Many Church statements supported the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
“No Church or other organization is more insistent than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that the Negroes should receive all the rights and privileges that can possibly be given to any other in the true sense of equality as declared in the Declaration of Independence. They should be equal to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ They should be equal in the matter of education. They should not be barred from obtaining knowledge and becoming proficient in any field of science, art or mechanical occupation. They should be free to choose any kind of employment, to go into business in any field they may choose and to make their lives as happy as it is possible without interference from white men, labor unions or from any other source. In their defense of these privileges the members of the Church will stand.”–President Joseph Fielding Smith, in the 1950s.
(See Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol.2, p.185)
Regarding civil rights, “We would like it to be known that there is in this Church no doctrine…or practice that is intended to deny the enjoyment of full civil rights by any person regardless of race…we believe that all men are the children of the same God and that it is a moral evil for any person or group of persons to deny any human being the rights to gainful employment, to full educational opportunity, and to every privilege of citizenship…We call upon all men everywhere, both within and outside the Church, to commit themselves to the establishment of full civil equality for all of God’s children. Anything less than this defeats our high ideal of the brotherhood of man.”–Elder Hugh B. Brown, in 1963
(See October 1963 General Conference)
“Certainly the Negroes as children of God are entitled to equality before the law and to be treated with all the dignity and respect of any member of the human race. Many of them certainly live according to higher standards of decency and right in this life than do some of their brothers of other races; a situation that will cause judgment to be laid ‘to the line, and righteousness to the plummet.’ (Isa. 28:17) in the day of judgment.”–Elder Bruce R. McConkie, 1966
(See Mormon Doctrine, 1966 edition, p.528)
“First, may we say that we know something of the sufferings of those who are discriminated against in a denial of their civil rights and Constitutional privileges. Our early history as a Church is a tragic story of persecution and oppression. Our people repeatedly were denied the protection of the law. They were driven and plundered, robbed and murdered by mobs, who in many instances were aided and abetted by those sworn to uphold the law. We as a people have experienced the bitter fruits of civil discrimination and mob violence…In revelations received by…Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the Lord made it clear that it is ‘not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.’ These words were spoken prior to the Civil War….It follows, therefore, that we believe the Negro, as well as those of other races, should have his full Constitutional privileges as a member of society, and we hope that members of the Church everywhere will do their part as citizens to see that these rights are held inviolate.”–The First Presidency, in 1969
(See The First Presidency on the Rights of the Negro and BlackMormon)