Mormon Racism

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I think these quotes speak for themselves:

1831 - 1844) JOSEPH SMITH Discoverer of the Golden plates
First Prophet and President and Founder of the Mormon Church:
"Had I anything to do with the negro , I would confine them by strict law to their own species and put them on a national equalization.’’
(1848 - 1877) BRIGHAM YOUNG 2nd Prophet and President
"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable, sad, low in their habits, wild, and seemingly without the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind.
“Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.”
(1877 - 1887) JOHN TAYLOR 3rd Prophet and President
“…after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham’s wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation a upon a the earth as well as God;… "
(1901 - 1918) JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH 10th Prophet and President
“I would not want you to believe that we bear any animosity toward the Negro. “Darkies” are wonderful people, and they have their place in our church.”
“Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race.
“… and they have been ‘despised among all people.’ This doctrine did not originate with President Brigham Young but was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith …”
BRUCE R. McCONKIE of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles
The negroes are not equal with other races when the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned…”
…As a result of his rebellion, Cain was cursed with a dark skin; he became the father of the negroes”
“Cain Ham, and the whole negro race have _ cursed with a black skin, the mark of Cain, so they can be identified as a caste apart, a people with whom the other descendants of Adam should not intermarry.”

For fuller quotes and sources see: nowscape.com/mormon/negro2.htm
 
If memory serves, the Mormon church did not allow black men into their priesthood until the late 70s. They also view the dark skin of the American Indians as a curse from God.
 
I work with hundreds of Mormons and overhear conversations everyday in Salt Lake City. Racism is alive and well in their church. I must admit though, they seem to being changing, just rather slowly from the days of good ole’ Joe.

Just a note though, they by no means have a monopoly on racism. Even us poor ole’ Catholics have a few racists in our pews too.😦 I am just glad I have not seen it in our Faith and Morals.
 
racism will always exsist…But God is good…so i’m not worried
 
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Malachi4U:
I work with hundreds of Mormons and overhear conversations everyday in Salt Lake City. Racism is alive and well in their church. I must admit though, they seem to being changing, just rather slowly from the days of good ole’ Joe.

Just a note though, they by no means have a monopoly on racism. Even us poor ole’ Catholics have a few racists in our pews too.😦 I am just glad I have not seen it in our Faith and Morals.
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I live in Salt Lake City work with, and am neighbors to many Mormons. I find no more racism in them than I do in Catholics. The racism that was an early part of the church was prevalent in society at large. Most Mormons today are absolutely NOT racist.
 
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J_Chrysostomos:
If memory serves, the Mormon church did not allow black men into their priesthood until the late 70s. They also view the dark skin of the American Indians as a curse from God.
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I have read recently that is wasn’t actually until well into the 80’s. And that was under political pressure. Sadly, they still hold in doctrine, as stated above, that the darker skin is a result of sin. The passage hasn’t been changed.
 
Emily Watson:
I have read recently that is wasn’t actually until well into the 80’s. And that was under political pressure. Sadly, they still hold in doctrine, as stated above, that the darker skin is a result of sin. The passage hasn’t been changed.
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Black men were given the ability to hold the Mormon Priesthood in 1978. I remember it very well. They changed the Book of Mormon shortly thereafter to reflect their new doctrine. So, in all actuality the passage WAS changed from “white and delightsome” to “pure and delightsome”. Ever since the change was made the LDS leadership has made every effort to change the fact that they did indeed have a racist doctrine for almost 150 years. Today most Mormons will deny the passage was ever racist at all. Their doctrine is no way racist today.
 
Thanks for clarifying the date, however, the material I have read still has the origional text. It’s not old material either.
 
Emily Watson:
Thanks for clarifying the date, however, the material I have read still has the origional text. It’s not old material either.
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What’s the document that you’re referring to?
 
Emily Watson:
Thanks for clarifying the date, however, the material I have read still has the origional text. It’s not old material either.
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i’m not sure when the Book of Mormon was changed but the current version reads “pure and delightsome”.
 
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Tmaque:
i’m not sure when the Book of Mormon was changed but the current version reads “pure and delightsome”.
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I know that since the 1981 edition, it’s been changed to “pure and delightsome.”
 
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latisha1903:
racism will always exsist…But God is good…so i’m not worried
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It was the LDS Godhead that said that blacks were not to be given the priesthood, thereby excluding them from the celestial kingdom.
 
bwv 1080:
I think these quotes speak for themselves:

1831 - 1844) JOSEPH SMITH Discoverer of the Golden plates
First Prophet and President and Founder of the Mormon Church:
"Had I anything to do with the negro , I would confine them by strict law to their own species and put them on a national equalization.’’
]
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Actually Joseph Smith ordained a black man to the priesthood. I think he was quite progressive for the time in regard to race. After Joseph Smith’s death it was Brigham Young that really pushed the anti-black issue. Ahhhh…the ever-changing doctrine of Mormonism. Like I always say…the Mormon God is schizophrenic.
 
Is this the passage in question?

2 NEPHI 5:21
And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.

And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.

And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
 
bwv 1080:
Is this the passage in question?

2 NEPHI 5:21
And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.

And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.

And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
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Keep in mind that when Joseph Smith wrote these words they would fit right into the current belief system of the day. He was giving his audience what they wanted. A racist God.
 
Emily_Watson said:
I have read recently that is wasn’t actually until well into the 80’s. And that was under political pressure. Sadly, they still hold in doctrine, as stated above, that the darker skin is a result of sin. The passage hasn’t been changed.
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After Googling various sources, it was 1978, here one of the links I found:

lds.about.com/library/weekly/previousyears/aa021898.htm

Growing up Mormon, my parents always told me racism wasn’t right; however I do know it exists among some church members.
I also knew eventually that they (the blacks) would get the priesthood. However I did find it troubling then, and now I don’t even try to figure it out:rolleyes:
I’m not defending anything, just stating what year it did take place, and what I viewed back then.
Now I am just checking out Catholicism 🙂
 
The Book of Mormon is still racist and it is still their sacred scripture. To remove the racism from it one would have to tear it limb from limb.

Often when people are criticized for racism, it just goes underground and becomes more subtle, and therefore more dangerous.
 
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