RJ

First president of the Genesis Group

Ruffin Bridgeforth Jr.

1923–1997

1 topic · 1 dated event

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Race and the Priesthood

First president of the Genesis Group

With Darius Gray and Eugene Orr, Bridgeforth asked the Twelve in 1971 for a branch where Black members could gather. What they got instead was the Genesis Group, organized 19 October 1971 under Liberty Stake, with Bridgeforth as president — a leader who could not hold the priesthood he was asked to preside without. He was ordained in June 1978 and later made a high priest.

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19 October 1971

The Genesis Group is organized

Ruffin Bridgeforth, Darius Gray and Eugene Orr had asked the Twelve for a branch for Black members. They were given an auxiliary group under Liberty Stake instead. Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson and Boyd K. Packer set apart Bridgeforth as president with Gray and Orr as counselors — none of whom could hold the priesthood. Packer counselled them to keep a low profile.

Disputed Members understood it as a step toward ordination; the apostles' minutes suggest a reactivation project with the priesthood question deliberately left open.
People: Ruffin Bridgeforth Jr. · Darius Aidan Gray

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