3 Nephi 2:15 [Book of Mormon]
“And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites.”
Really? Come on folks. We have all been born under a curse, black, white, yellow, red, pink with purple polka dots. I’ve seen that curse lifted hundreds of times, I have never seen any one’s skin lighten as they were baptized though, as most parents bring freshly washed babies to the font. But then neither is dirt the curse is it?
This really blows. There isn’t an excuse for believing God is like this or people of darker skin are somehow cursed.
14 comments:
Come on, Bror. Just because Mormons thought themselves superior to black people for so long, and black people were not allowed in their...organization...and the Book of Mormon still has racism in it...does that mean that there is still racism in it?
PS- I like the audio of your sermons! Nice work!
Light and dark are not only primal archetypes of good and evil, they are at the very core of Judeo-Christian philosophy. This is merely a metaphor and there are similar examples of light and dark all over the ancient world.
Why do you have a problem with Mormon scripture using this well-worn analogy? No one (but you) claims it is literally talking about dermatology.
Please let the Mormons define their own beliefs, which I can assure you do not include new converts from India becoming Caucasian.
If you can provide a quote from a single member of the LDS Church stating that Mormons believe a new Latino convert will wake-up with Swedish looks I will take your post seriously. (hint: you won't)
If not, you really shouldn't spread such nonsense.
Bristol,
I suppose I'll just let the text say what it says. I expect it speaks od dermotology because it talks of their skin which is the realm of the dermotologist. Sure light and dark are used as metaphor even in the Bible, but not in reference to one's skin. I mean John Chapter 1 comes to mind, lots of light dark, but no changing complexions. Just saying.
Now if you want to put that spin on it fine, but as Steve above points out you have some baggage here, that doesn't bode well.
Furthermore, one should not ask me to read a book, and then ask me to tell them what I think of it, if they don't want to hear the answer!
Howdy Bristol,
My husband is a born and raised Mormon and he believes these words as they are written. He thinks these skin changes really happened, that both the skin color of African Americans and American Navtive Indians are from a curse. Once he got all excited as we were watching a PBS documentary on South America when it showed an ancient artwork with people of different colors, light and dark. There are also a number of written references where the early Mormons excitingly document that the Indians they'd converted were turning a different skin color.
Hubby also believes what Brigham Young taught about black and white mixed families and their children. Frankly, I was surprised he even had been taught such nastiness as the Mormon church has a habit of just forgetting their doctrine.
If Mormon children are being taught that the references to skin color are just "metaphors", then they've just changed their doctrine again. Considering their current Book of Mormon changes, (white to "pure" and adding the word "among")it wouldn't surprise me at all.
I love how Mormons accuse you of stuff, but then never stay around to defend their accusations.
I would be a Mormon, if they...
no...I could never fall for that nonsense.
I have never ever heard of anyone actually inside the Latter Day Saint movement using the Book of Mormon to justify a racist doctrine. Certainly not in Joseph Smith III's movement at least. This is only invented by people who are criticizing the Book of Mormon from outside.
The Latter Day Saints stood against slavery! The claim is that the Book of Mormon is really an ancient record, recording actual history, not contrived to suit our late 20th and early 21st century political sensibilities.
of course Benjamin, that you have never heard it done must mean that it hasn't, despite what Mollo wrote above?
The Mormon's stood against slavery! Great. The sad fact is many who fought for the north and stood against slavery were still racist. Standing against slavery doesn't quite make the case.
Yet, you still have the racist doctrines within the book of Mormon and within the history of the LDS church, and to say there is no connection tests the credulity of those "Outside."
Mr. Erickson, as I am a follower of Joseph Smith III's movement, I would count myself as an enemy of Brigham Young, but still intellectual honesty would demand that I not accept or believe he taught any such thing without a credible source.
I think we may have somewhat different definitions of the term, "racist." I wouldn't describe a movement that controversially opposed slavery before and during the Civil War as "racist" nor do I accept the premise that the Book of Mormon's description of the Lamanites is "racist" especially considering that in the end, despite all the favor of the Lord that they recieved, the Nephites became more wicked than the Lamanites. One of the great heroes of the Book of Mormon is Samuel the Lamanite. It's a mixed bag that will not when kept in context of the whole story conform to the stereotype of racial bigotry.
Well Benjamin,
You don't have to be an advocate of slavery to be a racist. How that even gets into the discussion is a bit beyond me. I've known a few racists in my time, and most of them did not advocate slavery. There are other ways to hate a man, than to want to enslave him.
Well what do you think about the commandments the Lord gives to Israel in the Old Testament to kill entire peoples?
Benjamin,
I believe God commanded it for exactly the reasons he says he did, and that is is but a foretaste of what is in store for all unbelievers on the last day whether they be black, white, yellow or red. But show me anywhere in there that these peoples had darker skins than their Semitic cousins, because of the curse.
It is noteworthy that Jesus had to die for the sins of the world, not just white people or dark skinned people. In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek.
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