Racism in Mormon Scripture

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) began in 1830 in the United States.  In those days, many in America--including some white churchgoers--thought that African people were inferior to whites;  and some even believed they were destined for slavery due to their lineage through Ham (Noah's son), and their alleged lineage through Cain (Adam and Eve's first son).  The Mormon Church took this idea about African races a step further by teaching that Cain's curse was black skin, and that this curse would be passed down to all of his descendants.

The racist belief of 19th century churchgoers was based on ignorant opinion;  as opposed to the Mormon belief, which they claim is divine revelation. Their founding prophet, Joseph Smith delivered these teachings and included them as Mormon scripture, with succeeding Mormon presidents building upon them.  Because of these beliefs, African races were banned from Mormon priesthoods and temple rites.

In 1978, as public protest grew concerning this matter, a new Mormon revelation abruptly ended this ban.  However, the teachings that brought about these racist practices have never been officially repudiated, nor removed from Mormon doctrine.(1)

In the Mormon Church's sacred scripture The Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith wrote:

"...the Lord shall curse the land with much heat...and there was a blackness (2) came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people." (Moses 7:8) 
                        
"And Enoch also beheld ...the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it were the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not a place among them." (Moses 7:22)                                                                                                                       
Furthermore, Mormon belief was that Cain's curse of black skin would be carried through Noah's son, Ham:

"Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth. From this descent sprang all the Egyptians, and thus the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the land.  The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden. When this woman discovered the land it was under water, who afterward settled her sons in it; and thus, from Ham sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land..." (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 1:21-24, 26c) 

The Mormon Church's racist doctrine of pre-existence also finds its roots in The Pearl of Great Price:

"...he [God] said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou was chosen before thou wast born...And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate..." (Abraham 3:23, 26)

Joseph Fielding Smith (10th Mormon president/prophet) elaborates: 

"There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantages.  The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient, more or less, to the laws that were given us there.  Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less...There were no neutrals in the war in heaven.  All took sides with either Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there...The Negro, evidently, is receivingthe reward he merits" (Doctrines of Salvation published 1954,1:61,65,66)

Another racist belief found in The Book of Mormon(3) concerns Native Americans, where the shade of one's skin color determines a person's righteousness:

"...after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations."  (I Nephi 12:23)

"...Behold, they had hardened their hearts against him...wherefore, as they were white, and exceeding fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticingunto 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 sins." (2 Nephi 5:21-22)                         

"And the skins of the Lamanites(4) were dark...which was a curse upon them because of their transgression against their brethren...therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them. And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preservehis people..." (Alma 3:6,8)  

"And then shall they [Lamanites] rejoice...and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people" (2 Nephi 30:6, 1830, 1920, and 1977 editions) 

The Book of Mormon (the most correct book(5) in all the earth, according to the Mormon Church) was officially altered in 1981.  2 Nephi 30:6 now reads, "a pure and delightsome people".  (The other above referenced verses remain the same.)  The word "pure" in 2 Nephi 30:6 is also found in the 1840 edition.  Regardless, "pure" is not in the original edition, and it does not agree with 2 Nephi 5:21-22 which is about the same subject, and the word "white" is used.

Although the Mormon religion has been taking strides to include people of darker skin, it must be made clear: no renouncement of these doctrines have ever occurred -- only the ban on Africans receiving the priesthood has been lifted. If anyone who is of African or Native American descent is thinking about becoming a Mormon, they will, at some point, have to apply these teachings to themselves, and accept them as truth, because they are still in two of Mormonism's sacred scriptures--The Book of Mormon, and The Pearl of Great Price.

For more information, read:  "Curse of Cain? Racism in the Mormon Church", 2004, by Jerald and Sandra Tanner.

The Biblical Answer to Mormonism's Racist Scriptures

 

 

The Story of Cain

Cain was cursed because he killed his brother Abel.  The curse was that his crops would be unfruitful and that he would be a wanderer (Genesis 4:11-12); it had nothing to do with the racist issue of skin color.  The mark the Lord set upon Cain was a means of protection, a warning for others not to kill him. (Genesis 4:15)

Concerning Cain's lineage: there is no evidence that justifies a doctrine which assumes a black-skinned people would inherit a curse preventing them from spiritual advancement.   The presumption that Cain's curse was carried by Noah's family through the time of the flood is unfounded.  The Bible lists two pre-flood genealogies, Cain's (Genesis 4:17-24) and Seth's (Genesis 5).  There are no biblical references that Noah (a descendant of Seth) or his sons--Shem, Ham, and Japheth--married the daughters of Cain (Genesis chapters 4-6).

