The 1830 and most earlier editions said that the descendants of lehi would become a white and delightsome people. Lds scripture church drops dark and skin of blackness from lamanite descriptions. The change is not as the critics want to portray it a recent change designed to remove a racist original. White and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome jump to subtopic. In 1840, the white and delightsome of the original book of mormon text was changed by joseph smith to pure and delightsome in the third edition.
This was changed by joseph smith in 1840 to read that nephis descendants would become a pure and a delightsome people. When the church of jesus christ of latterday saints issued a new edition of the book of mormon in 1981, a change was made to the text of 2 nephi 30. What does white and delightsome people mean in the. Criticism of the church of jesus christ of latterday. In 1978, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon church. Until a few decades ago, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints taught that they shall be a white and a delightsome people, a phrase taken from the book of mormon. Many generations shall not pass away among them, save they. Mormons altering indian prophecy the new york times. Church members accept the book of mormon as holy scripture equivalent to the bible. First gabon baptisms, photo by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In referring to native americans indians the book of mormon says, and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and.
Church removes racial references in book of mormon headings. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome. Why was the phrase white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon. Book of mormon 1830 edition, 2 nephi, chapter xii, p.
Video this change was originally made in the 1840 edition, lost, and then restored again in the 1981 edition. Royal skousen, changes in the book of mormon royal skousen, restoring the original text of the book of mormon. The prophet joseph smith made an important textual emendation to this passage in the 1840 edition of the book of mormon, where the phrase a white and a delightsome people was changed to a pure and a delightsome people. The 1830 edition of the book of mormon had nephi prophesy that his descendants would become a white and a delightsome people through the gospel of jesus christ. The lamanites are one of the four ancient peoples described as having settled in the ancient americas in the book of mormon, a sacred text of the latter day. What does it mean to be a white and delightsome people. When mormons aspired to be a white and delightsome people september 18, 2017 dan peterson patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on. In 1981, the first presidency approved a change that adopted. While the mormon church leaders taught that indians were cursed with a dark skin they went a step further with regard to blacks.
In 1981, the lds church decided to change what joseph smith called the most correct of any book on earth by reverting to the wording of the lone 1840 edition. Larry echo hawk is leaving his position as assistant secretary of the interior for indian affairs after he was named to the church of jesus christ. Book of mormontextual changeswhite changed to pure. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Lucy smith, biographical sketches of joseph smith, the prophet, and his progen itors for many generations liverpool. A historian looks at the legacy of racism in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.