This policy stood in place until the 1978 Revelation opened the priesthood to men of all races 2 Bennett died at his home in Bountiful Utah US References edit a b Clark David L 2001 Earning Respect in Wisconsin Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Mormons Journal of Mormon History 27 1 165 191 ISSN 0094 7342 JSTOR 23288625 Turley Richard E Cannon Jeffrey G 2016 A Faithful Band Moses Mahlangu and the First Soweto Saints BYU Studies Quarterly 55 1 8 38 ISSN 2167 8472 JSTOR 43957246 Sources edit Elder William H Bennett Dies Ensign Sep 1980 p 79 Leon R Hartshorn Outstanding Stories by General Authorities Salt Lake City Deseret Book Company 1975 Vol 3 p 1External links editGrampa Bill s G A Pages William H Bennett Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William H Bennett Mormon amp oldid 1183489517, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
