LDS Church yanks song White after lyrics fell flat with Mormons of color

The plan called for making the new song "White" — based on scriptural allusions to purity — one of the resources approved for next year's Young Women program for teenage Mormon girls.

But the LDS Church is changing its tune.

"The song is being pulled, pending further review," spokesman Eric Hawkins said Tuesday in response to questions from The Salt Lake Tribune. "It's important to church leaders that there not be feelings of offense or misunderstanding associated with the song."

It is not surprising that Mormons of color and others objected to the lyrics, given the Utah-based faith's racial history. It wasn't until 1978 that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lifted a more than centurylong ban on black men and boys joining its all-male priesthood and black women and girls from entering LDS temples.

The lyrics were co-written by a 17-year-old Asian Latter-day Saint in Utah, who based them on a biblical verse, Isaiah 1:18, which says "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4709707-155/lds-church-yanks-song-white-after