The Message the Same in this Day as in Days of Early Church

   Consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Blacks. Consider the church just in light of a General Conference talk, given by Elder John B. Dickson of the First Quorum of Seventy.
   I have long thought of the story of Peter, of how he had a vision in which a sheet filled with certain animals, and beasts and fowls of the air was lowered to the earth. And, a voice came to Peter, telling him to eat the creatures.
   Now, there were certain creatures the gospel people did not eat at that time, and Peter replied, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
   And the voice said to Peter, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
   And while Peter thought on the vision, representatives from a man named Cornelius, who was of the Italian band, sought him at his door. This Cornelius was a devout man, and one that feared God, and he had been told by an angle to send his men to Peter.
   Now, this was a time in which the gospel was not among all men. The disciples of Jesus ministered but to the tribes of Israel. Nevertheless, through the vision Peter had seen of the creatures and beasts and fowl being lowered in a sheet, he knew he was to accept Cornellius and his men. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons," he said. "But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
   When doubt of my church has been expressed, due to the issue of the Blacks, I have thought of that story. I have thought of how one set of people was denied, due to their race, but then a revelation was received, extending everything to them. God has His reasons, but he loves all people.
   Elder Dickson, in his talk, spoke of this story from the Book of Acts. He then spoke of the prophecy in Daniel that the Lord's kingdom would roll forth to all the world. The people from the African nations are "an important part of the fulfillment of that prophecy," he said.
   Then, he spoke of his role as a general authority of the church, of being called to serve in western Africa. And, he could not have spoken more highly of the people. Even as Cornelius in the Bible was said to be a Godly and devout man, so he spoke of the people of Africa as being a believing and faithful people. They have no shame of Christ and the gospel. They have tremendous leadership capacity. They are committed in temple attendance. They understand the gospel. Unlike many of us in America, they are not concerned with cars, and homes and possessions, but are a humble people who just love the Lord. So spoke Elder Dickson of the people he worked with in western Africa.
   Those who would suppose the Blacks are a lesser people in any way, are wrong. Those in every nation who fear God, and are righteous, are accepted of God. It is the same in these days, with a revelation coming to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978, as it was in the early days, when Peter received his vision.