Referring to native americans the book of mormon says. See book of mormon central article on ancient context of white and delightsome regarding 2 nephi 30. Royal skousen, changes in the book of mormon royal skousen, restoring the original text of the book of mormon. Deseret books collection of large print books makes it easy for you to read. Another strength of the book is that white not only critiques mormon theology, but presents the reformed protestant position also. As the bio on the website says, this all started with the ensign article about the joseph smith papers project and snowballed from there. Mormonisms white and delightsome indians joe rawlins. Deseret book wholesale welcome to the deseret book wholesale website.
What does it mean to be a white and delightsome people. Delightsome definition and meaning bible dictionary. This package is also part of our primary 5 combo lessons 912 at a discount. Absurdity in the book of mormon the annotated bible. What does white and delightsome people mean in the. Some components are still being tested and may not function correctly. However, we do have the original text for the book of mormon that joseph smith claimed god revealed to him, word by word, on a pebble in his hat. Why might he have made this change and what implications might it have for what the book of mormon. White and delightsome lamanites and facebook friends.
This textual emendation has understandably raised questions about the book of mormon s racial views, with some. In response, wight armed over 150 men at this time to defend the latterday saints in daviess. You need to understand that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has spread through the world the past century. 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. So we havent anything like that on the colored thing. 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. White and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome jump to subtopic. This new publication contains a very important change. One derived from a single family who fled jerusalem in 600 b. In his prophecies of the last days, nephi remarked that the book of mormon would be carried forth unto the remnant of his seed. Mormon president, questioned on mormon teaching of the. Again the book of mormon contradicts the bible, because it has many aspects of salvation being practiced long before they were truly in effect.
The book of mormon is one of the most important sources available in the world today for understanding christ and his mission. Types of changes in the book of mormon text the following statistics are derived from my computerized collation of the two manuscripts of the book of mormon the original and the printers manuscripts and 20 standard page 173 editions of the book of mormon fifteen lds editions, from 1830 to 1981, the 1858 wright edition, and four rlds. Oct 24, 2006 truly the scales of darkness are falling from their eyes, and they are fast becoming a white and delightsome people the day of the lamanites is nigh. The purpose of omnis little book is the same as the purpose of his fathers book the book of jarom to preserve their genealogy. Hagoth and the polynesians religious studies center. We are a nonprofit organization supported by people like you. Book of mormon memes for those who have actually read the. Tate, charles d brigham young university religious studies center and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Whiteness in the mormon archive harvard divinity bulletin.
Church removes racial references in book of mormon. Home study archive subject index white and delightsome. 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. In 1830 though, when the book of mormon was first published, and in the overwhelming number of editions published up to 1981, they were set to become a white and delightsome people. Church removes racial references in book of mormon headings. This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a pure and a delightsome. The lamanites are one of the four ancient peoples described as having settled in the ancient.
The keystone scripture by book of mormon symposium 1985 brigham young university. Mormon president, questione d on m ormon teaching of the curse of cain black skin. The fact that the book is written as to a mormon believer no doubt helped facilitate this winsome, userfriendly approach. If one holds to the historicity of the book of mormon, there are a few ways in which the racially charged passages of the book of mormon can be interpreted. By bill mckeever and eric johnson for much of its history, the salt lake citybased lds church edition of the book of mormon taught that darkskinned lamanites indians. Tvedtnes has pointed out that in the neareastern context white doesnt necessarily mean a color see response to carm. The account, known as the book of mormon, first published in 1830, primarily tells the story of gods dealings with two israelite civilizations living in the new world. The lds church teaches that native americans are descendants of the lamanites, a group of people who, according to the book of mormon, left israel in 600 b. Their redemption from sin would be marked, that is, by a literal change in their phenotypic racial classification. Dec 28, 2011 black skin is a result of having not been valiant enough in the preexistence, which was the basis for denying black people full fellowship in the church until 1978. Books about mormons score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The book of mormon told through one shots thatlittlewhitelie.
I am not from the united states but have spent quite some time there. The indians on the american continent are descendants of the tribes of ephraim, judah, and manasseh, we are told by the book of mormon. Dont struggle with small print books when all you need is a book with large print. Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon. Thereafter, the book s teachings on israelites became a focus for proselyting work among the maori. 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. The 1830 and most earlier editions said that the descendants of lehi would become a white and delightsome people.
Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. May 15, 2010 perhaps the time has come in the church to recognize that some members want to openly espouse a non historical view of the book of mormon. This area of the web site is restricted to existing deseret book wholesale accounts. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people. As francis kirkham, an lds missionary to the maori in the 1890s remembered, we would go to them, hold up a copy of the book of mormon and tell them that we had a book that told the history of their ancestors barber 1215. 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. 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. This change seems to reflect the prophets concern that modern readers might misinterpret this passage as a reference to racial changes rather than to changes in righteousness. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. For much of its history, the salt lake citybased lds church edition of the book of mormon taught that darkskinned lamanites indians would eventually. 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 the summer of 1838, the troubles of the mormon war began with events on the gallatin election day battle. Many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people 2 nephi 30. Apr 04, 2009 nonlds people who still believe in the book of mormon april 4, 2009 in book of mormon i recently read a great post over on the mormanity website on a guy named bookslinger who has been flooding the earth with the book of mormon as well as the bible.
