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Mormon Stories Podcast

1176: Marlena Smith - Growing Up as a Black Mormon in Utah Pt. 3

Mormon Stories Podcast

Dr. John Dehlin

Religion & Spirituality

4.55.7K Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2019

⏱️ 76 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Marlena Smith’s parents joined the Mormon church as black converts after the priesthood ban was lifted (1978). After her parents moved to Utah, Marlena was born in 1989 in Provo, Utah. Marlena was raised as a devout Mormon in Lindon and Pleasant Grove - as the only black family in her ward and stake. Later Marlena attended BYU and married in the Payson temple.

This is Marlena’s story of growing up as a black Mormon woman in Utah

Transcript

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Um, yeah, so we get married and I remember what was really frustrating is the bishop said

1:14.1

something like, something to the effect of this isn't as good, but when you get married

1:20.3

at the temple, that's, you know what I mean?

1:22.6

With all my family around and you know, I just, that was really angered me when he said

1:27.1

that.

1:28.1

He, he basically downgraded the specialness of your, yeah, yes, I really frustrated me.

1:35.6

So yeah, then yeah, so, um, and even before I, I go there because I forgot to mention

1:43.4

about my missionary.

1:44.5

Yeah.

1:45.5

And I don't know how much time.

1:46.5

Okay.

1:47.5

So when I was at school, I did data kid and he was amazing, um, friend of like, well, we

1:52.9

were friends first and then we started to kind of date and then he went on a mission to

...

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