The Eleventh Hour: Blacks in the LDS Church
During the inflammatory civil rights battles in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, many blacks joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a church with a racist reputation for their history of denying blacks the opportunity for ordination into the LDS Church Priesthood until 1978.
This feature-length documentary film will tell the true stories of blacks and their interactions with the LDS Church. “The Eleventh Hour” will introduce us to the first pre-Civil War black converts to Mormonism in the 1830s. It will remind us both of the civil rights activists who fought the LDS Church in the 1960’s-1970s and of the black Mormons who stayed with the Church during these turbulent times. In addition, “The Eleventh Hour” will take a closer look at the complex and often violent race/religious struggles in the broader American social landscape of the times.
The documentary will conclude with the stories of current black Mormon priests, leaders, Church authorities, and members.
Produced by first-time documentary producers Robert J. Foster and Wayne Lee, “The Eleventh Hour” will be directed by Richard Dutcher.
Producer Robert J. Foster was the first African American Student Body President at Brigham Young University. Producer Wayne L. Lee, an African American Filmmaker, is the founder and director of the Gloria Film Festival. Richard Dutcher is the writer and director of “Brigham City” and “God’s Army.”
Donations are being accepted through The Edification Foundation, a National Heritage Foundation at 37 East Center Street Provo, Utah 84606. You can also call at The Edification Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, supports activities and organizations that edify, educate, and entertain.
For more information on “The Eleventh Hour: Blacks in the LDS Church” please view our website at www.the11thhourlaborers.org. You may also email Robert J Foster at Ro*************@ho*****.com or at (801) 344-8764 or 801-319-5190
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