The Book of Mormon, published in 1830, includes a story in the Book of Alma regarding Captain Moroni invoking the symbol of Joseph’s torn garment. He uses that symbol to motivate his people “to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain” (Alma 46:23). The opposite of being a slave is having liberty. Moroni was aware of Joseph’s coat being torn [rent] from source records other than the Holy Bible and invokes this symbol of being “sold” as a slave to making a covenant for liberty.
Here we have an example of the Book of Jasher providing additional facts that are corroborated by modern scripture and the corollary—that the Book of Mormon contains an identical detail not available in published records. The Sefer haYasher manuscript (the Book of Jasher), found in the ruins of Jerusalem during its destruction in 70 A.D. then translated into English in 1840, contains this important detail in the Book of Mormon:
“Moroni said unto them: “Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain. Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—‘Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.’” (Alma 46:23-24) By David Hocking Executive Editor of the Annotated Edition of the Book of Mormon.
We are All His!
“My brothers and sisters of the rising generation of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, I love you. I want to help you. Since I cannot meet with you individually as I would love to do, I must try to help you through teaching correct principles and trying to help you follow them.
Love is fundamental. When President Kevin J Worthen spoke to this student body seven weeks ago, he expressed an important hope, which I share:
I hope that in the coming year each of you can feel in greater measure God’s love for you individually. At those times when you wonder if anyone cares—or if anyone should care—I invite you to ask God what He thinks of you—what He really thinks of you.[1] The Universe, September 15-21, 2020, 1
I remind you that the love of God for His children and the love of His Son, the Savior who atoned for our sins, are incomprehensible. Joseph Smith helped us understand and apply this love in our own lives. He taught:
While one portion of the human race [is] judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and parental regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2007), 404.
That teaching, together with the Lord’s commandment to “love your enemies….and pray for them which despitefully use you,”[3] have application in all political campaigns. I will say no more of elections, except to reaffirm the political neutrality described in our recent letter. I urge you to treat others with civility and respect, and to vote! 3- Matthew 5:44; see Dallin H. Oaks, “Love Your Enemies,” Sub title added. Ensign, November 2020 Racism and Other Challenges Pres Oaks
Joseph Smith Loved All
“While [Joseph was] acting as mayor of the city, a colored man named Anthony was arrested for selling liquor on Sunday, contrary to law. He pleaded that the reason he had done so was that he might raise the money to purchase the freedom of a dear child held as a slave in a Southern State. . . . Joseph said, ‘I am sorry, Anthony, but the law must be observed, and we will have to impose a fine.’ The next day Brother Joseph presented Anthony with a fine horse, directing him to sell it, and use the money obtained for the purchase of the child. (Mary Frost Adams, “Joseph Smith, the Prophet,” Young Woman’s Journal, December 1906, as quoted in Hyrum L. Andrus, Joseph Smith, the Man and the Seer (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1960), 33.)
On April 7, 1844, Joseph Smith arose at his final General Conference and delivered what many believe to be his greatest sermon. His topic, the relationship of man and God, transformed the understanding of members of the restored church. That same day, John Brown, a missionary in Mississippi, noted in his diary that “we ordained two elders the same day, brother James M. Flake & Washing[ton] N. Cook. I also baptized two black men, Allen & Green, belonging to Brother Flake.” John Brown, Reminiscences and Journals, April 3-7, 1844, p. 27, microfilm of holograph, MS 1636, LDS Church History Library.
“The first Sabbath after our arrival in Jackson county, Brother W. W. Phelps preached to a western audience over the boundary of the United States, wherein were present specimens of all the families of the earth; Shem, Ham and Japheth; several of the Lamanites or Indians–representative of Shem; quite a respectable number of negroes–descendants of Ham; and the balance was made up of citizens of the surrounding country, and fully represented themselves as pioneers of the West. At this meeting two were baptized, who had previously believed in the fulness of the Gospel.” HC 1:191 The First Sabbath in Zion.
Native American Racism
“…When…first commanded to testify of these things they [The Three Witness] demurred and told the Lord the people would not believe them for the book concerning which they were to bear record told of a people who were educated and refined, dwelling in large cities; whereas all that was then known of the early inhabitants of this country was the filthy, lazy, degraded and ignorant savages that were roaming over the land. The Lord told us, in reply that he would make it known to the people that the early inhabitants of this land had been just such a people as they were described in the book, and he would lead them to discover the ruins of great cities, and they should have abundant evidence of the truth of that which is written in the book…” – David Whitmer, Interview with James H. Hart (Richmond, Mo., 21 August 1883), as printed in Deseret Evening News, Salt Lake City, Utah as published in Annotated Book of Mormon by David Hocking and Rod Meldrum page 560.
