“The Declaration of Independence ‘holds these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal: that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’, but, at the same time, some two or three millions of people are held as slaves for life, because the spirit in them is covered with a darker skin than ours…The Constitution of the United States of America meant just what it said without reference to color or condition, ad infinitum!”–President Joseph Smith, who ran for President of the United States on an anti-slavery platform, in 1844.
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon founded the Mormon Reform Party in 1843. It was the only political party of the time that demanded freedom, equal rights, and education for blacks, going even farther than the Abolitionist Party of the day. Joseph Smith suggested Congress sell Federal public lands in order to purchase, free, educate, and give equal rights to former slaves.
(See Messages of The First Presidency 1:191-2)
In a letter regarding slavery, “It makes my blood boil within me to reflect upon the injustice, cruelty, and oppression of the rulers of the people.”–President Joseph Smith, in 1842
(See History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 4, 1980, pg. 544)
“I have advised (slaveholders) to bring their slaves into a free country and set them free–educate them–and give them equal rights.”–President Joseph Smith, in 1842
(See Compilation on the Negro in Mormonism, p.40)
“Break off the shackles of the poor black man and hire him to labor like other human beings.”–President Joseph Smith, in 1844
(See History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 5, 1980, pg. 209)
“Negroes should be treated like human beings, and not worse than dumb brutes [animals]. For their abuse of that race, the whites shall be cursed, unless they repent.”–President Brigham Young, in 1860
(See Journal Discourses 10:111)
“Men will be called to judgment for the way they have treated the Negro.”–President Brigham Young, in 1863
(See Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, 1956, pg. 250)