Its interesting that the book of mormon contains a denunciation of racism thats as explicit as and, in. First gabon baptisms, photo by the church of jesus christ. Critics argued the change was made to address allegations of racism, since the utahbased faith had a racial policy that, until. Find out the true meaning behind white and delightsome people. More information can be found here about the native americans lamanites as it relates to the book of mormon and racism the above map comes from the 1975 ensign article titled, who and where are the lamanites. For example, the 1830 and 1837 printings of the book of mormon contained a prophecy that the lamanites would one day become a white and delightsome people 2 ne. The prophet joseph smith made an important textual emendation to this passage in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon, where the phrase a white and a delightsome people was changed to a pure and a delightsome people. When the descriptor lamanite is used in the book of mormon, it is used in two different ways.
You write about how the text of book of mormon helped to create a racialized culturebased on the text, mormons aspired to being a white and delightsome people. White and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome jump to subtopic. Smith notes that joseph smith was given a revelation which foretold of a day when intermarriage with the lamanites would produce a white and delightsome posterity. While most white mormons today would never think to tell a black mormon that he or she will become white and delightsome in the next life if righteous enough, how many would tell their lgbt brother and sisters they can become heterosexual andor genderconforming in the next life. Sep 18, 2017 when mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people september 18. Old, new, and book of mormon or else god will darken your skin and burn you with fireif you believe in all three, god will make you white and delightsome. The 1830 and most earlier editions said that the descendants of lehi would become a white and delightsome people. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Mormons altering indian prophecy the new york times.
How can one justify the change of the wording white and delightsome in 2 nephi 30. Most white americans have looked upon the stories of the lamanites as racist. Mormons have historically associated lamanites with presentday native american cultures. The original reading of white and delightsome was retained in the lds textual tradition until the 1981 edition of the book of mormon, where it substituted white with the pure for the 1840 edition 3. Remember that the mormon version of god is not the god of the bible. Interracial marriage and the church of jesus christ of latter. For more inspiring and instructive content on the book of mormon visit book of mormon central, subscribe to our mailing list, see our youtube videos, and follow us on facebook. Though he viewed native american peoples as degraded, and fallen in every respect, in habits, custom, flesh, spirit, blood, desire. That view was buoyed by passages such as 2 nephi 30.
In the 1830 edition of the book of mormon nephi, speaking of the latterday restoration, discusses the future conversion of lehis descendants, and then shall they rejoice. That the context refers to skin color is verified by a number of lds leaders including joseph smith. Considering all these verses remain unchanged in the book of mormon and that they confirm the white and delightsome aspect regarding lamanites correctly and specifically refers to skin color what was the point in altering a single verse here in 2 nephi 30. In this picture of the twenty lamanite missionaries, fifteen of the twenty were as light as angios.
Many generations shall not pass away among them, save they. This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a pure and a delightsome people. The question was flawed from the outset because the book of mormon has absolutely zero to do either with the civil rights movemen. The critic has been sloppy in his reading of the book of mormon text. Church removes racial references in book of mormon headings. Mar 18, 2016 the 1830 edition of the book of mormon had nephi prophesy that his descendants would become a white and a delightsome people through the gospel of jesus christ. Lds scripture church drops dark and skin of blackness from lamanite descriptions. Mar 18, 2016 many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people 2 nephi 30. He then quoted the often debated phrase, they shall be a purewhite and delightsome people. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Black leaders urged boycotts of the state of utah and all mormon tabernacle choir products. The change in the 1981 edition seems to be an attempt to bring the book of mormon up to speed with the 1978 revelation that allowed black members of the church to hold the priesthood. White and delightsome lamanites and facebook friends.
Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon. When the critic uses the phrase white and delightsome, he misquotes from 2 nephi 5. But the civil rights movement had its effect the lds church. The book of mormon literally says god cursed lamanites who.
Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made. Church removes racial references in book of mormon. Their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes. In his prophecies of the last days, nephi remarked that the book of mormon would be carried forth unto the remnant of his seed. This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a.
If the book of mormon is true and god is at least consistent if not unchanging why dont the disobedient turn black 2 nephi 5. Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. The story of the book of mormon is not a blackwhite story, as americans know it, where white is european and black is african. Read the book of mormon, and you will learn that they are the literal descendants of israel. The 1981 change was made in conformity with the 1840 edition the only one personally revise. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people september 18. That is, if you believe the book of mormon is inspired fiction or jusst plain, made up, then you can attribute the color change to 19th century racial ideas. That is scientifically wrong, insanely racist, and i cant believe i ever believed it. Home study archive subject index white and delightsome. Church members accept the book of mormon as holy scripture equivalent to the bible. See book of mormon central article on ancient context of white and delightsome regarding 2 nephi 30. Upon receiving the book of mormon and the gospel of jesus christ.
