Indian turning white. A Winnebago Indian, Louis Armell, living on the reservation, is said to be the object of scientific observation because for many years his skin has gradually been turning white. He is now 54 years old. He still has “copper patches” but physicians believe that if he lives a few more years he will become entirely white.
Improvement Era, April 1928 Issue 6, Page 537 (Page 91 of the linked PDF)
https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/4b787529-9a83-49d1-85df-d973548a6e2c/0/0
Tag: Skin Color
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Indian Turning White, Improvement Era
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Skin of Blackness
The Book of Mormon chapter summary, 2 Nephi 5, published 1981: 1
The Nephites separate themselves from the Lamanites, keep the law of Moses, and build a temple—Because of their unbelief, the Lamanites are cursed, receive a skin of blackness, and become a scourge unto the Nephites. About 588–559 B.C.
The Book of Mormon chapter summary, 2 Nephi 5, changed December 2010: 2
The Nephites separate themselves from the Lamanites, keep the law of Moses, and build a temple—Because of their unbelief, the Lamanites are cut off from the presence of the Lord, are cursed, and become a scourge unto the Nephites.
References
References 1 The Book of Mormon, published 1981 – https://archive.org/details/bookofmormonanot00salt 2 The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 5 – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/5?lang=eng -
National Equalization
Image: Joseph Smith Jr. – Mormon Prophet
Views of Joseph Smith Jr. regarding race, from The History of the Church:[footnote]History of the Church, Volume 5, pages 218-219 [/footnote]
The Prophet’s View of the Negro Race.
At five went to Mr. Sollars’ with Elders Hyde and Richards. Elder Hyde inquired the situation of the negro. I replied, they came into the world slaves mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability. The slaves in Washington are more refined than many in high places, and the black boys will take the shine of many of those they brush and wait on.
Elder Hyde remarked, “Put them on the level, and they will rise above me.” I replied, if I raised you to be my equal, and then attempted to oppress you, would you not be indignant and try to rise above me, as did Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and many others, who said I was a fallen Prophet, and they were capable of leading the people, although I never attempted to oppress them, but had always been lifting them up? 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.
Crash Course:Black people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.org -
Loathsome
The Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 5:21-25), in describing the ‘curse of dark skin’ that afflicted the Lamanites (American Indian), reads:[footnote]2 Nephi 5 – The Book of Mormon [/footnote]
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.
23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.
24 And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
25 And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
2 Nephi 5 – The Book of MormonWhite and Delightsome or Pure and Delightsome? – Mormon Research MinistryBlacks and the Priesthood – Mormon ThinkBlack people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.orgMormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson -
Scales of Darkness
Until 1981 2 Nephi 30:6 in the Book of Mormon taught that dark-skinned Lamanites (Indians) would eventually experience a change in the color of their skin should they embrace the Book of Mormon. This passage read:
“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 white and a delightsome people.”
In 1981 the Church changed the text of The Book of Mormon to read:
“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.”
White and Delightsome or Pure and Delightsome? – Mormon Research MinistryBlacks and the Priesthood – Mormon ThinkBlack people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.orgMormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson -
Shades Lighter
Image: Spencer W. Kimball
From the October 1960 LDS General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball:[footnote]The Day of the Lamanites -1960 General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball [/footnote]
“At one meeting a father and mother and their sixteen-year-old daughter were present, the little member girl—sixteen—sitting between the dark father and mother, and it was evident she was several shades lighter than her parents—on the same reservation, in the same hogan, subject to the same sun and wind and weather. There was the doctor in a Utah city who for two years had had an Indian boy in his home who stated that he was some shades lighter than the younger brother just coming into the program from the reservation. These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness. One white elder jokingly said that he and his companion were donating blood regularly to the hospital in the hope that the process might be accelerated.”
The Day of the Lamanites -1960 General Conference, Spencer W. KimballBlacks and the Priesthood – Mormon ThinkBlack people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.orgMormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson -
White and Delightsome
Image: Apostle LeGrand Richards
In a 1978 interview Apostle LeGrand Richards spoke on the topic of ‘giving the priesthood to the Negro’:[footnote]Interview with Apostle LeGrand Richards -16th August 1978, Church office Building [/footnote]
WALTERS (Interviewer): Is there still a tendency to feel that people are born with black skin because of some previous situation, or do we consider that black skin is no sign anymore of anything inferior in any sense of the word?
RICHARDS: Well, we don’t want to get that as a doctrine. Think of it as you will. You know, Paul said “Now we see in part and we know in part; we see through a glass darkly. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away, then we will see as we are seen, and know as we are known.” Now the Church’s attitude today is to prefer to leave it until we know. The Lord has never indicated that black skin came because of being less faithful. Now, the Indian; we know why he was changed, don’t we? The Book of Mormon tells us that; and he has a dark skin, but he has a promise there that through faithfulness, that they all again become a white and delightsome people. So we haven’t anything like that on the colored thing.
Interview with Apostle LeGrand Richards – 16th August 1978, Church office BuildingBlacks and the Priesthood – Mormon ThinkBlack people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.orgMormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson -
Becoming White
Lesson 19, A white and Blessed People:[footnote]Manual for the Priests’ Quorum, Nephi Jensen – Deseret News Press, 1927 [/footnote]
LESSON NINETEEN
A WHITE AND BLESSED PEOPLE
(a) Activity Period: (About 15 minutes.) Prayer.—Roll Call—Consider ways of getting attendance of absent members.—Report of assignments performed.—Assignments for ensuing week.—Social and fraternal activities.—Instructions by Bishop.
(b) Lesson Period: (15 to 30 minutes.) Report of number who have read lesson.
Statement of Facts.
- The Lamanites, because of the iniquity of their fathers, were cursed with a skin of darkness.
- They became an idle and a loathsome people, shut off largely from the blessings of the Lord.
- Prayers have been offered by servants of the Lord for their restoration.
- It has been prophesied that they shall one day become a white and delightsome and blessed people.
- Whenever they have obeyed the Gospel in the past, their dark skin has been removed, and they have become fair and beautiful and civilized.
Argument.
When the Indians or Lamanites receive and obey the Gospel in our day and from henceforth, they shall become as white and blessed a people as any in the Church today. This will take place before many generations have passed.
A WHITE AND BLESSED PEOPLE
For their rebellion and iniquity in hardening their hearts against the Lord and his chosen spokesmen, the Lord caused a curse to come upon the Lamanites, and those who intermarried with them. Before thy had…
Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon ThinkBlack people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.orgMormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson -
Weren’t Not Racist
Image: Brigham Young
In 1855 Brigham Young said: “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…”[footnote]New York Herald, May 4, 1855, as cited in Dialogue, Spring 1973, p. 56 [/footnote]
Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon ThinkBlack people in Mormon doctrine – WikipediaStatements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious ToleranceRace and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.orgMormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. PetersonThe Way to Perfection – Curse of CainThe Improvement Era – December 1960