The beautiful 5 minute song below titled “We Shall Remain” is beautiful and was shared by Betty Red Ant LaFontaine who of course loves this song as well. Native Americans do remain and we are thankful for them
Native Americans are a Blessed People
“The Book of Mormon is a record of the aborigines of this continent [America] . . . it gives an account of the first settlement of this land by the seed of Israel.” 1841 “Dialogues on Mormonism,” Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, July 15, 1841
“We shall now introduce much circumstantial evidence, from American antiquities, and from the traditions of the natives, etc.
First, says Mr. Boudinot: “It is said among their principal or beloved men, that they have it handed down from their ancestors, that the book which the white people have, was once theirs: that while they had it they prospered exceedingly, etc. They also say, that their fathers were possessed of an extraordinary Divine Spirit, by which they foretold future events, and controlled the common course of nature; and this they transmitted to their offspring, on condition of their obeying the sacred laws; that they did, by these means, bring down showers of blessings upon their beloved people; but that this power, for a long time past, had entirely ceased.” Colonel James Smith, in his journal, while a prisoner among the natives, says: “They have a tradition, that in the beginning of this continent, the angels or heavenly inhabitants, as they call them, frequently visited the people, and talked with their forefathers, and gave directions how to pray.”
Mr. Boudinot, in his able work, remarks concerning their language: “Their language, in its roots, idiom, and particular construction, appears to have the whole genius of the Hebrew; and what is very remarkable, and well worthy of serious attention, has most of the peculiarities of that language.” There is a tradition related by an aged Indian, of the Stockbridge tribe, that their fathers were once in possession of a “Sacred Book,” which was handed down from generation to generation; and at last hid in the earth, since which time they had been under the feet of their enemies. But these oracles were to be restored to them again; and then they would triumph over their enemies, and regain their rights and privileges.” Quoted from A Voice of Warning An introduction to the faith and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chapter IV by Parley P. Pratt
“There is a book review in the Times and Seasons of Charles Blancher Thompson’s book, Evidence in Proof of the Book of Mormon, printed in Batavia, New York, in 1841. Concerning mention of antiquities of the eastern United States in the book, the reviewer states: “the people whose history is contained in the Book of Mormon, are the authors of these works.” 1842 Times and Seasons 1 Jan. 1842, pp. 640-644
“In this important and interesting book the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement . . . to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. . . . The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country.” 1842 Joseph Smith, Jr The Times and Seasons 3 (1 March 1842), pp. 707-8 History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4:537-8
See my blog about the BOOK spoken of throughout Native American History, that we believe refers to the Book of Mormon Here: https://www.bofm.blog/the-indians-lost-book-of-god/
The Adversary Hates Marriage
Recently I read with interest feature articles that appeared in five widely circulated American publications. All presented information regarding the subject of women’s liberation.
Several of the articles called attention to the fact that 1970 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the right of women to vote in the United States. And from this base came a description of the goals and demands that are now being made by some women: free abortion, free child care, and equal employment.
One piece suggested that women should literally demand these things. This article then went on to describe much of Friedrich Engles’ philosophy. Engles, you will recall, was a colleague of Karl Marx and spoke out with irony and force against much of family life. He referred to marriage as a dreary mutation of slavery, urged its abolition, and suggested a public responsibility for the upbringing of children.
In another magazine there was a report dealing with “The Motherhood Myth.” This article debunked the idea that there is anything particularly fulfilling and satisfying about being a mother. It quoted one psychiatrist who suggested that people should move from planned parenthood to planned unparenthood and that it would be more loving to children not to have them. The author of the article, a senior editor of the magazine, concluded: “If God were still speaking to us in a voice we could hear, even He would probably say, ‘Be fruitful. Don’t multiply.’”
