their dislike for the peculiar institution in the South. As the Civil war began, the Mormon-dominated territory of Utah decided not to participate in either seceding from the Union or joining the Union army. The Church characterized its position as both anti-abolitionist and anti-slavery. Young defended Utahs small number of slaves by comparing it more to benevolent servitude, and because of a lack of quality soil, Utah slaves were mostly used for residential service duties. Several Church leaders such as William Hooper, Utahs Territorial delegate, and Apostle Jedediah M. Grant saw the Civil War as a blessing in disguise; they believed that the war would trigger a Mormon prophesied apocalyptic event that would cleanse society and eventually lead to ultimate Mormon control. The war over slavery during the second half of the nineteenth century forced the Mormon Church for the first time in its existence to publicly announce their feeling towards the African race. At that time in history the idea that African Americans held subordinate role in society was a common belief for many citizens that were not associated with the Church. As a new generation of Mormons took the helm of the Church black priesthood denial perpetuated. Church leaders justified their reasoning through several different ideas. Church elders that were associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith affirmed that Smith believed that the seed of Cain was not allowed to hold the title of priesthood. The Pearl of Great Price was also used as a major literary device in maintaining ideas of African inferiority. Leaders often referred to passages Smith had written about a close descendant of Ham that established the first government of Egypt; He became a very wise and righteous ruler but because he was an ancestor of Cain he was cursed pertaining to the Priesthood10. Republican Government officials continued to disapprove of the polygamous Saints; laws were passed that t...
