May 16, 1967

Dear President McKay:

For many years the question of the status of the Negro in our church has been for me (and, I suspect, for many other Latter-Day Saints as well) an agonizing issue. The hopeful events of recent years -- most notably the visible enlargement of human brotehrhood, and the spread of the ecumenical spirit among the religions of the world -- hae served to heighten my own concern over this question.

I have, at last, decided to speak out on this subject. The essay enclosed will appear in public print in the next few days as a letter-to-the-editor in the next issue of DIALOGUE Magazine.

I want you to personally know that I have expressed myself with humility and utter honesty -- and always with the prayerful thought that my action will, in the long run, help, not harm, the church.

Most sincerely,

Stewart L. Udall

Secretary of the Interior

President David O. McKay

Office of the First Presidency

47 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

SLUdall:ehg

Copies to persons on attached listing

Copies to: Secy desk - Secy personal - chron - files

Copies to:

Prealdent Hugh B. Brown AIRMAIL SPECIAL

47 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Prendent Eldon Tanner AIRMAIL SPECIAL

47 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Elder Spencer Kimball AIRMAIL

47 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Elder Delbert Stapley AIRMAIL

47 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Hon. George Romney AIRMAIL SPECIAL

Governor of Michigan

Lansing, Michigan 48900

Dr. Sterling M. McMurrin AIRMAIL

Dean of the Graduate School

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah 84101