William McCary facts for kids

Warner "William" McCary (born around 1811 – after 1854) was an African American man who joined Mormonism. He was later removed from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1847. This happened because he claimed to be a prophet. Some people think McCary's actions might have led to the Church's later rule. This rule stopped people of Black African descent from holding the priesthood or taking part in temple ceremonies.

Early Life

Warner McCary was born in Natchez, Mississippi, around 1810 or 1811. His mother, Francis (or "Franky"), was an enslaved person. Her owner was James McCary, a white carpenter. When James McCary died, he freed Franky and her older children. However, he stated that Warner and any future children would remain enslaved.

In 1836, Warner escaped from Natchez. He traveled by riverboat to New Orleans. There, he worked at a foundry and sometimes as a musician or cigar seller. Around this time, he married Lucy Stanton Bassett, a white woman. She said she was Native American.

A New Identity

As a young man, McCary started using different names. These included James Warner, William McCary, and Cary. Over time, he used more than a dozen different names. Many of these names sounded like Native American names. Some examples are William Chubbee, Okah Tubbee, and War'ne'wis Ke'ho'ke Chubbee.

In 1843, McCary presented himself as a Native American. Local white people helped him get a permit as a free person of color in Mississippi. In 1844, he left and traveled to different cities. He performed as a musician and gave talks. During this time, he briefly joined the Mormon faith. His joining caused some discussions about race.

Joining the Church

McCary arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois, in late 1845. He claimed he was half-African American and half-Native American. He also said he was Okah Tubbee, the "lost" son of a Choctaw chief. McCary was also known for being a skilled ventriloquist and musician.

In February 1846, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An apostle named Orson Hyde baptized him. He was also likely given the Melchizedek priesthood. Around this time, McCary married Lucy Stanton. She was the white daughter of Daniel Stanton, a former Church leader. In the winter of 1846–1847, McCary joined other Church members in Winter Quarters, Nebraska.

His Claims and Excommunication

Before arriving in Winter Quarters, McCary had made unusual claims about himself. He sometimes said he was Jesus or Adam. In 1847, while at Winter Quarters, McCary spoke to Brigham Young and other Church leaders. He seemed sad and confused about his racial background. He said he wanted to be seen as "a common brother," even though he was "a little shade darker." Brigham Young kindly told him, "We don't care about the color… It's nothing to do with blood, for of one blood has God made all flesh." Young encouraged McCary to truly repent before God.

After this, the Church leaders gathered their own money to help McCary. They wanted him to get a wagon and supplies to travel west with the Church members. However, McCary broke their trust and was quickly excommunicated. It was found that McCary had been performing special, unauthorized ceremonies that looked like marriages in his own home. McCary had settled near Winter Quarters and started attracting followers to his own version of Mormonism.

After McCary's actions and excommunication, Church leaders quickly distanced themselves from him. They also told other members to do the same. McCary soon left Winter Quarters and went to Missouri, then to Canada. Some people in different towns had listened to McCary's teachings. He was said to give "priesthood blessings" using a "golden rod."

Impact on Church Policy

McCary's behavior made many Church members in Winter Quarters upset. Some researchers believe his unauthorized marriages played a role in the Church's later policy. This policy stopped Black people from holding the priesthood and participating in temple ceremonies.

A statement from Brigham Young to McCary in March 1847 suggests that before this time, race did not affect who could hold the priesthood. The first known statement about Black people being restricted from the priesthood came from an apostle named Parley P. Pratt. This was a month after McCary was removed from Winter Quarters. Pratt said McCary "was a black man with the blood of Ham in him which linege was cursed as regards the priesthood."

After Brigham Young put the priesthood and temple restriction in place in 1847, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints generally did not allow men of Black African descent to hold the priesthood again until 1978.

See also

• Black people and Mormonism
• Blacks and the Latter Day Saint movement
• Official Declaration—2