Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. 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. To support this argument, they selectively quote from the book of mormon, ignoring context and the overall message of the book. The tony awardwinning musical, the book of mormon, opened in salt lake city last week. Mormons read the book of mormon in addition to the holy bible. Apologists, attempting to mitigate the socalled racist passages, point out that the book of mormon was written to jew and gentile. The book of mormon, the muchapplauded musical from the creators of south park, officially opened in london last week and like the grinning, cleancut missionaries whose story it relates, its.
May 24, 2015 the antimiscegenation advocated in the book of mormon is inherently racist, regardless of what the justification is. Just for the record, mormons do not believe that racial differences today are meant to keep peoples from. Even though it was written for a future audience, it was written in a time and manner that reflected the social constructions of the authors, not those of. The charge of racism in the book of mormon fairmormon. Allusions to psalm 51 show up in several book of mormon passages, and the decalogue is quoted from exodus in mosiah 12 and. The question is whether these terms can be considered racist, and whether supposed racist attitudes of the nephites are evidence against the authenticity of the book of mormon. Contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible. If one quotes selectively, one can make any religious text look racist.
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. The charge of racism in the book of mormon book of mormon. 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. Over the past two centuries, the relationship between black people and mormonism has a history that includes both official and unofficial discrimination, but. In fact, the king james new testament is 80%90% identical to the tyndale bible. This is part 3 of a 9part series on the topic of the church of jesus. God changed his mind about black people diva portal. The book of mormon a secularliberal parody or a racist. The proof can be seen in the fact that the mormon church has taken out a fullpage ad in the blumenthal program, noting that their version of events is sliiiiightly different than those seen on stage and offering free copies of the real book of mormon. If youve read 1 nephi chapters 1 through 20, you may remember that many of those chapters were about how nephi was told by his father that the lord wanted them to retu. While were taking out the racist part of the manual that everyone is rightly complaining about, could we just burn down the entire come follow. 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. The charge of racism in the book of mormon book of.
For behold, the lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the bareness thereof shall go forth forever. Fake apology for mormon churchs history of racism angers. What does the book of mormon mean by skin of blackness. Its offensive because of its portrayal of black people. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. This appears to be the most plausible view, and a close reading of the book of mormon appears to uphold this view. The condensed book of mormon, in 15 verses gently hew stone.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. We get a hint of nephites being racist toward the lamanites in descriptions made of the lamanites by the nephites. 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. Dec 29, 20 the book of mormon s references to dark skin being associated with a curse have confused and offended many readers. What is less well known is that the book of mormon makes a large number of unacknowledged biblical quotes. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new. 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.
Active believing mormons revere the book of mormon and do not find it racist. This analysis looks at what these things might mean in context. The third possibility to explain skin color in the book of mormon is that the nephites were racist. Jul 27, 2018 and as colorado natives, parker and stone are no doubt familiar with the mormon community. 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. A seminarian named sarah wilson thought to abbreviate the bible by selecting just one representative verse from each book, resulting in a breathtaking tour through the highlights of scripture. Lowry believes it was the first time the folk doctrine that blacks were less righteous in the preexistence was publicized to the non mormon world. Posted on october 19, 2015 january 1, 2020 by scott thormaehlen. This scripture mastery program specifies 25 passages in each of the old testament, new testament, book of mormon, and doctrine and covenants. Aug 02, 2015 the tony awardwinning musical, the book of mormon, opened in salt lake city last week. Since the earliest decade of the church, black mormons have been members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Aug 21, 2017 mormon 5 does complicate the nonracist verses of mormon 1.
Remarks by president brigham young, delivered in the tabernacle, great salt lake city, october 9, 1859. I view human beings as a spectrum, with a wide variety of skin colors and other physical features. 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 is a volume of ancient scripture given through prophets of jesus christ by revelation from god. While critics see the mormon scripture as racist i do not consider modern mormons to be racist. Humans of all sorts are much more the charge of racism in the book of mormon read more. The book of mormon says that the jaredites did also carry with them deseret, which, by interpretation, is a honey bee. Its not plagiarism at all its nephi quoting isaiah, with attribution even.
And as colorado natives, parker and stone are no doubt familiar with the mormon community. 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. Simpson of the root argues that the musical somewhat uncomfortably casts. The curse of cain or mark mentioned in biblical scripture is never said to refer to black skin. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. Jul 06, 2011 the contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the book of mormon as latterday scripture supplemental to the bible. 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 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.
By way of introduction, im an investigator who just finished reading through the book of mormon for the very first time. Because the phrasing of the book of mormon isaiah passages is so similar to the king james isaiah translations, it seems almost certain that joseph smith relied on the king james translation as a guide to translating the book of mormon isaiah passages. What follows is simply the text of book of mormon passages reflecting racist notions. A fake site posted an apology for the mormon churchs history of racism.
Oct 31, 2009 one can not incredibly prepare racist suggestions from the e book of mormon. Despite the best efforts of uniformly dressed pairs of mormons everywhere, the theological beliefs of mormons and members of the largest mormon church, the. Theological foundation for racism in the lds church. Learn more about the blacks and the priesthood in the lds church lds scripture and basis for their doctrine, policies and beliefs until 1978. Book of mormon quotes and verses basic mormon beliefs. Every major protestant denomination in history has taught that. The book of mormon musical is racist and homophobic. It would seem that there is a disconnect between these two perspectives which is worth exploring. Racism in the book of mormon mormons in transition. 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.
