Its very strange this idea of calling people of African Heritage BLACK and people of European Heritage WHITE. Because both people of African and European Heritage run the full spectrum of shades, with very few truly being BLACK or WHITE. If you like the BLACK & WHITE definition why aren't Asians referred to as YELLOW?
Yeah, they are... And others are orange brown. As for me, I'm just a mut, I got all kinds of races in my blood. lol.
I'm a mormon too, and spent 3 years in Utah while attending BYU. I know that some mormons are racist, as with any religion, but most that I know are not. Unfortunately there is no doubt that the mormon church has had some very racist policies and statements in the past, which makes me very sad. It was a product of the times, however that shouldn't excuse it. You are right though, they are trying to distance themselves from that now and the mormon church is not currently racist. I'm sure that history has something to do with why there are so many white mormons and so many white people in Utah.