I would like to agree with Don Izekor's Aug. 9 commentary, which explores the moral relativism problem. Can early Mormon leaders be forgiven for the white supremacy they practiced?
Izekor asks the question, "Can we say in 1875 that no one knew racism was wrong because of the standards of the time?"
The answer to that is "No."
Vermont abolished slavery in 1777, Ohio in 1802, New York in 1828. Brigham Young was passionately defending slavery and white supremacy in Utah in the decades after these times.
Yes, Brigham Young University should remove the names of racists who are ubiquitous on their campus mocking the idea of equality.
Barbara Taylor, Salt Lake City
Submit a letter to the editor
Get Inside Voices newsletter. A weekly collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah.
sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.
Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.
You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.