One can not incredibly prepare racist suggestions from the e book of mormon. The musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant. The book of mormon is, in fact, racist, although not at all in the usual sense of the term. 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. Stone and parker do not even have the courtesy to invent a country. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421.
In fact, from the beginning, the church supported equal rights, regardless of race. Of particular interest are quotes that appear long before their sources were written. These include several hundred new testament quotes and allusions, as well as one old testament anachronism. The condensed book of mormon, in 15 verses today i read the most amazing blog post, courtesy of our friends at first thoughts. Why does the book of mormon have some of the same passages. While allowing blacks into the lds priesthood was a positive step forward for the church, only the truly indoctrinated mormon could possibly believe the change occurred by a real revelation from god which just happened to coincide with unprecedented scrutiny the lds church was receiving from outside forces. The contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the book of mormon as latterday scripture supplemental to the bible. Error in printed lds church manual could revive racial criticisms. The book of mormon musical is not offensive for its portrayal of mormons. The book of mormon gives me direction in my life that leads me closer to jesus christ. Remember that the mormon version of god is not the god of the bible. Why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver. The book of mormons references to dark skin being associated with a curse have confused and offended many readers.
Rick bowmer ap file photo the book of mormon, foundational scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon is a holy book of scripture about jesus christ and gods dealings with the people of the ancient americas. Book of mormons antiafrican racism is no laughing matter. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on this earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than any other book. Below are various verses that appear in the book of mormon.
The creators of the animated series south park have brought a musical called the book of mormon to broadway. The book of mormon, dark skin, and racist theology religion. Some christians get mad at mormons for, among many things, being racist, because the book of mormon has a passage which can be considered racist. Also, note in that verse that the loathsomeness would be there unless the lamanites repented. Mauss, a president of the mormon history association, the churchs racist beliefs originated within protestant denominations from which many mormons converted. 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. Jan 20, 2014 the musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant. It was one of the best nights out that ive had for a long time. Just as progressive christians have not expunged from their new testaments verses like 1 corinthians 14. Funniest scripture in the book of mormon 21 and it came to pass that pacumeni, who was the chief judge, did flee before coriantumr, even to the walls of the city. 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. Mar 26, 20 the book of mormon, the muchapplauded musical from the creators of south park, officially opened in london last week and like the grinning, cleancut missionaries whose story it relates, its. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans is staggering. 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.
Absurdity in the book of mormon the annotated bible. This is particularly true when the nephites describe the lamanites in pejorative terms, such as bloodthirsty, idolatrous, ferocious, idle, lazy, and filthy. 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. Jan 25, 2010 some would say that these verses show racism in the book of mormon. Some antimormons claim that the book of mormon is a racist text. 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.
It helps me be a better friend and a better person. The freshly trained mormons are sent on a missionary operation to uganda, africa. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans is. No thank you last night the church of jesus christ held a 40th anniversary of its doctrinal and policy change to allow those of african descent to receive priesthood and saving ordinances in the temple. Is it time to pull the curtain on the book of mormon. The book of mormon, dark skin, and racist theology after we reported the elimination of racist theology from chapter headings in the online edition of the book of mormon here at rd late last week, readers have written to point out that verses linking dark skin to accursedness remain in the book of mormon itself. Later in the nineteenth century, such passages were reinterpreted to mean that white mormons, though part of a gentile nation, were actually ephraimites.
The sendup of missionaries from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is getting a rousing reception. A survival guide to the 2020 book of mormon come follow me. What is the most controversial thing in the book of mormon. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon.
The book of mormon, dark skin, and racist theology. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans. Racism in the book of mormon yep, its there rational. A forum for exmormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church. Mormonisms black issues by joanna brooks october 25, 2009 while many mormons would like to forget the churchs history of discrimination against blacks, an apostles recent statements comparing the postproposition 8 mormon backlash to the civil rightsera harassment of black voters have brought that painful past back into the spotlight. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. 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. The founder and first prophet of mormonism, joseph smith, said this about slavery, it makes my. 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. The purpose of omnis little book is the same as the purpose of his fathers book the book of jarom to preserve their genealogy.
Feb 17, 2009 some christians get mad at mormons for, among many things, being racist, because the book of mormon has a passage which can be considered racist. Racism in the lds church statements about race in the book of mormon. Book of mormons 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. Not that this is somehow a canonical list of the most important verses in scripture, but i suspect the list was chosen based on doctrinal relevance, frequency of use in sermons, etc. Excerpts from the book of mormon, describing the lamanites as cursed with dark skin because of their wickedness. The book of mormon contains extensive quotes from isaiah some twentytwo chapters of the prophet are found in the book, in many cases quoted verbatim from the king james version. Mormon 5 does complicate the nonracist verses of mormon 1. The ancient people of the american continent where taught the gospel of jesus christ. 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. And it came to pass that coriantumr did smite him against the wall, insomuch that he died. Do the book of mormon isaiah passages have all of the. The book of mormon teaches that little children are not capable of sin because they do not have a sinful nature moroni 8. How offensive is the book of mormon new york city forum.
1489 82 234 513 785 1181 15 1537 189 31 905 219 120 7 531 75 925 918 496 245 838 39 267 813 958 210 250 793 273 1508 1574 349 1195 795 188 914 1078 999 1245 270 506 504 567 286 792 1458