What did Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) mean when he said "Had I anything to do
...I would confine them by strict law to their own species"?
I heard according to Mormon history and authoritative Mormon teachers, the Ne.giro, as they are referred to, are a cursed race because they are not faithful to God in their first estate (the Prue-existent life with God). Hence, when they are born they are born in black skinned families.
http://familyfriendsfreedom.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/joseph-smith-said-had-i-anything-to-do-with-the-negro-i-would-confine-them/
http://www.ils.unc.edu/~unsworth/mormon/blackintermarriage.html
http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1000/cult.html
Quote reference:
Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., January 2, 1845, History of the Church, v. 5, pp. 21-218
Yeah, and Joseph Smith told them the skin of Native Americans was also a punishment. I see racism there, it's always bothered me, that's what kept me form converting when I was younger.
Joseph never said that in that context. You are mistaken. Joseph was compassionate to blacks in a time when America was not. This is one of the main reasons Missourri issued an extermination order on all Mormons. It was legal in that state to kill a Mormon just for being Mormon. They were located on the edge of the frontier and Lilburn Boggs and the others in the state government were very racist and hated Joseph because he was "sympathetic to NE.gros".
Go ahead and thumb me down. It was known that Missouri recognized that Joseph had black friends and they were afraid that he would start an abolitionist movement.
Here is the entire entry:
At five went to Mr. Sollars' with Elders Hyde and Richards. Elder Hyde inquired the situation of the NE.gro. I replied, they came into the world slave tally 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 NE.gro, 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 ne.gro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization.
In a time when blacks were badly mistreated, Joseph believed that they were just as much human as the rest of us and deserved the same respect as whites. This is not the only time he spoke of this. He lost many friends because of his views on blacks being equal to whites. It is one reason why missionaries did not fare well in the southern states. I know of missionaries that were killed in Tennessee because or their views.
Joseph Smith was a bigot. According to the Bible, Noah got drunk and while he was zonked, his son sneaked into his tent, saw him naked, and had homosexual sex with him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagerunken_noah.jpg
Noah was really hacked off when he woke up and realized what his son had done to him. He cursed him and put a mark on him. According to the Mormons, this meant that he turned him into a black person.
After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., Brigham Young, the church's second president, taught that people of African ancestry were under the curse of Ham. Young also taught that the day would come when the curse would be nullified through the saving powers of Jesus Christ.
In addition, based on his interpretation of the Book of Abraham, Young also believed that as a result of this curse, modern people of African descent were banned from receiving the Priesthood (although they were allowed to join the Church). Young believed the curse remained in people with even a single black ancestor.
In 1978, after meditating upon the stupidity of this position, President Spencer W. Kimball of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided to tell the world that he had received a revelation which officially extended the Priesthood to all worthy males including blacks.
Since 1978, both Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods are open to all men. For instance,Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15Th President of the LDS Church, was one of many leaders of the Church who strongly urged Mormons to stand against racism and get along with one another as children of God.
What Joseph Smith had said about the Native Americans was because it was written as a record that God preserved for the latter days. But he didn't meant it to be racist. In fact, Joseph Smith allowed priesthood to Elijah Able, who was an African American. Besides, when he ran for the candidate of the Presidential election, Smith introduced his plan to end slavery by buying slaves' freedom with money that came from the sale of public lands.
It seems that many believe that Mormons treated Native Americans as if they were inferior race. It isn't true. Mormons considered Native Americans as the lost Israelites whom they wanted to preach the Gospel. They weren't like other "Christians" who butchered them with all inhumane manners.
And finally, even Book of Mormon itself commands not to be biased based on the colors of skin.
"Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins"
-Jacob 3:9, The Book of Mormon-
Lil every time I think of "Mormons" and the "book of Mormon" I think of bats and Dracula because of the black dresses that their missionaries wear... and they ARE creepy.
I am not a Mormon, so I am sorry for answering, but I just had to clarify what Man in Black said! Lil
To Man in Black, that is NOT what the bible says!