Such idiotic and blatantly false philosophy must not be entertained or believed. For God has spoken. Indeed, he has spoken in a voice clearly understood by those who have ears to hear and hearts that know and feel…
What the modernists, even the liberationists, fail to remember is that women, in addition to being persons, also belong to a sex, and that with the differences in sex are associated important differences in function and behavior. Equality of rights does not imply identity of functions. As Paul the apostle declared: “… neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 11:11.)” The Women’s Movement: Liberation or Deception? By Elder Thomas S. Monson Of the Council of the Twelve
Racism and Other Challenges
“I remind you that the love of God for His children and the love of His Son, the Savior who atoned for our sins, are incomprehensible. Joseph Smith helped us understand and apply this love in our own lives. He taught:
“While one portion of the human race [is] judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and parental regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men.”[2]
That teaching, together with the Lord’s commandment to “love your enemies….and pray for them which despitefully use you,”[3] have application in all political campaigns. I will say no more of elections, except to reaffirm the political neutrality described in our recent letter. I urge you to treat others with civility and respect, and to vote…” Oct 27, 2020 Racism and Other Challenges By President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency Full Article Here:
Watch a fantastic video about overcoming racism from our last FIRM Foundation Conference below:
Don’t Subvert our Republic
“It is a part of our “Mormon” theology that the Constitution of the United States was divinely inspired; that our Republic came into existence through wise men raised up for that very purpose. We believe it is the duty of the members of the Church to see that this Republic is not subverted either by any sudden or constant erosion of those principles which gave this Nation its birth.
In these days when there is a special trend among certain groups, including members of faculties of universities, to challenge the principles upon which our country has been founded and the philosophy of our Founding Fathers, I hope that Brigham Young University will stand as a bulwark in support of the principles of government as vouchsafed to us by our Constitutional Fathers.” Source: Letter to Ernest L. Wilkinson 2
Black Lives Matter by Pres Oaks
“The recent nationwide protests were fueled by powerful feelings that this country suffers from and must abolish racism. Let us consider what racism is, some of its history and evil effects, and its separate manifestations in civil law and policy. But first I refer briefly to the incident that precipitated the current discussion on racism.
The shocking police-produced death of George Floyd in Minnesota last May was surely the trigger for these nationwide protests, whose momentum was carried forward under the message of “Black Lives Matter.” Of course, Black lives matter! That is an eternal truth all reasonable people should support. Unfortunately, that persuasive banner was sometimes used or understood to stand for other things that do not command universal support. Examples include abolishing the police or seriously reducing their effectiveness or changing our constitutional government. All these are appropriate subjects for advocacy, but not under what we hope to be the universally acceptable message: Black lives matter.
Now I speak of the subject that commands our attention—racism. Dictionaries typically define racism as involving the idea that one’s own race is superior to others and has the right to rule over them.[8] This idea has led to many racist laws and administrative policies.
Some religious people have sought to justify practices of racism by references to the Bible, as I will discuss later. Nevertheless, the proper understanding of scriptures—ancient and modern—and recent prophetic statements help us to see that racism—as defined—is not consistent with the revealed word of God.[9] We know that God created all mortals and we are all children of God. Moreover, God created us with the differences that identify races. Therefore, any personal attitudes or official practices of racism involve one group whom God created exercising authority or advantage over another group God created, both groups having God-given qualities they cannot change. So understood, neither group should think or behave as if God created them as first-class children and others as second-class children. Yet that is how racism affects thinking and practices toward others. Latter-day Saints must remember that all such attitudes and official practices were outlawed for us by the Lord’s 1833 revelation to the prophet Joseph Smith “that it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another” (D&C 101:79).
With this background, I was thrilled to hear President Nelson include a powerful doctrinal condemnation of racism and prejudice in his talk at general conference. He said, “I grieve that our Black brothers and sisters the world over are enduring the pains of racism and prejudice.” That was his focus, but he expanded its impact by teaching this principle: “God does not love one race more than another.” Thus, we condemn racism by any group toward any other group worldwide. President Nelson emphasized that point by saying, “Favor or disfavor with God is dependent upon your devotion to God and His commandments, and not the color of your skin.”[10]
Those authoritative statements from our prophet are very timely, but they simply clarify statements he has been making frequently in the past.
Thus, at a press conference following his historic invited address to the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 2019, President Nelson explained “that a fundamental doctrine and heartfelt conviction of our religion is that all people are God’s children. We truly believe that we are brothers and sisters—all part of the same divine family.”[11]
More recently, following the initial protests of the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, he declared:
We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent events of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic freedoms because of the color of his or her skin. …”
Be One
The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent![12]
These statements by our prophet are eloquently summed up by what he said in our “Be One” celebration on June 1, 2018. Our gospel understanding of the “true brotherhood of man and the true sisterhood of women … inspires us with passionate desire to build bridges of cooperation instead of walls of segregation.”[13] That is what we need for our future—for our nation, for our world, and for our individual divine destinies.
