Some researchers have suggested that McCary's actions led to the Church's subsequent policy of not allowing people of black African descent to hold the priesthood or participate in temple ordinances.
Upon James McCary's death around 1813, his will emancipated Franky and the older children but declared Warner and his future offspring to "be held as slaves during all and each of their lives" in the service of his mother and siblings.
[3] In Council Bluffs, Iowa, in February 1846, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by apostle Orson Hyde, and he was probably ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood.
[5][6] In 1847, as the Saints resided at Winter Quarters before continuing on to the Rocky Mountains, a seemingly penitent McCary had expressed to Brigham Young and members of the Quorum of the Twelve his anguish and confusion over his racial status, saying that he wished to be seen as "a common brother" despite being "a little shade darker," to which Brigham kindly reassured him: "We don't care about the color… It's nothing to do with blood, for of one blood has God made all flesh.
"[6][7] Following this, the members of the Quorum of the Twelve—at Young's request—pooled together their private funds to assist McCary in securing a wagon and supplies to join the Saints in their westward trek.
[8][6] Some residents of Cincinnati, Winter Quarters, and other townships had entertained McCary's teachings,[6] including his promulgation of an "immediate consummation" sort of polygamous union, and upon whose adherents he was said to confer "priesthood blessings" using a "golden rod.
Researchers have stated that his marriages to his white wives "played an important role in pushing the Mormon leadership into an anti-Black position"[4][10] and may have prompted Brigham Young to institute the priesthood and temple ordinance ban on black people.