A white and delightsome people gerald sigal in referring to native americans indians the book of mormon says, and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delight some people 2 nephi 30. In every edition save one 1840, the words white and delightsome were used. What does it really mean to be a white and delightsome. So we havent anything like that on the colored thing. Did you know that joseph smith changed this to read a pure and delightsome people. The word white in the phrase they shall be a white and a delightsome people has been changed to pure. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people. Why do we have a scriptural book that is all about skin color. Laman and the other brother lemuel are the progenitors of a wicked and darkskinned people called the lamanites, whom the mormons have taught for years are the ancestors of the modern american indians, their skins turned dark so that the white delightsome nephites are not tempted to marry their women and raise children in interfaith families that will surely follow the dark ways of their. The other possibility, if you dont hold to the historicity of the book of mormon, is what jared anderson responded on the ms fb group. The reading of pure has been retained in the 20 lds edition of the text. Church leaders comments under the spirit at general conference.
For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised. The 1830 edition of the book of mormon had nephi prophesy that his descendants would become a white and a delightsome people through the gospel of jesus christ. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, millet and mcconkie, 1. 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. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Royal skousen, changes in the book of mormon royal skousen, restoring the original text of the book of mormon. Jan 08, 2018 he stated that the god of the book of mormon was racist and that the book of mormon was racist because it clearly states that god only favored white people. Apr 20, 2010 i guess i better get down to what has caused my dissonance.
The change is not as the critics want to portray it a recent change designed to remove a racist original. Nov 02, 2015 this is a group of white mormon boys comically reenacting the way that the lamanites were while they were being righteously slaughtered by the nephite army known as the 2000 stripling warriors. White and delightsome lamanites and facebook friends doctrinepolicy this morning, a friend from byui posted a quote on facebook from the book of mormon about the lamanites putting down their weapons of war and never again taking them up. More importantly, why dont lamanites turn white and delightsome within one year after accepting the gospel, as they did in 3 nephi 2.
The book of mormon literally says god cursed lamanites who joseph smith claimed were native americans with dark skin so that they would be unattractive to the white and delightsome people. This textual emendation has understandably raised questions about the book of mormon s racial views, with some. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. In the book of mormons narrative, the lamanites began as wicked rivals to the more righteous nephites, but when the nephite civilization became decadent, it lost divine favor and was destroyed by the lamanites. Larry echo hawk is leaving his position as assistant secretary of the interior for indian affairs after he was named to the church of jesus christ.
Here are some statements by the prophets about a book of mormon passage found in 2 nephi 30. The prophet joseph smith made an important textual emendation to this passage in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon, where the phrase a white and a delightsome people was changed to a pure and a book of mormon use of black and white read. Initially, when i was requested to answer this question i hit the pass link and ignored it. What does white and delightsome people mean in the. Kimball claimed that in just 15 years from the time of their conversion he had seen indian people who accepted the mormon gospel become white and delightsome. What does it mean to be a white and delightsome people. First gabon baptisms, photo by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In 1978, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible. Note the audiences reactions as they hear catchphrases that they recognize from the book of mormon. Mormonisms white and delightsome indians joe rawlins. White delightsome on the straight narrow the intersection of mormon heteronormativity race respectability and grace while most white mormons today would never think to tell a black mormon that he or she will become white and delightsome in the next life if righteous enough, how many would. He stated that the god of the book of mormon was racist and that the book of mormon was racist because it clearly states that god only favored white people. While the mormon church leaders taught that indians were cursed with a dark skin they went a step further with regard to.
Mar 25, 2016 presentday native americans are known as descendants of the lamanites, who were supposedly the evil group of people in the americas in the book of mormon. He then quoted the often debated phrase, they shall be a pure white and delightsome people. Jun 18, 2016 in 1981, a certain passage in the book of mormon was changed back to the original 1840 version, where pure and delightsome was used instead of white and delightsome to describe righteous people. One group has claimed it cannot be racist as white skinned nephites and black skinned lamanites are nothing more than metaphors for cultures, not for skin. Previous editions of the book of mormon had said that in the last days the indians shall be a white and delightsome people 2 nephi 30. How the native american became dark skinned and blacks banned from the lds temple mormon infographics. The mormon belief in black skin being a curse is found in uniquely mormon books they call scripture. Interracial marriage and the church of jesus christ of.
The book of mormon speaks of nephis descendants becoming a white and delightsome people. 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. When you compare the 1830 version of the book of mormon with todays version, you will see a small editing change in 2 nephi 30. I guess i better get down to what has caused my dissonance. Mormons, why were the words white and delightsome in 2. That is, to be a lamanite, one has to believe that nephi mistreated laman and lemuel and that the leadership of the family, following lehis death, should have been passed on to the elder brothers, laman and lemuel. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon church. In the 1840 printing, which the prophet edited, this passage was changed to read a pure and delightsome people, but for some reason later printings reverted to the original wording. Then, their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes. This new publication contains a very important change. The lamanites are one of the four ancient peoples described as having settled in the ancient americas in the book of mormon, a sacred text of the latter day. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome. White and delightsome stuff you missed in sunday school.
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