Thus, change may come through the notion of continuing revelation, but the racist aspects of mormon history will not necessarily be condemned. For behold, the lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the bareness thereof shall go forth forever. I was watching this video on youtube, its a mormon cartoon. At first glance the book of mormon appears to be biblical in heft and style. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans. 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. 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. This racist ideology led directly to americas original sin, the institution of slavery in the new world.
There are many verses in the book of mormon and pearl of great price that are very racist, and very unbiblical. In 1978, the churchs first presidency declared in a statement known as official declaration 2 that the restriction had been lifted. Antimormon writers like to highlight the more shocking verses from the book of mormonthere are several. In my quest to get things organized i created another research page. The book of mormon clearly teaches that god cursed good white people with a skin of blackness, because of their iniquity and sin. Before 1849, a few black men had been ordained to the priesthood under joseph smith.
Not lion kings africa, but something much more horrible. The introduction to the current book of mormon maintains that the lamanites are the principal ancestors of the american indians. According to the shows website, book of mormon was composed by south park creators trey parker and matt stone and avenue qs robert lopez, the. Growing up mormon in the 80s, i remember everything book of mormon was literally related to the mayans or the native americans. Mormon priesthood, racism, and following the prophet.
Racism in the book of mormon mormons in transition. In an environment where negro slavery was tolerated, it was easy for smith to look down on black people, and his disdain for them was incorporated as doctrine into the mormon scriptures he allegedly translated. In an entertaining new autobiography, the book of mormon girl. Remove the racist statements from the book of mormon. 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.
Book of mormon is currently on stage in toronto at the princess of wales theatre for a second time until april 16. The book of mormon is as racist as conrads heart of darkness. As the show debuts in london, mark lawson asks its american stars. This obviously implies that the church is never wrong. From 1849 to 1978, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church prohibited men of black african descent from being ordained to the priesthood. Is the book of mormon racist when it talks about the mormon god cursing people with black skin for rebelling. Having said that, lets see what the book of mormon racism issue is all about. Black mormons applaud as lds church condemns white. 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. Book of mormon artwork was also depicted this way, heck even singing the book of mormon song we made the. But when its put in greater context not just of that one chapter, but of the whole bookwell, what most antimormons want it to meanits not really there. Theological foundation for racism in the lds church.
Is the book of mormon racist when it talks about the. I know that some people use 2 nephi 5 as proof that the book of mormon is racist. Mauss, a president of the mormon history association, the churchs racist beliefs originated within protestant denominations from which many mormons converted. And depending on ones definition of racism, it might or might not be.
Some would say that these verses show racism in the book of mormon. The charge of racism in the book of mormon fairmormon. Although the musical satirizes organized religion and the literal credibility of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the mormons in the book of mormon are portrayed as. Worry and anxiety bible verses search, find verses. I view human beings as a spectrum, with a wide variety of skin colors and other physical features. Mar 16, 2020 overcoming fear with faith is a lifechanging experience and can help us get through any trial or challenge that comes our way. Determined to read the book of mormon in purely naturalistic nineteenth century terms, rather than as an ancient text, recent criticisms of that volume of scripture are offended by some descriptions of lamanites in the text. The charge of racism in the book of mormon book of mormon. I asked her, in the past year, why her brothers did not join the church when she did. Apr 18, 2018 the book of mormon is as racist as conrads heart of darkness. Phelps, a counselor in the presidency of the church, taught that ham had married a black wife.
Every major protestant denomination in history has taught that. She converted to the church as a young woman after being raised as a catholic. Learn how to leave free from worry and anxiety by meditating on the word and casting your cares upon jesus. The church adds footnotes and changes its manuals to explain that these verses teach us what racism is and what it looks like. Ive never heard this accusation before until yesterday.
Its offensive because of its portrayal of black people. Overcoming fear with faith is a lifechanging experience and can help us get through any trial or challenge that comes our way. What follows is simply the text of book of mormon passages reflecting racist notions. The mark the cain received from god after he killed his brother was black skin, as brigham young quotes, the mark was a flat nose and black skin. The book of mormon a secularliberal parody or a racist. I submit that these racist verses of the book of mormon can be reinterpreted while maintaining ones belief in the historicity of the book of mormon. Is it time to pull the curtain on the book of mormon. Why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver. Bible verses about worry and anxiety find comfort and peace through scripture that promises you hope and a future.
