Jan 25, 2010 i know that some people use 2 nephi 5 as proof that the book of mormon is racist. One of them, jane manning james, was part of the first. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon church. The book of mormon teaches that the disobedience of adam and eve in eating the forbidden fruit was necessary so that they could have children and bring joy to mankind 2 nephi 2. In contrast, the bible specifically declares that adams transgression was a sinful act of rebellion that unleashed the power of sin and death in the human. What was the mark of the curse in the book of mormon. Of course, this is not an easy topic to discuss, and i think this would have been a difficult situation even for the most prepared missionary. If one quotes selectively, one can make any religious text look racist. But this is pretty standing rock in the context of the general white culture belief that the only good indian is a dead indian. Interpreting this passage as meaning that conversion leads to a change of skin color echo a misinterpretation of the book of mormon text rather than an anachronism in the text itself. What is the most controversial thing in the book of mormon.
Your skin color may be the result of that curse, but you are not cursed. Interpreting this passage as meaning that conversion leads to a change of skin color echo a misinterpretation of the book of. Theological foundation for racism in the lds church. Posted in racism in the mormon church, tagged blacks and mormon priesthood, false doctrines of mormonism, racist mormon quotes, slaves are inferior on 081920 leave a comment in my quest to get things organized i created another research page. For those who hold the belief that joseph smith, an american, wrote this book of fiction, this is incredible to me. In my quest to get things organized i created another research page. Mormon is morally null and without seeming to notice it pretty racist, she argues. Its true that black mormons couldnt receive the priesthood until 1978, but it is not true that the mormon church properly called the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is a racist institution. The introduction to the current book of mormon maintains that the lamanites are the principal ancestors of the american indians.
The musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant. Nov 07, 2016 probably the single most controversial passage from the book of mormon is the section from 2 nephi chapter 5, which details how the evil lamanites were cursed with dark skin while the good nephites had white skin. It was clear, however, that the young missionaries did not know how to respond to the particulars of race and skin color in the book of mormon. Nephi, the son of helaman, declared to the nephites, for behold, thus saith the lord. Racism in the book of mormon yep, its there rational. Mauss, a president of the mormon history association, the churchs racist beliefs originated within protestant denominations from which many mormons converted. Aug 27, 2009 there are many verses in the book of mormon and pearl of great price that are very racist, and very unbiblical. There is a lot that i could say about it, but what was most shocking to me was the incredible depth of its racism towards native americans. This analysis looks at what these things might mean in context. I asked her, in the past year, why her brothers did not join the church when she did.
Book of mormons antiafrican racism is no laughing matter. The mormon church has a long history of institutionalized racism. But when its put in greater context not just of that one chapter, but of the whole bookwell, what most antimormons want it to meanits not really there. And he had caused the cursing to come upon the lamanites, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. What follows is simply the text of book of mormon passages reflecting racist notions. Posted in racism in the mormon church, tagged blacks and mormon priesthood, false doctrines of mormonism, racist mormon quotes, slaves are inferior on 081920 leave a comment. Every major protestant denomination in history has taught that. Why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver burkeman the south park creators musical was much lauded in the us, but its satirical sensibility may. By way of introduction, im an investigator who just finished reading through the book of mormon for the very first time.
We get a hint of nephites being racist toward the lamanites in descriptions made of the lamanites by the nephites. God changed his mind about black people diva portal. Not only a mormon, but a utah mormon, who has family members in the ldsmormon church going back to 1830, the year that religion was founded. The book of mormon musical is not offensive for its portrayal of mormons. Mormon beliefs had a history of promoting racist attitudes, since people of color where prohibited from being in the priesthood up until the early 1970s. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. While the book of mormon states that god denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free 2 nephi 26.
