bcspace
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Posts posted by bcspace
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However, I also agree with Timpman that the Book of Mormon very clearly mentions dark skin as a curse.
That is true. It's unwarranted speculation, poor research, and contrary to official LDS doctrine to think of it as a change in countenance, attitude, or a "tattoo" (as I've seen speculated at FAIR and their new site mormonvoices.org).
And Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them.
Moses 7:22
2 Nephi 5:20–25. The Lamanites Were Cursed
Verses 20–25 in 2 Nephi 5 answer at least four questions about the curse that came to the Lamanites:
1. What was the curse?
The curse is clearly defined in verse 20 as being “cut off from the presence of the Lord.”
2. What caused the curse?
According to verse 21, the cause of the curse came “because of their iniquity” and “hardened . . . hearts.”
Since the days of Adam’s Fall, wickedness has resulted in being cut off from the presence of the
Lord (see 1 Nephi 2:21; 2 Nephi 4:4; 9:6; Alma 9:13; Ether 10:11).
3. What was the mark or sign set upon the Lamanites?
It is also explained in verse 21 that so “they might not be enticing unto my people [the Nephites] the
Lord did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them [the Lamanites].” It would appear that this was
done to limit the spreading of more wickedness.
Later Alma suggested this same motive when he explained that “the skins of the Lamanites were
dark . . . that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe
in incorrect traditions” (Alma 3:6, 8). Throughout scripture we find warnings of the Lord not to marry
unbelievers (see Deuteronomy 7:2–3; 2 Corinthians 6:14); the result of doing so was often that the
righteous were turned away from the Lord (see Deuteronomy 7:4; 1 Kings 11:4; D&C 74:5).
Some people have mistakenly thought that the dark skin placed upon the Lamanites was the
curse. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) explained that the dark skin was not the curse:
“The dark skin was placed upon the Lamanites so that they could be distinguished from the Nephites
and to keep the two peoples from mixing. The dark skin was the sign of the curse [not the curse itself ].
The curse was the withdrawal of the Spirit of the Lord. . . .
“The dark skin of those who have come into the Church is no longer to be considered a sign of the
curse. . . . These converts are delightsome and have the Spirit of the Lord” (Answers to Gospel Questions,
comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66], 3:122–23).
4. What was the result of the curse?
Finally in verse 24 we learn that the result of the curse—being cut off from the presence of the
Lord—is that they “become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety.”
One great blessing is that the curse is only valid as long as people are wicked. If they repent, the “curse
of God [will] no more follow them” (Alma 23:18).
There are many examples of righteous Lamanites who repented and enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord; one
of them even became a prophet (see Helaman 13:5).
Ever since biblical times, the Lord has designated through His prophets who could receive the priesthood and other blessings of the gospel. Among the tribes of Israel, for example, only men of the tribe of Levi were given the priesthood and allowed to officiate in certain ordinances. Likewise, during the Savior’s earthly ministry, gospel blessings were restricted to the Jews. Only after a revelation to the Apostle Peter were the gospel and priesthood extended to others (see Acts 10:1–33; 14:23; 15:6–8).
With the revelation to President Kimball in 1978, the priesthood is now available to all worthy male members regardless of race or ethnicity (see Official Declaration 2). Each candidate for ordination is interviewed by priesthood leaders to ensure that he understands and agrees to live by established principles of righteousness (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44; 121:34–46).
From the dispensation of Adam until the dispensation of the fulness of times, there has been a group of people who have not been allowed to hold the priesthood of God. The scriptural basis for this policy is Abraham 1:21–27 . The full reason for the denial has been kept hidden by the Lord, and one is left to assume that He will make it known in His own due time.
He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple.
OD 2
I really don't see any change from prior to 1978 and I don't see any indication of racism in the doctrine, past or present, as the curse was not applied based on some inherited phenotype such as skin color. It is also certain that the doctrine remains that the ban was insituted by God ("long promised day", "from the dispensation of Adam etc.). There need not be any apologies or sugar-coating.
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Hi skippy. Do you see an actual change in doctrine on the subject or with the wording changes in the chapter headings and footnotes do you see rather putting the subject a little deeper out of view?
Imho, I see the latter; especially considering what the Church currently publishes in it's manuals (see the new BoM Insitute manual on 2 Nephi 5:20-24, also the PoGP manual on OD 2) as well as on the Church's website (Priesthood Ordination Prior to 1978 in the Study by Topic on the main Menu) for example.
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I have a lot of trouble understanding the concepts of a Trinity vs. a Godhead. Would someone be willing to break this down for me ?
Trinity: The Three are separate individual Persons who are literally one Being/God.
Modalism: The Three are just manifestations (modes) of God.
They sound similar and use the same language, but they are not the same. However, modalism is rare.
LDS Godhead: The Three are separate individual Persons and separate individual Beings. They are each Gods, the Son and Holy Ghost being subordinate to the Father.
Changes to chapter headings & footnotes on LDS.org
in LDS Gospel Discussion
Posted
Yes. In verse 8 the Lord cursed the land with much heat and thus we see the operation that caused their skin to turn black and the reason was so that they would be despised among all people. No one said black skin was the curse, just the result of it.