Darth J wrote:This review promised earlier that there was something in this official church publication about what you might have guessed are Lamanites. And what does this official church publication say about Lamanites?
Page 36: “In October [1830] the four men [Oliver Cowdery, Ziba Peterson, Peter Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt] left their families and set out on foot. Near the city of Buffalo [New York] they met with members of the Catteraugus tribe of Indians to whom they told the story of the Book of Mormon, setting forth that it contained a history of their forefathers.”
Page 38 has this picture:
with the following caption: “Joseph Smith tells a group of Indians the story of their progenitors as found in the Book of Mormon.”
Page 127: “Respect for the natives arose out of the Book of Mormon. This volume declares that the Indians are descendants of Israel. Their progenitors are known in that volume as the Lamanites, and, in a prophetic vein, the book speaks of a hopeful future for these people.”
As “Truth Restored” is an official church publication, I am grateful for this clarity on the Church’s official position on who the Lamanites are.
In summary, “Truth Restored” is an official feel-good summary of the history of the LDS Church and its four-fold mission: the Book of Mormon; telling people to believe in Jesus because nobody did before Joseph Smith; building monuments; and being persecuted. If you need some rest from the criticisms and stark reality of Mormon history and would like some light, escapist reading, then you will not go wrong with “Truth Restored.”
Splendid insights, Professor Darth.
I have just one question. Are you sure it was Elder Hinckley that wrote "Truth Restored"? It sounds very much like the writing of why me.