When something uses race or a standin term like blood or seed as a distinguishing factor for elevating, repressing or segregating one group from another, then it is racist regardless of what additional justification they may add. She converted to the church as a young woman after being raised as a catholic. One group has claimed it cannot be racist as white skinned nephites and blackskinned lamanites are nothing more than metaphors for cultures, not for skin. As of friday, december 6, the mormon church has officially renounced the doctrine that brown skin is a punishment from god in the book of mormon, not the musical but the actual sacred text dark skin is a sign of gods curse, while white skin is a sign of his blessing. Despite the best efforts of uniformly dressed pairs of mormons everywhere, the theological beliefs of mormons and members of the largest mormon church, the. The charge of racism in the book of mormon fairmormon. Posted on october 19, 2015 january 1, 2020 by scott thormaehlen this is part 3 of a 9part series on the topic of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and race relations. The book of mormon does not define the mark of cain specifically, to my knowledge. Forty years on, most mormons still believe the racist temple. Over the past two centuries, the relationship between black people and mormonism has a history that includes both official and unofficial discrimination, but. Each year has been a lesson in faith and doubt, stretching and engaging what it means to be black. So it was real regret that i concluded that the gleeful depiction of traditional stereotypes about africa dead babies, warlord, hiv, etc reinforced rather than challenged general preconceptions. May 24, 2015 the question of racism in the book of mormon is very close to me. I know that some people use 2 nephi 5 as proof that the book of mormon is racist.
As an exmormon i can say that there are racist mormons and nonracist mormons, just as there are jews, catholics, muslims, hindus, etc that are racist and others that are nonracist. Later, the book of mormon records that an additional group of lamanites converted and that their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the nephites and they were numbered among the nephites, and were called nephites 3 nephi 2. Paul reeve, author of religion of a different color. This is a wellresearched, fascinating look at an americanborn religious group that has an intriguing history. Sep 17, 2018 it was clear, however, that the young missionaries did not know how to respond to the particulars of race and skin color in the book of mormon. If the answer was as simple as that, i feel it would have been written as such in the text of the book of mormon. There is no reference to their skin color being changed. I will not show unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it be unto those that repent of their sins, and. The mormon belief in black skin being a curse is found in uniquely mormon books they call scripture. The antimiscegenation advocated in the book of mormon is inherently racist, regardless of what the justification is. I view human beings as a spectrum, with a wide variety of skin colors and other physical features.
Jan 20, 2014 the musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant. But when its put in greater context not just of that one chapter, but of the whole book well, what most antimormons want it to meanits not really there. I come from lamanite heritage that is my mother was born and raised in mexico. May 29, 2009 the lds church maintained a racist policy of denying full membership to blacks until 1978. Forty years ago, the mormon church reversed restrictions on its members of africanamerican descent. Remove the racist statements from the book of mormon. The book of mormon, dark skin, and racist theology religion.
Why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver. Its been six years since i became a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Aug 28, 2016 its been six years since i became a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. This essay examines the ability of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints to attract people of color in mexico in the early twentieth century. To support this argument, they selectively quote from the book of mormon, ignoring context and the overall message of the book. I formally request that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, commonly known as the mormons, remove any and all racist teachings from within the current book of mormon, specifically, all references to any curse of skin color, either from white to black as a punishment, or from black to white as a reward. This policy was based on the belief that blacks were less valiant in the preexistence, a teaching called the curse of cain, as well as the texts of the book of mormon and other mormon scripture which equate righteousness with white skin color. The book of mormons references to dark skin being associated with a curse have confused and offended many readers. How to respond to accusations of racism in the book of mormon. Remember, nephi and other book of mormon authors delighted in plainness, and the idea that they would use a complex metaphor such as skin color to describe something as simple as the peoples way of life seems out of character.
These verses were thought to explain the dark skin of native. Mormons confront a history of church racism the conversation. Lds mormons say these book of mormon scriptures are not. Probably the single most controversial passage from the book of mormon is the section from 2 nephi chapter 5, which details how the evil lamanites were cursed with dark skin while the good nephites had white skin. I submit that these racist verses of the book of mormon can be reinterpreted while maintaining ones belief in the historicity of the book of mormon. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans is. We get a hint of nephites being racist toward the lamanites in. I spoke with mueller about his new book, race and the making of the mormon people, which focuses on a few important figures in mormon history.
