2 Nephi 5:20–25. The Lamanites Were Cursed

• Verses 20–25 in 2 Nephi 5 answer at least four
questions about the curse that came to the Lamanites:

1. What was the curse?
The curse is clearly defined in verse 20 as being “cut
off from the presence of the Lord.”

2. What caused the curse?
According to verse 21, the cause of the curse came
“because of their iniquity” and “hardened . . . hearts.”
Since the days of Adam’s Fall, wickedness has
resulted in being cut off from the presence of the
Lord (see 1 Nephi 2:21; 2 Nephi 4:4; 9:6; Alma 9:13;
Ether 10:11).

3. What was the mark or sign set upon the
Lamanites?
It is also explained in verse 21 that so “they might
not be enticing unto my people [the Nephites] the
Lord did cause a skin of blackness to come upon
them [the Lamanites].” It would appear that this was
done to limit the spreading of more wickedness.
Later Alma suggested this same motive when he
explained that “the skins of the Lamanites were
dark . . . that thereby the Lord God might preserve
his people, that they might not mix and believe
in incorrect traditions” (Alma 3:6, 8). Throughout
scripture we find warnings of the Lord not to marry
unbelievers (see Deuteronomy 7:2–3; 2 Corinthians
6:14); the result of doing so was often that the
righteous were turned away from the Lord (see
Deuteronomy 7:4; 1 Kings 11:4; D&C 74:5).

Some people have mistakenly thought that the
dark skin placed upon the Lamanites was the
curse. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972)
explained that the dark skin was not the curse:

“The dark skin was placed upon the Lamanites so
that they could be distinguished from the Nephites
and to keep the two peoples from mixing. The dark
skin was the sign of the curse [not the curse itself ].
The curse was the withdrawal of the Spirit of the
Lord. . . .

“The dark skin of those who have come into the
Church is no longer to be considered a sign of the
curse. . . . These converts are delightsome and have
the Spirit of the Lord” (Answers to Gospel Questions,
comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66],
3:122–23).

4. What was the result of the curse?
Finally in verse 24 we learn that the result of the
curse—being cut off from the presence of the
Lord—is that they “become an idle people, full of
mischief and subtlety.”

One great blessing is that the curse is only valid as
long as people are wicked. If they repent, the “curse
of God [will] no more follow them” (Alma 23:18).
There are many examples of righteous Lamanites
who repented and enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord; one
of them even became a prophet (see Helaman 13:5).

Book of Mormon Student Manual Chapter 8

I think blackness was used to reflect the state of their souls. What you are on the inside invariable is reflected on the outside... even if only seen in your countenance.

Fanciful speculation. Not unlike the one where Jesus drinks only grape juice. If a horse is a horse, skin is skin in the Book of Mormon.

I would think evaluation of spiritual works via temporal thinking is fanciful speculation.

Good point!

So, why were black men banned from the priesthood until 1978?

You really don't know the answer to this very basic question?

Try reading some actual history ... not found on hate forums..

It was about politics. Black owners didn't like the idea of their slaves thinking they had any status, station or authority... that was the original reason. Later of course the church leaders studying their scriptures found linage curses to be established in the OT... I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

I have studied this topic, so I am not opposed to spending some time and effort educating you. I was curious what your personal opinion was on the matter, as a starting point.

You really don't know the answer to this very basic question?

Try reading some actual history ... not found on hate forums..

It was about politics. Black owners didn't like the idea of their slaves thinking they had any status, station or authority... that was the original reason. Later of course the church leaders studying their scriptures found linage curses to be established in the OT... I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

You really don't know the answer to this very basic question?

Try reading some actual history ... not found on hate forums..

It was about politics.

Black owners didn't like the idea of their slaves thinking they had any status, station or authority...

that was the original reason.

Later of course the church leaders studying their scriptures found linage curses to be established in the OT... I'm hoping you are familiar with those.. cause it is a lot of work to educate..

LOL

Sooooo? I pretty much know all there is to know on the subject.

Actually, it appears you know nothing on the topic, but you are free to prove me wrong about that.

What did slaves not getting the priesthood have to do with free blacks not getting the priesthood? Why did black people continue to be banned from the temple and priesthood until 1978? Last time I checked slavery had been gone for a very long time.

It's sad that the Lord allowed such racial discrimination to persist in his church, isn't it?

1) A black skin
2) A red skin
3) the Lamanites were "tanned" because they ran around naked
4) a metaphor
5) a "black patch" on the skin (like a tribal tatoo)

August 17, 1949


The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? it comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the Law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."


President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: "The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have."


The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege of is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.


The First Presidency

“Is there reason then why the type of birth we receive in this life is not a reflection of our WORTHINESS OR LACK OF IT in the pre-existent life?...can we account in any other of way for the birth of some of the children of God in darkest AFRICA, or in flood-ridden CHINA, or among the starving hordes of INDIA, while some of the rest of us are born here in the United States? We cannot escape the conclusion that because of performance in our pre-existence some of us are born as Chinese, some as Japanese, some as Indians, some as Negroes, some as Americans, some as Latter-day Saints. THESE ARE REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS, fully in harmony with His established policy in dealing with SINNERS AND SAINTS, rewarding all according to their deeds....

“Let us consider the great mercy of God for a moment. A Chinese, born in China with A DARK SKIN, and with all the handicaps of that race seems to have little opportunity. But think of the mercy of God to Chinese people who are willing to accept the gospel. IN SPITE OF WHATEVER THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE IN THE PRE-EXISTENCE TO JUSTIFY BEING BORN OVER THERE AS CHINAMEN, if they now, in this life, accept the gospel and live it the rest of their lives they can have the Priesthood, go to the temple and receive endowments and sealings, and that means they can have exaltation. Isn't the mercy of God marvelous?

“Think of the Negro, CURSED AS TO THE PRIESTHOOD.... This negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a BLACK SKIN, and possibly being born in darkest Africa—if that negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. IN SPITE OF ALL HE DID IN THE PRE-EXISTENT LIFE, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there AS A SERVANT, but he will get celestial glory.”

I pretty much know all there is to know on the subject.