Over 20 such racist statements are found within the current book of mormon, now held as the sacred word of god by the mormon church. Every major protestant denomination in history has taught that. Remember that the mormon version of god is not the god of the bible. It is very likely that the king james bible may have been used as a model for the translation of the book of mormon, but the authorship of the book is attributed to the man mormon, who is reported to have compiled the book around 400 a.
Peterson discussed blacks and the priesthood in an address to a convention of teachers of religion at the college level at brigham young university. Criticism of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints wikipedia. The book of mormons references to dark skin being associated with a curse have confused and offended many readers. The third possibility to explain skin color in the book of mormon is that the nephites were racist. Its offensive because of its portrayal of black people. As you can see, this is what some call the mormon bible. Share your favorite verse form the book of mormon and why its your favorite.
To support this argument, they selectively quote from the book of mormon, ignoring context and the overall message of the book. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. 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. Decrying racism on one hand while letting the racists among you continue to be counted as worthy members is not an option. The book of mormon did not countenance any form of cursebased discrimination. Some antimormons claim that the book of mormon is a racist text. 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.
Published by the first prophet of this movement, joseph smith, jr. Mormons change references to blacks, polygamy the changes are the first since 1981, and deal specifically with the churchs original ban on black priesthood ordination and. As children read, theyll learn how they can be obedient like sariah, brave like abinadi, helpful like ammon, strong like nephi, and responsible like mormon. For behold, the lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the bareness thereof shall go forth forever. Book of mormon condemns secret combinations book of mormon mormon 8. It was one of the best nights out that ive had for a long time. God speaks same words to all people book of mormon 2 nephi 29. If jesus were sitting here, he would say, let my brother have the first pancake. Mormons confront a history of church racism the conversation. Over the past two centuries, the relationship between black people and mormonism has a history that includes both official and unofficial discrimination, but more recently it has become one of increased outreach and involvement. Racism in the book of mormon mormons in transition. Why were afraid of mormons bu today boston university. My book of mormon friends brings scriptures to life.
What follows is simply the text of book of mormon passages reflecting racist notions. This summer, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is celebrating their 40year anniversary of giving blacks the priesthood, as this occurred in 1978. If one quotes selectively, one can make any religious text look racist. The book of mormon tells the story of two mormons, one elder price is a a bright, clever, highly motivated and handsome young man and the other elder cunningham is a fat, ugly and stupid geek who also happens to be a pathological liar.
The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans. I come from lamanite heritage that is my mother was born and raised in mexico. Mormon 5 does complicate the nonracist verses of mormon 1. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The book of mormon a secularliberal parody or a racist. If you read the official lds gospel topic essay called race and the priesthood, you get the feeling that the lds church today has no clue where racist tendencies in. Book of mormon is currently on stage in toronto at the princess of wales theatre for a second time until april 16. Centuries later, according to the scripture, jesus appeared to the nephites in the same region after his resurrection. I asked her, in the past year, why her brothers did not join the church when she did. Given the political climate in 2019 and the blatant racism in the book of mormon, it seems like it is past time for white americans to stop supporting the musical. It is the word of god and, like the bible, gives us guidance and inspiration in our daily lives. Racism in the book of mormon yep, its there rational. Introduction concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. Although their nation had at one time millions of people, they were all destroyed by civil war brought on by wickedness.
Some would say that these verses show racism in the book of mormon. In my quest to get things organized i created another research page. The curse of black skin in the book of mormon federal. Book of mormons antiafrican racism is no laughing matter. The mormon belief in black skin being a curse is found in uniquely mormon books they call scripture. There are many verses in the book of mormon and pearl of great price that are very racist, and very unbiblical. The mormon church says that the book of mormon is the most correct book, even more correct than the bible. She converted to the church as a young woman after being raised as a catholic. The latterday saints overcoming the mormon legacy on race. Another powerful protection from the whirlwinds of life is the book of mormon. Tom sawyer is a racist e book written by using a racist, mein kampf is a racist e book, however the e book of mormon isnt racist. Racial references in book of mormon headings removed.
Mormon altright mommy blogger quotes scripture to support. Racism is belittlling and inflicting injury to others, the e book of mormon isnt racist in any incredibly experience of it belittling a race. The book of mormon recenters the story of jesus on the americas, and the faith, which was founded in the 19th century, also tells the story through a very american lens. While the book of mormon states that god denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free 2 nephi 26. The book of mormon and the king james bible wikipedia. In fact, prejudice against people of dark skin was condemned. 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. Saved by grace after all we can do book of mormon 2 nephi 25. The freshly trained mormons are sent on a missionary operation to uganda, africa. One can not incredibly prepare racist suggestions from the e book of mormon. The book of omni gets off to a great start for a book in the book of mormon with the words behold, it came to pass but it goes downhill quickly from there. Learn more about the blacks and the priesthood in the lds church lds scripture and basis for their doctrine, policies and beliefs until 1978. 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.
Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. Racism in the lds church statements about race in the book of mormon. And even though the church of jesus christ of latterday saints renounced polygamy in the 1890s with the exception of a militant sliver, some. Since the earliest decade of the church, black mormons have been members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. It stated that the lord denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female. Book of mormon quotes one of four sacred texts of mormonism. Mauss, a president of the mormon history association, the churchs racist beliefs originated within protestant denominations from which many mormons converted.
Absurdity in the book of mormon the annotated bible. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Antimormon writers like to highlight the more shocking verses from the book of mormonthere are several. The lds construction of lamanite has historically relied on the racist. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. This appears to be the most plausible view, and a close reading of the book of mormon appears to uphold this view. Latterday saints urge church to spread the word about manuals. Jacob asks sherem if he denies that christ will come. Scott sommerdorf tribune file photo the book of mormon, the signature scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Like many others the post went unpublished due to the fact im busy these days at work and being a husband and father. 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. To the latter, we must conclude that racism does not impact the truth of the history of the book of mormon any more than it could impact the truth of the biblical account, which frequently disapproves of marrying foreigners. The book of mormon favorite verses showing 111 of 11. 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. The introduction to the current book of mormon maintains that the lamanites are the principal ancestors of the american indians. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. The question of racism in the book of mormon is very close to me. Choosing to stay in the mormon church despite its racist legacy. Replicas of the 1830 book of mormon are easily obtained on, and the text is freely available online.
The book of mormon, the muchapplauded musical from the creators of south park, officially opened in london last week and like the grinning, clean. In conclusion, if the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was indeed founded upon racism, and the book of mormon intended to emphasize whites as a superior race, it is strange that the doctrine and covenants, the scripture joseph smith began to receive and compile immediately following the publication of the book of mormon, says nothing. By way of introduction, im an investigator who just finished reading through the book of mormon for the very first time. People in the book of mormon who were descendants of jared, his brother, and their friends ether 1. Mormon was the name of one of the prophets in the americas when this book was written. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. Is it time to pull the curtain on the book of mormon. The book of mormon musical is not offensive for its portrayal of mormons.
Forty years ago, the mormon church reversed restrictions on its members of africanamerican descent. A mormon mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, owen, 5, and bill, 3. Your skin color may be the result of that curse, but you are not cursed. Remove the racist statements from the book of mormon. My book of mormon friends helps bring these characters and their attributes to life for young children who are just getting to know their stories and examples. The president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, still known widely as the mormons even though they have renounced that name. Top 40 inspirational book of mormon scriptures the lifey app. Book of mormon s antiafrican racism is no laughing matter book of mormon is currently on stage in toronto at the princess of wales theatre for a second time until april 16.
Sherem, the first freethought martyr in the book of mormon see the story of korihor for another, tells jacob he is misleading the people in by telling them ca. You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally. Opinion racism and the mormon church the new york times. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church has been the subject of criticisms since it was founded by american religious leader joseph smith. But here this altright mommy blogger continues to go on backing up her racist white supremacist claims with mormon scriptures. Specifically, the book of mormon was prepared for our day so that we would learn and grow by readings the words of ancient prophets in the americas. The musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant.
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. We get a hint of nephites being racist toward the lamanites in. They were led by god from the tower of babel to the americas, a promised land ether 1. The purpose of omnis little book is the same as the purpose of his fathers book the book of jarom to preserve their genealogy. Why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver. The book of mormon clearly teaches that god cursed good white people with a skin of blackness, because of their iniquity and sin. The idea that the church has somehow hidden the original text or manuscripts of the book of mormon in order to hide this is simply unbelievable. The charge of racism in the book of mormon book of. Posted on april 7, 2014 by quotes admin as you walk the road of life, be careful of your friends. It is a spiritually based history of the people of the americas that was recorded simultaneously with the bible in the old world some erroneously call it the mormon bible because we accept it as. I came across a link to this story in the sl trib a while back and started a post. Theological foundation for racism in the lds church. Remarks by president brigham young, delivered in the tabernacle, great salt lake city, october 9, 1859. This analysis looks at what these things might mean in context.