Racism and the Book of Mormon

[_Mary]

The LDS Church should apologize for past racist teachings and policies.

I agree, but I think it must go further in terms of explaining/clarifying the relevant passages in both the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price that seem to engender a racist theology in terms of God cursing entire races of people with a dark skin.

That said, I think that many critics of the LDS Church on the topic of race go too far in condemning Mormonism as a belief system.

If you have time, can you explain what you mean here?

[_Mary]

I never said that he was an enemy of the LDS church. But he wasn't honest in his video. He wanted the LDS church to look bad. And a director of a film should not film people without them knowing as he seems to have done. Also, he had professional critics address his questions and in return, he had a couple of missionaries attempt to answer from the LDS point of view. It wasn't a fair documentary by any stretch of the imagination. But then, it wasn't meant to be.

And it wasn't honest nor non-confrontational.

Good grief Why Me. You do the church no favours adopting this position in my honest opinion. You are simply wrong. Thank goodness that there are serious scholars of LDS history and doctrine that take a more even approach.

[_why me]

My position is this:

That said, I think that many critics of the LDS Church on the topic of race go too far in condemning Mormonism as a belief system.

If we were to treat every conversion as a kind of implicit act of colonialism, then education would be utterly impossible.

I agree with you. And this is my problem with Mary. She goes too far and she is still going too far by hitting on the Book of Mormon. If Mormons believe that the book is the word of god, how can Mormons condemn god? It is impossible. However, Mormons can begin to explain racism in the LDS church and the problem that Mormons faced with attempting to have a multiracial church among many bigots from outside the church and the general persecution that they experienced which can also be explained through bigotry.

[_why me]

Good grief Why Me. You do the church no favours adopting this position in my honest opinion. You are simply wrong. Thank goodness that there are serious scholars of LDS history and doctrine that take a more even approach.

I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't like the way he treated the Mormons in the video. He should have done an interview that he did with the critics: professionally and not with secret filming. That is my point. And then to allow the professor to have the last word with her rant against christians and in particular the LDS church showed bias.

What could he have done? He could have interviewed a professor from BYU Hawaii to counter the other professor's bigotry. Now what is wrong with my stance?

[_Drifting]

So, Why Me, how is it coming with finding a single LDS leader who has ever taught that the dark skin given to the Lamanites was merely symbolic?

Bumpage...

[_cafe crema]

That is my point. And then to allow the professor to have the last word with her rant against christians and in particular the LDS church showed bias.

What could he have done? He could have interviewed a professor from BYU Hawaii to counter the other professor's bigotry. Now what is wrong with my stance?

The video was about how people, that that the LDS church has called Laminites, feel and have been impacted by this label. It is their story not the story of LDS professors so it makes perfect sense to close with the experiences of an actual "Laminite" and not with some LDS talking head.

[_why me]

The video was about how people, that that the LDS church has called Laminites, feel and have been impacted by this label. It is their story not the story of LDS professors so it makes perfect sense to close with the experiences of an actual "Laminite" and not with some LDS talking head.

You would be singing a different tune if it were against the catholic church, filming and interviewing priests and nuns without them knowing it. And then have a professor condemn the catholic church for its colonial policies without a rebuttal.

[_tapirrider]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2 ... happening/

http://www.californiaindianeducation.or ... lcoholism/

This is the real problem of the native americans. Not the Mormons.

It is sad that all you see is the negative. There is quite a bit of room to argue that the teachings of Mormonism are a real problem. Let's be realistic about it. There is no benefit to believing in a fake history of one's own ancestors and being laden down with guilt based on fantasy.

The fight against alcoholism is finding some of its greatest victories when the children are taught their own real traditions and histories, not the fictions of Mormonism.

On many reservations, women are gaining record numbers of advanced college degrees while being single mothers. Their children are becoming a new generation that is breaking the cycle of drinking. But that makes Mormons cringe, doesn't it? Mormon priesthood advice is that the fatherless children should be adopted and the woman should stay at home.

How have Mormon teachings influenced your perceptions of American Indians? I suspect that your thoughts of Mel Gibson's movie portraying reality are connected with your religious beliefs in the fictional writings of the Book of Mormon. It is a racist movie and the teachings of Mormonism about the American Indians are also racist. Your perception of "the real problem of the Native Americans" is not for you or Mormonism to fix. They are winning without your help.

[_why me]

So, Why Me, how is it coming with finding a single LDS leader who has ever taught that the dark skin given to the Lamanites was merely symbolic?

Bumpage...

http://www.blacklds.org/tvedtnes


I don't see this person being excommunicated for apostacy, do you?

[_Drifting]

So, Why Me, how is it coming with finding a single LDS leader who has ever taught that the dark skin given to the Lamanites was merely symbolic?

http://www.blacklds.org/tvedtnes


I don't see this person being excommunicated for apostacy, do you?

John Tvedtnes is associate director of research at the BYU Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts. He earned a BA in anthropology, a graduate certificate in Middle East area studies, an MA in linguistics, and an MA in Hebrew at the University of Utah and did postgraduate work at the University of California (Berkeley) and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He taught for seventeen years at the University of Utah and the Salt Lake and Jerusalem centers of Brigham Young University. He has published eight books and more than 200 articles and is associate editor of the ISPART/FARMS Ancient Texts and Mormon Studies series. While many of his writings have appeared in books, magazines, and journals for a Latter-day Saint audience, some of his works have been published by the University of Utah, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and the Journal of Near Eastern Studies. He is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served in numerous positions, including a full-time mission in France and Switzerland and stake and district missions in Utah and Israel.

I don't see him being a Church Leader either...