Item Detail
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33455
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0
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1
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English
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Social Distances: A Study of Changing Views of Young Mormons toward Black Individuals
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Religion, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints
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Provo, UT
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BYU Religious Studies Center
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237-244
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"In 1978, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints received a revelation that allowed black members of the Church to obtain the priesthood. Using the Bogardus Social Distance Scale, it was determined that during a period beginning three years before the revelation, Brigham Young University students showed less social distance than their national peers toward black individuals. In 1989, this study used the Bogardus scale on BYU students to establish whether or not the social distance had continued to lessen in the years following the revelation. It was found that the social distance toward blacks had continued to decrease gradually through the eleven years. Additionally, the social distance toward other ethnic groups was also tested and compared for the 1979-89 period. Most notably, students felt significantly closer to and more positive about Russians, who had the greatest social distance decrease." [Abstract from chapter]