The new face of mormon racism religion news service. Humans of all sorts are much more the charge of racism in the book of mormon read more. Remember that the mormon version of god is not the god of the bible. It was one of the best nights out that ive had for a long time. Tvedtnes let me begin by noting that, as one trained in anthropology, i abhor the term race and have tried to avoid using it for several decades. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Through this episode and the logic he employs in itthat this conclusion about god and skin color is so essential to the book of mormon story that to get rid of it would be to undermine the entire book of mormon and thus the entire mormon faith, that joseph smith suggested the book of mormon could only be read literally, that because of. Opinion racism and the mormon church the new york times. The mormon church finally renounces its previous racist stance that brown skin is a punishment from god and other growing pains. There are many verses in the book of mormon and pearl of great price that are very racist, and very unbiblical. The change in skin color is often mentioned in conjunction with gods curse on the descendants of laman for their wickedness and corruption. The church adds footnotes and changes its manuals to explain that these verses.
The church published a new edition of the book of mormon in 1981, replacing a promise that the righteous would become white with a promise that they would be made pure 2 nephi 30. Thus, change may come through the notion of continuing revelation, but the racist aspects of mormon history will not necessarily be condemned. The lds church maintained a racist policy of denying full membership to blacks until 1978. Dec 12, 20 the mormon church finally renounces its previous racist stance that brown skin is a punishment from god and other growing pains. Reeve is a historian and professor at the university of utah, where he specializes in utah history, page 192mormon history and the history of the american west. Some antimormons claim that the book of mormon is a racist text. And depending on ones definition of racism, it might or might not be. Russell stevensons work, for the cause of righteousness. Its scriptures teach that dark skin is a curse and white skin is delightsome. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In fact, from the beginning, the church supported equal rights, regardless of race.
Contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible. The charge of racism in the book of mormon book of mormon. The book of mormon what is the mark of cain in the book. Just as progressive christians have not expunged from their new testaments verses like 1 corinthians 14. Thus, in this case, white was changed to pure, on revelation to do it, because the sense had become interpreted that their skin would change color. But when its put in greater context not just of that one chapter, but of the whole bookwell, what most antimormons want it. The church adds footnotes and changes its manuals to explain that these verses teach us what racism is and what it looks like. Mar 26, 20 why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver burkeman the south park creators musical was much lauded in the us, but its satirical sensibility may be lost in translation to london. As an ex mormon i can say that there are racist mormons and non racist mormons, just as there are jews, catholics, muslims, hindus, etc that are racist and others that are non racist. Book of mormon is currently on stage in toronto at the princess of wales theatre for a second time until april 16. In addition, royal skousen has extensively studied the original book of mormon manuscripts and published a critical text edition of the book of mormon.
One by one, the male leaders of this mormon church in chicagos logan square neighborhood formed a tight circle around the child. The third possibility to explain skin color in the book of mormon is that the nephites were racist. Reeve is a historian and professor at the university of utah, where he specializes in utah history, page 192 mormon history and the history of the american west. Rick bowmer ap file photo the book of mormon, foundational scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Racism in the book of mormon mormons in transition. My interpretations of race and racism and scripture draw upon the works of dr. Its offensive because of its portrayal of black people. Very enlightened for the times to call native americans brothers, as in verse eight. Aug 21, 2017 i submit that these racist verses of the book of mormon can be reinterpreted while maintaining ones belief in the historicity of the book of mormon. How to respond to accusations of racism in the book of.
Consequently, latterday saints did not reap the benefit of the prophets clarification until it was restored in the 1981 edition of the book of mormon. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans is staggering. These books, known as the book of mormon and pearl of great price published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints are racist as the list of verses below show. Replicas of the 1830 book of mormon are easily obtained on, and the text is freely available online.
Colors in the book of mormon book of mormon notes how. The creators of the animated series south park have brought a musical called the book of mormon to. Mormon church finally says dark skin is not a sign of gods. This appears to be the most plausible view, and a close reading of the book of mormon appears to uphold this view. Sep 18, 2017 i spoke with mueller about his new book, race and the making of the mormon people, which focuses on a few important figures in mormon history.
The journal of religious thought, autumnwinter 1973, pp. Racism in the lds church statements about race in the book of mormon. The lds construction of lamanite has historically relied on the racist. The book of mormon makes it clear that the color of ones skin has no bearing on ones status as a righteous or sinful person. This obviously implies that the church is never wrong. In the book of mormon, lamanites are described as having received a skin of blackness to distinguish them from the nephites.
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