So, what do we do now? In general conference President Russell M. Nelson “call[ed] upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice toward any group of God’s children.” Earlier this year, President Nelson joined with three top leaders of the NAACP (Derrick Johnson, Leon Russell, and the Rev. Amos C. Brown) in a powerful joint statement which declared that “solutions will come as we … work to build bonds of genuine friendship, and as we see each other as the brothers and sisters we are—for we are all children of a loving God.”[14]
Racism Today and Anciently
As we go forward on that path, furthering our prophet’s plea to “abandon attitudes and actions of prejudice,” we are helped by understanding what racism is and something of its history.
There are many examples of racism in recent American history. The examples most familiarly reported by the media today are those that victimize Black Americans. These include the police brutality and other systemic discrimination in employment and housing publicized recently. Racism is still recognizable in official and personal treatment of Latinos and Native Americans. Less familiar in our day is American’s history of racism against Asians, which began with Chinese immigrants who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad. It was not until a century ago that Native Americans were considered U.S. citizens and Asians were allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship.[15]
Less than a century ago, the world experienced terrible tragedies not usually called racism but surely were extreme examples of this. The Holocaust, where German Nazis sought to exterminate Jews, is the most obvious. Another example of racism was the Hutu tribal majority in Rwanda murdering about 800,000 of the Tutsi tribal minority. Other examples of ethnic cleansing or genocide based on ethnicity or tribal differences could be cited.
Current efforts to identify and eliminate personal and official racism are best accomplished if we understand its relationship to scriptural references in the Old Testament and even the New Testament. As believers relying on scriptural history, we can be troubled and misled by Bible-recorded scriptural directions or traditions that may be viewed as racist or discriminatory by modern definition. For example, within the tribes of Israel, only members of the tribe of Levi were accepted for service in the temple.[16] The Israelites were forbidden to marry the Canaanites and some others of surrounding lands.[17] The direction for Jews not to associate with Samaritans was because of their partial descent from non-Israelite peoples.[18]
Most importantly, the gospel was not to be taught to Gentiles (non-Israelites). Jesus Himself affirmed that restriction in strong language (“not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs”[19]), but then made an exception for a faith-filled mother.[20] During His mortal ministry Jesus reversed the prohibition against associating with the Samaritans,[21] and by revelation after His mortal life He revoked the prohibition against taking the gospel to the Gentiles.[22] But these and other restrictions remain in scriptural history.
Using current definitions, some might call such divine actions and prophet-taught principles racist, but God, who is the loving Father of all nations, tribes, and ethnicities,[23] cannot be branded as racist for His dealings with His children. Often the reasons for His plan are not known or understandable to mortals. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,” He said through the Prophet Isaiah, “neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8).
Some have rejected some element of God’s plan as unreasonable according to cultural norms they could understand or accept.[24] Others, who have accepted God’s plan, have mistakenly relied on cultural norms to provide reasons God has not revealed.[25] Thus, both non-believers and believers can reject or attempt to amend divine plans by relying on cultural norms instead of the directions of God. The safest course is not to reject or supplement the divine plan by human reasoning. Those who cannot accept the prophetic decisions and practices of the past should consider Winston Churchill’s wise counsel quoted earlier: “[I]f we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.”
Now, with prophetic clarification, let us all heed our prophet’s call to repent, to change, and to improve. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can unite and bring peace to people of all races and nationalities. We who believe in that gospel—whatever our origins—must unite in love of each other and of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I love you, my brothers and sisters, and I want to help you. I invite each of you to accept the invitation repeated in our October conference to become more Christlike. That is not merely to speak of Christ or think of Him or try to copy His actions. We become Christlike when we have achieved what the Apostle Paul called “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Then we will look at others and love them and act toward them as Christ would do and as He desires us to do. With God’s help we can do this, I know and testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen”. Oct 27, 2020 Racism and Other Challenges By President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency (The main part of this article has been edited but kept in the same order by editors only addition of sub titles. The other words are exact quotes. from Pres Oaks.) Full Article Here:
Read my blog about the racist program in schools called Critical Race Theory. Here: https://www.bofm.blog/trump-ends-trainings-on-white-privilege-and-critical-race-theory/
Study Correct Political Principles
“As we have progressed the mist has been removed, and in relation to these matters, the Elders of Israel begin to understand that they have something to do with the world politically as well as religiously, that it is as much their duty to study correct political principles as well as religious, and to seek to know and comprehend the social and political interests of man, and to learn and be able to teach that which would be best calculated to promote the interests of the world.” ( Source: Journal of Discourses 9:340 )
Purge Iniquity
In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on September 11, 1831, the Lord charged every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the duty to judge and purge iniquity from the Church:
Behold, I, the Lord, have made my church in these last days like unto a judge sitting on a hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations.
For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertaining to Zion.
And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.” D&C 64:37-39
