Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, millet and mcconkie, 1. The word white in the phrase they shall be a white and a delightsome people has been changed to pure. 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. 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. How can one justify the change of the wording white and delightsome in 2 nephi 30.
What does it really mean to be a white and delightsome. 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. Mormons altering indian prophecy the new york times. Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon.
The story of the book of mormon is not a blackwhite story, as americans know it, where white is european and black is african. Royal skousen, changes in the book of mormon royal skousen, restoring the original text of the book of mormon. What does white and delightsome people mean in the. 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.
Their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes. What does it mean to be a white and delightsome people. 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. Find out the true meaning behind white and delightsome people. Interracial marriage and the church of jesus christ of.
But the civil rights movement had its effect the lds church. Note the audiences reactions as they hear catchphrases that they recognize from the book of mormon. In 1978, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised. 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. I guess i better get down to what has caused my dissonance. White and delightsome lamanites and facebook friends. 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. In 1981 the church decided to replace the word white with pure. The book of mormon originally stated that when lamanites converted they would then become white and delightsome. Apr 20, 2010 i guess i better get down to what has caused my dissonance. 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. Remember that the mormon version of god is not the god of the bible. The question was flawed from the outset because the book of mormon has absolutely zero to do either with the civil rights movemen.
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. This new publication contains a very important change. More importantly, why dont lamanites turn white and delightsome within one year after accepting the gospel, as they did in 3 nephi 2. Here are some statements by the prophets about a book of mormon passage found in 2 nephi 30.
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. 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. The change is not as the critics want to portray it a recent change designed to remove a racist original. Its interesting that the book of mormon contains a denunciation of racism thats as explicit as and, in. 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. 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. 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.
Critics argued the change was made to address allegations of racism, since the utahbased faith had a racial policy that, until. Church removes racial references in book of mormon. 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. The book of mormon speaks of nephis descendants becoming a white and delightsome people. When the descriptor lamanite is used in the book of mormon, it is used in two different ways. 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. White and delightsome stuff you missed in sunday school. 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. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon church. 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. That is scientifically wrong, insanely racist, and i cant believe i ever believed it. 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.
Indians turning white and delightsome life after ministry. First gabon baptisms, photo by the church of jesus christ. He then quoted the often debated phrase, they shall be a purewhite and delightsome people. 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. 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. Whereas they were once white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, they became cursed with a skin of. 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. Upon receiving the book of mormon and the gospel of jesus christ.
Mormonisms white and delightsome indians joe rawlins. White and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome jump to subtopic. Home study archive subject index white and delightsome. How the native american became dark skinned and blacks banned from the lds temple mormon infographics. In this picture of the twenty lamanite missionaries, fifteen of the twenty were as light as angios. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome. After the lamanites rebellion against their relatives, the book of mormon recounted how god afflicted them for their iniquity.
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. Church members accept the book of mormon as holy scripture equivalent to the bible. 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 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. Though he viewed native american peoples as degraded, and fallen in every respect, in habits, custom, flesh, spirit, blood, desire. When the church of jesus christ of latterday saints issued a new edition of the book of mormon in 1981, a change was made to the text of 2 nephi 30. 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. Church leaders comments under the spirit at general conference. 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. 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. So we havent anything like that on the colored thing.
See book of mormon central article on ancient context of white and delightsome regarding 2 nephi 30. Most white americans have looked upon the stories of the lamanites as racist. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible. 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. First gabon baptisms, photo by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. He then quoted the often debated phrase, they shall be a pure white and delightsome people.
Did you know that joseph smith changed this to read a pure and delightsome people. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Then, their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes. 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 critic has been sloppy in his reading of the book of mormon text. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people. This textual emendation has understandably raised questions about the book of mormon s racial views, with some. Reasons for textual changes made to the book of mormon over the years after it was first published god changed to son of god in the book of mormon white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome benjamin was changed to mosiah in later editions of the book of mormon. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world.
This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a. That the context refers to skin color is verified by a number of lds leaders including joseph smith. Many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people 2 nephi 30. Many generations shall not pass away among them, save they. The book of mormon literally says god cursed lamanites who. The 1830 and most earlier editions said that the descendants of lehi would become a white and delightsome people. 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. The mormon belief in black skin being a curse is found in uniquely mormon books they call scripture. Mormons have historically associated lamanites with presentday native american cultures. 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.
Sep 18, 2017 when mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people september 18. This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a pure and a delightsome people. Why do we have a scriptural book that is all about skin color. 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. Mar 18, 2016 many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people 2 nephi 30. Initially, when i was requested to answer this question i hit the pass link and ignored it. 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. 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. The reading of pure has been retained in the 20 lds edition of the text. Black leaders urged boycotts of the state of utah and all mormon tabernacle choir products. 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 the critic uses the phrase white and delightsome, he misquotes from 2 nephi 5. Lds scripture church drops dark and skin of blackness from lamanite descriptions. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people september 18. Interracial marriage and the church of jesus christ of latter. 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. In every edition save one 1840, the words white and delightsome were used. 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. Church removes racial references in book of mormon headings. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made. 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.
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. 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. In his prophecies of the last days, nephi remarked that the book of mormon would be carried forth unto the remnant of his seed. Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. 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.
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