In one of the most pivotal moments of the book of mormon, the people experience days of major disaster. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. 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 teacher of the sunday school class for 15yearolds was fairly new to our ward, so he did not anticipate the danger when he brought up the. Mar 12, 20 taboobusting musical the book of mormon isnt anti mormon. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans is staggering. Six tips for latterday saints dealing with anxiety and depression. In judaism i remember reading that one of noahs sons was cursed with dark skin, which is where dark skinned people came from.
I come from lamanite heritage that is my mother was born and raised in mexico. Remarks by president brigham young, delivered in the tabernacle, great salt lake city, october 9, 1859. Write these on a postit, send an email, or write a kind note today with bible verses for teachers to brighten their day and show them the fruit of their hardwork and dedication to their students. Racism in the book of mormon yep, its there rational. As of friday, december 6, the mormon church has officially renounced the doctrine that brown skin is a punishment from god. I took my girlfriend to see the book of mormon in londons west end. Six tips for latterday saints dealing with anxiety and. This book of mormon passage perfectly describes depression. Feb 07, 2010 i was watching this video on youtube, its a mormon cartoon. Defending the priesthood ban as a righteous doctrine just so we can protect our need for to worship an idol thats predictable and in keeping. Until 1978, blacks could not hold the mormon priesthood.
The creators of the animated series south park have brought a musical called the book of mormon to. By way of introduction, im an investigator who just finished reading through the book of mormon for the very first time. The racism of the book of mormon towards native americans is. But when its put in greater context not just of that one chapter, but of the whole bookwell, what most antimormons want it. 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. This is particularly true when the nephites describe the lamanites in pejorative terms, such as bloodthirsty, idolatrous, ferocious, idle, lazy, and filthy. The rule of love must also trump the tribal racist themes in the book of mormon, which might be a tall order. Dec 29, 20 the book of mormon s references to dark skin being associated with a curse have confused and offended many readers. Speak words of encouragement and thankfulness to the teachers you know and it will make a difference in their day. Jan 20, 2014 the musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant. The book of mormon testifies of the truthfulness of the bible and helps strengthen our testimony that jesus really did live and that he came to earth for everyone, not just those who lived in his small geographical. Foolish interpretations of the bible have created the misconception that god approves of racism and slavery. Dec 11, 20 as of friday, december 6, the mormon church has officially renounced the doctrine that brown skin is a punishment from god in the book of mormon, not the musical but the actual sacred text dark skin is a sign of gods curse, while white skin is a sign of his blessing.
To hold this view one would have to believe that god actually does change peoples skin color when he curses them. The mormon belief in black skin being a curse is found in uniquely mormon books they call scripture. 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. In the book of mormon, not the musical but the actual sacred text dark skin is a sign of gods curse, while white skin is a sign of his blessing. It was one of the best nights out that ive had for a long time. The book of mormon humour aside, the joke was on who. Its couched in king james english, and it features color renderings of mormon scenes made to look like bible illustrations. The problem with this view is that while the biblical text reads as metaphor, the verses in the book of mormon that speak of skin color do not. The pearl of great price, another mormon book of scripture, describes the descendants of cain as darkskinned 12 in another biblical account, ham discovered his father noah drunk and naked in his tent. Taboobusting musical the book of mormon isnt antimormon. Book of mormon fhe lesson being reconciled with god. Home personal this book of mormon passage perfectly describes depression. Feb 04, 2015 speak words of encouragement and thankfulness to the teachers you know and it will make a difference in their day. While the book of mormon states that god denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free 2 nephi 26.