Genesis 9:20?Now Noah started off as a farmer and proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21?And he began drinking of the wine and became intoxicated, and so he uncovered himself in the midst of his tent. 22?Later Ham the father of Ca?Nana saw his father?s nakedness and went telling it to his two brothers outside. 23?At that Shem and Ja?Heath took a mantle and put it upon both their shoulders and walked in backwards. Thus they covered their father?s nakedness, while their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father?s nakedness.
24?Finally Noah awoke from his wine and got to know what his youngest son had done to him. 25?At this he said:
?Cursed be Ca?Nana.
Let him become the lowest slave to his brothers.?
Why did Noah curse Canaan?
Very likely Canaan was guilty of some abuse or perversion against his grandfather Noah. Though Canaan?s father, Ham, witnessed this, he did not interfere but appears to have spread the story. However, Noah?s other two sons, Shem and Japheth, acted to cover their father. They were blessed for this reason, but Canaan was cursed, and Ham suffered as a result of the shame brought upon his offspring.
Omg! Noah's grandson actually was the one and he didn't have sex with him he just saw him naked and made fun of him which was a sin Genesis 10:20-28 They weren't to behold their parents naked Leviticus chapter 20 the whole chapter. Oh and it was Canaan his grandson that he cursed because his son Ham saw him naked. Because of this Canaan was cursed not the whole black race!
....what prove does he have (i.e. if this rumor is true)...religion sometimes can be sickening....about what we can say,,the black is even mostly beautiful, stronger and performs well when placed under good conditions.. and i prefer the word brown/ choc
Actually, those who were not faithful to God in their first estate never did receive a body, of ANY color.
There were a few church leaders who once thought that blacks were cursed because they were less valiant in the Prue-existence, but that was never church doctrine or belief.
You didn't even finish the sentence that Joseph Smith was saying. Did you do that on purpose? Here's the whole thing:'
"Had I anything to do with the neg.RI, I would confine them by strict law to their own species and put them on a national equalization.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 neg.RI, 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 off many of those they brush and wait on."
P.S. Joseph didn't say that quote in 1845 because he died in 1844.
These quotes are not ?out of context? they are from the prophets and Apostles own mouth.
NOTE:
President Brigham Young, answering a question put to him by Elder Lorenzo D. Young in a meeting held December 25, 1869, in Salt Lake City, said that Joseph Smith had declared that the Negroes were not neutral in heaven, for all the spirits took sides, but the posterity of Cain are black because he (Cain) committed murder.? The Way to Perfection, pages 105-106
According to the Book of Mormon, the church's sacred scripture, God darkens people who sin. This is the Mormon church's explanation for the color of the American Indians:
?...wherefore, as they were white, and exceeding fair and delight some, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a SKIN OF BLACKNESS to come upon them.?
(Book of Mormon, page 61, 2 Nephi 5, verse 21)
?And the skins of the Lamanites were DARK, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which WAS A CURSE upon them because of their transgression...? (Book of Mormon, page 201, Alma 3, verse 6)
?...for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a DARK, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us,...? (Book of Mormon, page 468, Mormon 5, verse 15)
The Book of Mormon, however, predicts that the Indians will repent of their sins and become white:
?...and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a WHITE AND DELIGHTSOME PEOPLE.?
(Book of Mormon, page 102, 2 Nephi 30, verse 6. (The word "WHITE" was changed to "PURE" in later editions of the Book of Mormon))
Before I read the answers, let me see...the statement was taken out of context, he was speaking as a man, not a prophet, it was never doctrine, you're misunderstanding the statement, or it was never said to begin with (it was just "hearsay.") : )
Smith was not the racist that Brigham Young was, but he was certainly not without bias.
ETA: Yes, black slaves could join the Mormon church in the early days, but they needed permission from their masters. Free blacks were allowed to join.
The church's initial position was to not interfere with slavery in any way. Smith's presidential campaign advocated the gradual abolition of slavery by the states themselves.
Compassion for slaves had almost nothing to do with the extermination order.
What did Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) mean when he said "Had I anything to do
runken_noah.jpg
