Racism was prevalent among the early church leaders in Mormonism. This same prejudice towards blacks made it into the Book of Mormon. This is made evident as we read the quotes from the leaders at that time, including Joseph Smith. This needs to be brought to light. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints used to be very racist in the past, but these discriminatory beliefs towards black people are not as prevalent nowadays. We will see how this racism made it into their Book of Mormon, of which Joseph Smith wrote with some help from his associates. See below for the following quotes from a variety of prophets and apostles in their church by the sections below…
Joseph Smith
“Having learned with extreme regret, that an article entitled, “Free People of Color; in the last number of the Star has been misunderstood, we feel in duty bound to state, in this Extra, that our intention was not only to stop free people of color from emigrating to this state, but to prevent them from being admitted as members of the church.” (History of the Church, 1:378-379)
“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.” (History of the Church, 5:218-219)
Brigham Young
“We must believe in slavery. This colored race have been subjected to severe curses, which they have in their families and their classes and in their various capacities brought upon themselves. And until the curse is removed by Him who placed it upon them, they must suffer under its consequences; I am not authorized to remove it. I am a firm believer in slavery.” (The Teachings of President Brigham Young, Volume 3: 1852-1854)
“You must not think, from what I say, that I am opposed to slavery. No! The negro is damned, and is to serve his master till God chooses to remove the curse of Ham.” (New York Herald, May 4, 1855)
The First Presidency
“From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel.” (Letter from the First Presidency to Dr, Lowry Nelson, July 17, 1947)
“The attitude of the Church with reference to the Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time.” (Statement of the First Presidency of the LDS Church, August 17, 1949)
Mark E. Petersen
“If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get a celestial resurrection. He will get a place in the celestial glory.” Therefore, do Mormons consider God to have an “equal heaven” for all races?” (Speech at Brigham Young University on August 27 1954)
Bruce R. McConkie
“The negroes are not equal with other races where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned…[B]ut this inequality is not of man’s origin. It is the Lord’s doing.” (1966 edition of Mormon Doctrine)
The Book of Mormon has evidence of a racist God. You will also notice while reading different verses that Joseph Smith’s racism ended up in the passages. As you will see below, God punished white people who sinned against Him with black skin. This was a curse given to people who went against Him. God was then able to separate them from the righteous because of their black skin. However, if they repented, their white skin would return to them like before. How racist is this? Does this sound like the God of the Bible? Absolutely not. See for yourself how racist the Mormon God really is by reading the different sections of verses below…
2 Nephi 5:20-22
2 Nephi 5:20-22
20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his presence.
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.
22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.
2 Nephi 30:5,6
2 Nephi 30:5,6
5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.
6 And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; 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 pure and a delightsome people.
Alma 3:6
Alma 3:6
6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a acurse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.
3 Nephi 2:14-16
3 Nephi 2:14-16
14 And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites;
15 And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites;
16 And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites. And thus ended the thirteenth year.
What does the Bible say about racism? Is the God of the Bible the same as what we read in the Book of Mormon? Absolutely not. God loves people of all skin colors equally and does not discriminate based on race. As you will see below, God does not differentiate people when it comes to race. He already knows who is for Him and who is against Him. This is because all colors of skin are the same in his eyes.
1 Samuel 16:7
1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
John 7:24
John 7:24 (KJV)
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Acts 10:34,35
Acts 10:34,35 (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Romans 2:11
Romans 2:11 (KJV)
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Galatians 3:28
Galatians 3:28 (KJV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Here is the truth: racism was never a part of God’s church. So seeing it in Mormonism from the beginning makes no sense if they truly think they are a true church. Even if in 1978, racist slurs were removed and blacks began to receive the priesthood. However, this doesn’t stop what happened over a hundred and fifty years ago. If I was a member of the church and I saw how racist it was, I would doubt that the church had any revelation from God. And if God was not leading them, I’d be finding a new church. All this needs to be considered since the god they believe in once said that blacks would never hold the priesthood. So the same god changed his mind? People of every color deserve to be part of God’s church and also receive His blessings. Too bad this didn’t happen in this supposed church from the beginning. It claims to have the truth, but you can tell they are far from it. Please think about this. Amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that we will be led by Your truth and not the things we think are true. So many things we see in this world appear to be good, especially certain beliefs. On paper, what people believe in sounds really good. Especially when it has to do with our family, but we must be steadfast in prayer, that You might show us the truth. Help us do the investigation needed, in order to follow You and not what our flesh wants. I know I get out of line when I try to do my own thing and not follow Your will. Often, I have fallen flat on my face. Therefore, I ask that You will lead me in all things. Keep me on Your righteous and holy path that leads to heaven. I am Yours and You are mine. I trust in You, Lord. I love You. Amen.