I just wanted to thank everyone over the years for sticking by me and being involved in my little life in my little corner of the world. 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 mormon belief in black skin being a curse is found in uniquely mormon books they call scripture. At the home of john quincy adams, they found an 1841 copy of the book of mormon that originally belonged to someone very special in church history emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith. I know, because i received an answer through my prayers from the holy ghost. Help your children learn about how the book of mormon was published with this printable lesson kit. Tvedtnes has pointed out that in the neareastern context white doesnt necessarily mean. The atlantic when mormons aspired to be a white and. You can say what you want, but it wont change the fact that i know and i can not deny it book of mormon videos youtube channel, mormon channel platforms and existing book of mormon and gospel library apps for use in church classrooms, in. White and delightsome stuff you missed in sunday school. The book of mormon told through one shots chapter 1. 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. Dear mormons, you dont know the book of mormon is true. Changes to latterday scripture lds leaders have made.
The bible and the book of mormon are both witnesses of jesus christ. Most cultists will turn you off if you begin to preach to them, however, asking questions gives them hope that you are genuinely interested in learning more about their religion. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon discovered lds daily. 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. A nonhistorical view of the book of mormon mormon matters. There are no firsthand original texts of anything found in the bible, therefore nothing is remotely reliable. How can one justify the change of the wording white and delightsome in 2 nephi 30. 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. That same year, a verse that used white and delightsome to describe what will happen to darkskinned peoples when they repent was changed. Aside from confusing us with those of other faiths, many dont really know what we believe.
This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a pure and a delightsome people. When the descriptor lamanite is used in the book of mormon, it is used in two different ways. The atlantic when mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people. The teachings of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints a. Then, their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes.
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. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. A careful analysis of scriptures from the book of mormon, in their contexts reveals several interconnections between the atonement, resurrection, and judgment, that might not be obvious at first. 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. If you love the book of mormon, consider donating to book of mormon central and becoming part of this exciting movement.
Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon, 6 vols. The reader who sits down to read the book of mormon today may find it even harder going than twain suggests. Nonlds people who still believe in the book of mormon. It represents the commentary following the text introducing the phrase skin of.
In the book of mormons narrative, the lamanites began as wicked rivals to the more righteous nephites, but when. The book of mormon promises that lamanites, being cursed. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint. What does the book of mormon mean by skin of blackness. 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. My daughter bethany and her friend clare have recently gone to the community of christ church. This is entirely self indulgent, and in many ways completely disgusting. The book of mormon speaks of nephis descendants becoming a white and delightsome people. For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised. In a new edition of the book of mormon, a prophecy that had said indians would become white and delightsome has been altered to read that. This particular change was made to the 1840 edition of the book of morm.
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. In 1840 the book of mormon was carefully revised by the translator, joseph smith, and in that edition the expression white and delightsome was changed to pure and delightsome. Lyman wight was accused, along with joseph smith, of organizing an army and threatening and harassing various old settlers of daviess county. The phrase white and delightsome was changed to pure and delightsome. Several native americans are suing the mormon church for. Previous editions of the book of mormon had said that in the last days the indians shall be a white and delightsome. 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. 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. The book of mormon recenters the story of jesus on the americas, and the. This pdf will be available in your account on this store immediately after purchase. The claim is often heard that there are more than 4000 changes to the book of mormon text. Until a few decades ago, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints taught that they shall be a white and a delightsome people, a phrase taken from the book of mormon. 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. 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.
Mormons altering indian prophecy the new york times. But it is deeply troubling for me to read passages in the book of mormon and wonder how the term white is meant to be understood if it is not about skin color. Interracial marriage and the church of jesus christ of. It was one of those infamous changes to the book of mormon. Of course, it would be easy for joseph smith to include these things in the book of mormon, if in fact it was first written in his own day, rather than many centuries earlier as he claimed it had been.
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. Native americans also are cursed with a dark skin because of their or their ancestors unrighteousness, but can become white and delightsome if they become righteous. Dna, zelph, and the book of mormon july 27, 2004 by bccjohnh patty henetz of the associated press has written an article on dna and the book of mormon, focusing on geneticist simon southerton and his forthcoming book, losing a lost tribe. Did you know that joseph smith changed this to read a pure and delightsome people. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon church. One expects the tale of nephis emigration to america, for instance, or of jesus. Dark skin is a curse from god for unrighteousness top 10. Printable teaching helps perfect for family home evening or primary 5 valiant lesson 10. Members of the church have long held that its joseph smith.
1388 799 188 984 1186 178 732 1577 742 154 785 42 1190 65 696 490 596 1178 455 600 1233 1433 1286 1382 160 1018 1274 1086 330 877 1315