What does "skin of blackness" mean in the Book of Mormon?

[_Sandra]

You really don't know the answer to this very basic question?

Try reading some actual history ... not found on hate forums..

It was about politics. Black owners didn't like the idea of their slaves thinking they had any status, station or authority... that was the original reason. Later of course the church leaders studying their scriptures found linage curses to be established in the Old Testament... I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

I have studied this topic, so I am not opposed to spending some time and effort educating you. I was curious what your personal opinion was on the matter, as a starting point.

LOL

Sooooo? I pretty much know all there is to know on the subject.

[_Themis]

You really don't know the answer to this very basic question?

Try reading some actual history ... not found on hate forums..

It was about politics. Black owners didn't like the idea of their slaves thinking they had any status, station or authority... that was the original reason. Later of course the church leaders studying their scriptures found linage curses to be established in the Old Testament... I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

So are you saying the priesthood ban was a mistake by church leaders or do you think it was inspired of God?

[_Kevin Graham]

You really don't know the answer to this very basic question?

The answer is because God wanted it that way, or at least that is what the Church taught for more than a century.

Try reading some actual history ... not found on hate forums..

Try reading LDS leaders instead of recent innovative apologetic theories that are only being designed by those trying to recreate Mormonism in their own image.

It was about politics.

LOL!

Says who, Margret Young, Armand Mauss? Brigham Young said it was the law of God. Gee, what's the faithful Mormon to believe, the speculation of liberal historians or the official pronouncements by the LDS Prophets?!?

Black owners didn't like the idea of their slaves thinking they had any status, station or authority...

Naturally, but this had nothing to do with the ban.

that was the original reason.

No it wasn't. Politics had more to do with the 1978 "revelation."

Later of course the church leaders studying their scriptures found linage curses to be established in the Old Testament... I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

Later? As in after 1834? LOL!

[_just me]

LOL

Sooooo? I pretty much know all there is to know on the subject.

Actually, it appears you know nothing on the topic, but you are free to prove me wrong about that.

What did slaves not getting the priesthood have to do with free blacks not getting the priesthood? Why did black people continue to be banned from the temple and priesthood until 1978? Last time I checked slavery had been gone for a very long time.

It's sad that the Lord allowed such racial discrimination to persist in his church, isn't it?

[_Themis]

LOL

Sooooo? I pretty much know all there is to know on the subject.

Actually, it appears you know nothing on the topic, but you are free to prove me wrong about that.

What did slaves not getting the priesthood have to do with free blacks not getting the priesthood? Why did black people continue to be banned from the temple and priesthood until 1978? Last time I checked slavery had been gone for a very long time.

It's sad that the Lord allowed such racial discrimination to persist in his church, isn't it?

This made me think maybe this was a sock puppet of Simon. I remember him coming around and saying he was an expert on Joseph, only to show he knew very little out side of what is taught in SS.

[_zeezrom]

Hey Sandra! I'm so glad you joined us on this fine sabbath afternoon!

Personally, I find it offensive that any corellation is attempted between skin and the state of the soul, be it literal or allegory.

[_Brackite]

1) A black skin
2) A red skin
3) the Lamanites were "tanned" because they ran around naked
4) a metaphor
5) a "black patch" on the skin (like a tribal tatoo)

Here is the Link to FAIR's spin on this:
http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Lamanites/Curse


The 1949 First Presidency's Statement says that the black skin is a curse.
Here is again the 1949 First Presidency's Statement:

August 17, 1949


The attitude of the Church with reference to 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. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? it comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the Law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."


President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: "The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have."


The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege of is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.


The First Presidency

(Bold Emphasize Mine.)



The LDS Church should issue an apology for the Priesthood ban. It was wrong.

[_Drifting]

Apostle Mark E Peterson helps clear up the confusion...

“Is there reason then why the type of birth we receive in this life is not a reflection of our WORTHINESS OR LACK OF IT in the pre-existent life?...can we account in any other of way for the birth of some of the children of God in darkest AFRICA, or in flood-ridden CHINA, or among the starving hordes of INDIA, while some of the rest of us are born here in the United States? We cannot escape the conclusion that because of performance in our pre-existence some of us are born as Chinese, some as Japanese, some as Indians, some as Negroes, some as Americans, some as Latter-day Saints. THESE ARE REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS, fully in harmony with His established policy in dealing with SINNERS AND SAINTS, rewarding all according to their deeds....

“Let us consider the great mercy of God for a moment. A Chinese, born in China with A DARK SKIN, and with all the handicaps of that race seems to have little opportunity. But think of the mercy of God to Chinese people who are willing to accept the gospel. IN SPITE OF WHATEVER THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE IN THE PRE-EXISTENCE TO JUSTIFY BEING BORN OVER THERE AS CHINAMEN, if they now, in this life, accept the gospel and live it the rest of their lives they can have the Priesthood, go to the temple and receive endowments and sealings, and that means they can have exaltation. Isn't the mercy of God marvelous?

“Think of the Negro, CURSED AS TO THE PRIESTHOOD.... This negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a BLACK SKIN, and possibly being born in darkest Africa—if that negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. IN SPITE OF ALL HE DID IN THE PRE-EXISTENT LIFE, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. 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 celestial glory.”

Sandra...?

[_DarkHelmet]

I pretty much know all there is to know on the subject.

Finally. It is great to have you here, because nobody else seems to know the answer to this. Can you explain why blacks were banned from the priesthood until 1978? Nobody else seems to be able to.