The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon church. Why were afraid of mormons bu today boston university. The ugliness of the racist mormon blogger is there i could tell you some stories that would make your head explode. My copy is the lds historical library, 1993 edition for msdos. Feb 16, 2016 growing up mormon in the 80s, i remember everything book of mormon was literally related to the mayans or the native americans. The psychological effects of mormonism tribute to blair. Book of mormons antiafrican racism is no laughing matter. Aug 27, 2009 there are many verses in the book of mormon and pearl of great price that are very racist, and very unbiblical. 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. Early american influences on the book of mormon is a fascinating examination of the many similarities between the book of mormon bom and two books about the early history of the united states published in 1789 and 1805 that were available in upper new york state, the area where joseph smith lived. This analysis looks at what these things might mean in context. Even though i know the mormon church isnt true, the idea of opposing my family, friends and entire culture leaves me terrified and shaking. One of the foundations of the church of jesus christ of latter. Since the lds church has a lay priesthood, the ban had kept blacks from any leadership positions.
To study the book of mormon is to nourish the seed from which mormon racism grows. The new face of mormon racism religion news service. The charge of racism in the book of mormon book of. Now the lord didnt say i want you to hate them because they have dark skin but he knew the hearts of men and that they would find them loathsome. The question of racism in the book of mormon is very close to me. Book of mormon artwork was also depicted this way, heck even singing the book of mormon song we made the signs with our hands that depicted feathers in our heads. As an extremely introverted nevermo who grew up in utah, there where many things about mormonism which gave me the heebiejeebies. Racism in the lds church statements about race in the book of mormon. While the book of mormon only discusses the lamanites, early church leaders believed that this applied to all races, and that everyone in the celestial kingdom would have white skin. According to the bible, after cain killed abel, god cursed him and put a mark on him, although the bible does not state what the nature of the mark was. 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. Opinion racism and the mormon church the new york times. Like many people of his period, joseph smith, the founder of mormonism, harbored racist views. Jan 25, 2010 i know that some people use 2 nephi 5 as proof that the book of mormon is racist.
Mar 26, 20 why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver burkeman the south park creators musical was much lauded in the us, but its satirical sensibility may be lost in translation to london. Scott sommerdorf the salt lake tribune patrons wait to see the mormon tabernacle choir and orchestra at temple square will present. The journal of religious thought, autumnwinter 1973, pp. All of these quotations are from my copy of the gospel infobase cdrom, as used by many faithful church members. 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 in my quest to get things organized i created another research page. One expects the tale of nephis emigration to america, for instance, or of jesus. May 24, 2015 the question of racism in the book of mormon is very close to me. The introduction tells you that the book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The reader who sits down to read the book of mormon today may find it even harder going than twain suggests. Over the past two centuries, the relationship between black people and mormonism has a history that includes both official and unofficial discrimination, but.
I was invited to see the highlyacclaimed and extremely popular broadway musical that swept west end by storm, book of mormon, and had an experience i will probably never forget. The book of mormon prophets including mormon writing years later have a certain amount of racism in them, they do see the dark skin as a curse but the lord didnt say that, its in their own hearts. Even now as a seemingly confident adult mother, i still have moments of complete and utterly absurd panic. 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.
Posted on october 19, 2015 january 1, 2020 by scott thormaehlen this is part 3 of a 9part series on the topic of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and race relations. The musical the book of mormon is hilarious, outrageous, and brilliant. The book of mormon musical is not offensive for its portrayal of mormons. And even though the church of jesus christ of latterday saints renounced polygamy in the 1890s with the exception of a militant sliver, some. Why british critics dont get the book of mormon oliver burkeman the south park creators musical was much lauded in the us, but its satirical sensibility may. Write these on a postit, send an email, or write a kind note today with bible verses for teachers to brighten their day and show them the fruit of. Broadways book of mormon more offensive than promised.
Mormon racism and black selfhatred in zion, by darron smith. Mormon scripture states that a black skin was a curse from god. A memoir of an american faith free press, joanna brooks recalls. The book of mormon musical is racist and homophobic. The book of mormons references to dark skin being associated with a curse have confused and offended many readers. Learn more about the blacks and the priesthood in the lds church lds scripture and basis for their doctrine, policies and beliefs until 1978. The book of mormon contains many religious themes, most notably those of faith and doubt. The church published a new edition of the book of mormon in 1981, replacing a promise that the righteous would become white with a promise that they would be made pure 2 nephi 30. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. New york, where he grew up, was still a slave state at that time. Remember that the mormon version of god is not the god of the bible.