Lavina Looks Back: No good deed goes unpunished. Lester Bush.

Lavina wrote: May 22, 1983.... Other writers questioned are Armand Mauss, Thomas G. Alexander, David John Buerger, Lester Bush

My notes-- Let me begin by saying I'm not worthy to write about Lester Bush (or anyone else I've ever mentioned) but this is Reddit, so here's my quick summary of the events surrounding Lester Bush's article in Dialogue of 1973, "Mormonism's Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview." It's generally accepted that Brooks (Juanita) and Bush have each written the most important LDS publications of the 20th century.

From Lester's wife, Yvonne, we learn that LB was initially motivated to write his article when he learned that Dialogue was planning a special issue on minority groups. He began his work in Cyprus. (LB was a medical doctor and in employ of the CIA.) While in Cyprus the wife of the Swiss mission president, Janath Cannon, met with Lester and obtained a copy of the Lester's article and with permission sent it off to BK Packer, who shelved the item. Heavy pressure was put upon the editor of Dialogue not to publish. It was published and later two grandsons of Spencer W. Kimball both asserted their grandfather had paid closed attention to the details in the article.

The shunning began early. In 1975 a reorganization of priesthood callings resulted in all "local" 70s being called as High Priests. Except Lester, who was situated in the ward's Elder's Quorum. Lester was given few assignments and was gradually iced out of the ward socially. Much later, in 2017, Yvonne learned that Lester had been disfellowshiped for quite some time. She was shocked. This seemed to have been common knowledge except to Lester and his family. [I did not learn of any subsequent change in status in my readings]. The Bush family gradually drifted away from the church. Lester continued writing articles: 19 published between 1976 and 1998. Yvonne referred to herself as Lester's second, or maybe third wife [to the first wives, research and writing, I assume]. There was much rejoicing with the 1978 revelation that admitted black men (only the men) to enter the priesthood. An "inquisition" against "enemies of the church" by ME Peterson ensued in 1983 and Lester's stake president Bill Marriot met with Lester but refused to rescind Lester's temple recommend despite instructions from ME Peterson.

Lester passed away November 23, 2023. He lived long enough to enjoy the rewards of his work through the bringing forth of the 1978 revelation and the reception of an abundance of warmth and gratitude he received from Mormons throughout the world.

Lester's own retrospective published in 1998 on the events surrounding his groundbreaking article can be read here: "Writing "Mormonism's Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview" (1973): Context and Reflections, 1998" Dialogue and here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23287744 (sign up for free articles)

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/lester-bushs-journey-as-seen-by-his-wife-yvonne/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xBq-w7Am3M A Tribute to Lester Bush by Greg Prince