The Book of Mormon: A Perspective on Race
Some consider the Book of Mormon a racist document. Yet which race does it extol, and which race does it condemn?
Consider the Book of Mormon and its message: who are the victors, and who are destroyed?
The Nephites
- Who was blessed beyond belief, and yet rebelled against God? The Nephites
- Who was told of the adultery in their hearts while their enemies were not? The Nephites
- Who took vengeance into their own hands after almost winning a defensive war — then failed in their pride? The Nephites
- Who was cut off from the face of the earth with every single living recorded person being killed? The Nephites
- Who was even more wicked than their enemies, raping, murdering, and eating their enemies? The Nephites
- Who were taught of their fathers to obey God, to obey his commandments, and do right — then refused? The Nephites
The Lamanites
- Who was victorious in the end and inherited the promised land? The Lamanites
- Who will once again in the end tread down the Gentiles and destroy them if they don’t repent? The Lamanites
- Who are Israelites — the Chosen people of God — and whose seed will be remembered? The Lamanites
- Who will be restored to Favor with God, and who will be given the promised land in the end? The Lamanites
- Who are often the most righteous of all the Book of Mormon people? The Lamanites
- Who were so diligent, so strong, and defiant that they would rather die than shed the blood of their enemies? The Lamanites
- Who had it said of them that they had such great love shown among any people? The Lamanites
- Who was told that the only reason they were wicked was because of the traditions of their fathers? The Lamanites
A Triumph and a Message
After all, in the Book of Mormon, the dark-skinned race rose in triumph from the ashes of a massive civil war and were blessed to inherit the promised land, destroying the lighter-skinned race, overcoming them utterly. Furthermore, although they will be scourged by the incoming Gentile nations, in the end they are promised that they will rise from the ashes triumphant over them.
In fact, the message of the Book of Mormon speaking of Indians during that time is extraordinary. It is a ruthlessly tragic narrative that chronicles the total and complete destruction of the white race and foresees the epic triumphant victory of the dark race, both in the past and in the future.
Conclusion
The Book of Mormon is not just sympathetic to the dark-skinned race — it grants them total and complete dominance over the white race in every way: in conquest, in God’s esteem, and in future ownership of their promised land.
Surely… a racist document but not the race many consider.