Later Bruce McConkie made a strong statement repudiating things that had been said in the past. He said to forget whatever he or others had said, because they spoke without the light and knowledge that had now come into the world. My private (youthful) reaction to this was that some of us had already had that light, for a long time. Many, many people were willing to stick with the Church because of their faith in the Lord; but it was a wonderful day to have congruence between what we believed in our hearts and what the doctrine of the Church finally taught.

I was simply recounting what I observed that day. You might be surprised to find I’m a *huge* fan of public transportation (I didn’t ride the subway that day in said distant city; other circumstances dictated I take my rental car because of other stops I had to make later).

I observed about a little over 100 people in Church that day. About 40% drove. About 60% took the subway (observed strictly from the direction people headed; the street parking and barbed-wire-enclosed parking lot were south of the chapel, and the subway stop was northwest. It wasn’t a stretch to make a qualitative judgment about who was driving and who was riding.

It was actually one of more spiritually-edifying meetings I’ve been to in awhile. I’m sorry if the reality of the demographics and transportation habits of those Saints is an irritant to you.

One of the most faithful members of our branch, currently serving as the secretary in the EQ, is a black man who was baptized a couple of years ago. He sets an example for all of us in dependability, regular temple attendance, eagerness to help everyone he can, and even just plain friendliness. If we didn’t have him among us, we would be much the poorer for it.

JD 2:142-143: “When all the other children of Adam have had the privilege of receiving the Priesthood, and of coming into the kingdom of God, and of being redeemed from the four quarters of the earth, and have received their resurrection from the dead, then it will be time enough to remove the curse from Cain and his posterity.”

JD 7:290-291: “How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them? That curse will remain upon them, and they never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the keys thereof. Until the last ones of the residue of Adam’s children are brought up to that favourable position, the children of Cain cannot receive the first ordinances of the Priesthood. They were the first that were cursed, and they will be the last from whom the curse will be removed. When the residue of the family of Adam come up and receive their blessings, then the curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will receive blessings in like proportion.”

JD 11:272: “[W]hen all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to.”

In The Way to Perfection (1931) (p. 101), Joseph Fielding Smith, speaking of Cain, wrote: “A curse was placed upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so while time endures.” JFS quoted JD 2:142-143 in explaining when the curse would be removed (p. 106).

The 1949 First Presidency Statement quoted from JD 11:272.

Turns out thats exactly what I was able to do. It was great timing and I had some great experiences.