After the flood, Noah spoke a prophetic curse over Canaan (Ham's son), declaring that Canaan would be "servant of servants unto his brethren". (Genesis 9:20-24)  (Skin color was not part of the curse.) This was fulfilled when Israel entered the Promised Land and conquered the nations that descended from Canaan (Exodus 13:20,23; Joshua 24:8-11)  The descendants of Ham's other sons--Cush, Mizraim, Phut--settled in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and west of Egypt.  They had dark skin of varying degrees and were not included in this curse. (Genesis 9:25; 10:6-20)

It should also be noted that even though God pronounced judgment on many nations throughout the Old Testament, He never cursed them with a skin color based on how righteous or unrighteous they were. 

Pre-existent racism does not exist

There is no need to worry about a presumed spirit pre-existence where one's valiant behavior, or allegiance with Christ or with Satan, determines their skin color as Mormon doctrine teaches.  According to the Bible, the war in heaven was fought by angels, not by God's alleged biological spirit children. (Revelation 12:7-10) The spirits and bodies of all humans were created in the womb.  (Genesis 2:7; Zechariah 12:1; Isaiah 44:24; John 8:23; I Corinthians 15:46; Psalm 139:13-16)

Mankind descended from the first man Adam, who was created in the image of God.  (Genesis 1:26-27) Therefore, humans received their genetic structure based on Adam's genes.  (Acts 17:26)   After Adam sinned, the image of God which he bore became corrupt; hence, all humanity is born in sin and corruption.  (Romans 5:12-21)

Concerning peoples of all color

Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites (Gen. 38:1-30; Joshua 6:22-25), and Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 4:13-22).  King David descended from these women, from whose lineage also came our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  (II Chronicles. 2:3-4, 11-13; Matthew 1:1-6).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the "new man" (Christian):  "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew... Barbarian, Scythian...but Christ is all, and in all."  (Colossians 3:10-11; also Galatians 3:23-26, "...neither bond nor free...male nor female...")

"Greek" referred to Gentiles who lived in the Greek and Roman world.  Barbarians and Scythians were people who lived outside the borders of that culture.  Christian Gentiles were spiritually equal to Christian Jews.  When people became Christian, the desire for worldly "ranking" became unimportant.  In Christ, all believers are equally cherished and loved in Him, regardless of ancestry, genealogy, gender, or status.

No respecter of persons with God (Romans 2:11)

All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23), and therefore all deserve death because of their sin (Romans 6:23).  Since one is not ranked based on one's good works, no person is superior or inferior to another.  We are all in need of the Good News of God's saving grace, which all can access by personal faith in Christ's shed blood on the Cross and His resurrection.  (Romans 10:9-10,13)  Christ commissioned His disciples to take this Gospel to all nations.  (Matthew 28:19)

This reflects our future in heaven. Once again, God is no respecter of persons.  His redeemed are from all nations, kindred, and people, and he will dwell with all of them forever.  (Revelation 7:9-10)

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God HIMSELF shall BE WITH THEM, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes..." (Rev. 21:3-4).

If this Hidden Belief Troubles You, How Should You Respond?

Don't be surprised if your Mormon friend denies this belief. Many of them are not yet aware of this teaching, or have not given much thought to its implications.

Do not  mock, or reject them.  Take the high road: "love covereth all sins".  (Proverbs 10:12)

If this belief offends you, gently tell your Mormon friend that you care for them, but can never respect or believe this teaching.  Have them read the documentation because, again, they might not know this, and it may concern them too.

Recognize that many Mormons will brush off this teaching by:

• Laughing it off saying, "We don't believe that anymore".
• Claiming they cannot trust this article because of some minor error.
• They bear you their testimony that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and the Mormon Church is the true church. These are programmed  practice's used by Mormons to get out of uncomfortable situations.

Occasionally, some Mormons admit what they really believe, and say, "if you understood this teaching correctly...", and explain why.¬ÝKeep in mind, that beliefs taught in gradual stages may cause anyone to believe anything.

If you are considering joining this religion, all we ask is that you read about the other hidden teachings of Mormonism first.¬ÝYou have the right to know them.¬ÝIf something bothers you and you don't feel right about it, you are not obligated to join anything, even if someone helped you in a time of need.¬ÝYou can support that person when they need help.

Finally, if these hidden teachings truly disturb you, tell others about them. It is not persecution to let people know facts, especially if you do so with gentleness and respect.