And I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.. If you have family or friends who cannot get Heart through television, give them a call and tell them to go to WWW.HOTM.TV. And they can watch through streaming video from anywhere in the world!

We’re really excited about the prospects that 2010 is bringing here on Heart of the Matter. Why? We’re going to do an alphabetized topical examination of how the LDS use the Bible to justify their errant doctrines and practices while at the same time proving what the Bible actually says about it all. One week we’ll discuss apostles, the next Baptism and the next baptism for the dead, etc. etc. We think that these programs will actually do more to show how Mormonism is not Christian than anything we have done in the past. I will do my best to just teach what the Word says on these topics. You do your best to prove me wrong. Stay tuned and spread the word.

Engaging with Communities

I had the blessed opportunity to be a guest pastor at Sandy Ridge Community Church this past week. It was wonderful to be able to meet up with the folks out there and study God’s word. More and more we are receiving invitations from churches large and small to guest speak about the miracle of this ministry and how the Lord is working. Sometimes we speak during the week, sometimes on a Sunday. It’s up to the pastor.

If you would like to arrange such a visit, have your pastor give us a call at: 1 888. Or he can email us at shawn@alatheaministries.com for more detailed information. In many cases, it is up to our viewers and fans to make these church events happen. So far, they have been a win/win for this ministry and the Churches involved.

Emotionalism and Truth

I recently had a supporter of the ministry share an insight she had when she was a member of the LDS church. She said, “You know, as I was flying to go on my mission in London, England, and I had this great feeling of appreciation for my country overcome me.” She went on to identify this feeling as patriotism but realized, at the same time, that it was the very same feeling she had for her own family. Then, even as a young missionary, she said that she realized she could not tell the difference between these emotional responses she felt toward her nation and her family and those she had for the church. It was all one and the same – based in emotion.

It was at this point on her full-time mission that she realized there was no difference, within Mormonism, between the feelings of patriotism, and for family, and the way she had taught to discern Truth – through good feelings. And even at this young age she realized something was wrong – because feelings can be sooooo misleading as they produce allegiance to things regardless of whether they are true or not.

I can’t help but think of people in my life who have said things like, “I’m unsure about the divinity of Jesus, but I know the Church is true.” This is the result of emotionalism. In the same vein someone could easily say, “I don’t believe in God, but God bless America, land that I love!” When emotions do both the convincing and are the motivation, truth and right are irrelevant.

Adolph Hitler used mighty emotionalism to create a nationalist fervor among the Germans. Swelling patriotism. A strong sense of a master race family. And with this, he also got many people to believe and do some very bad things.

A few days ago I caught a program on a flight from California about the Coca Cola company. In it, the host described Coca Cola’s marketing strategy as being one where they sought to tap into the most emotional elements of a person's life – their patriotism, their families, being in love. They seek to produce a lump in the throat – the kind we get when we see a commercial of Mean Joe Green giving some kid his towel – because the kid thought enough on the hero to pass him an ice-cold Coke after a game. The program went on to make comparisons to the marketing tactics of McDonald’s, Hallmark, and the travel and tourism industry. All of them using

Imagery and Perception

touching imagery. Emotional phraseology. Soft and lilting music. Heavenly lighting. Family. And Images of Love.

“there’s hope in their words, And emotion in their eyes, It’s so easy to be mislead by their sad and gentle guise, And like fools we trust the delivery But it’s all just drunk sincerity.”

It’s Disney, Coca Cola, McDonald’s, and my friends, its Mormonism.

Imagine for a moment, the God of the Old Testament wiping a guy out for touching something in order to be helpful. Imagine Isaiah walking around naked or Elisha cursing the forty-two children and two she-bears coming out of the wood and ripping them apart. Picture John the Baptist – filthy, unshaven, and standing there in a camels hair coat ripping the heads off grasshoppers with his teeth. Think of Jesus and hear the sounds of the whip tearing at his back, the pounding of nails through His hands, the blood, the dirt, the suffering.

My friends, God does NOT speak to us like a Mormon or McDonald’s commercial. He speaks to us through His word. Through truth. By the cross.

Understanding True Peace

Remember, Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, give I unto you.” Not . . . as the WORLD gives. And with this, let’s have a prayer.

PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER

Racism in Religious Context

We are going to finish the year out – God willing – by examining “The Role of Racism in Mormonism.” By endeavoring to examine “the role of Racism in Mormonism,” there is more at stake than just looking at the doctrines and attitudes of the past within the religion.

We must also asked: “If racism actually played a part in the establishment of Mormonism, have those seeds been eradicated from its spiritual foundations or does it continue to live on today?” Also, we need to ask, “How trust-worthy is the spiritual leadership of the LDS prophets, who, at one time, not only condoned but promoted racism within the ranks of the LDS, but now, refute it?”

We must ask, “How can a Latter-day Saint know the spiritual advice they are getting today – which is supposed to be eternal – will not also be refuted in the future?” And finally, we might ask, “What is at the core of racism? And does the Bible support racism, bigotry, or exclusion since Jesus came and broke down the veil with the Good News?” We’ll try and answer these, and other questions, over the course of the next few weeks.

GRAPHIC: “The Role of Racism in Mormonism.”

LDS Scriptures and Racism

In order to really get a handle on racism within the LDS Church, we must go to their scriptures – particularly, the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. From these modern “revelations” which are received as “being of God” by most believing LDS, we find the earliest seeds of racism present.

In the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi 13:15, a vision is recited by one of the main characters in the book, and in his description he says: “And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; (READY?) and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people, before they were slain.” The line that the Gentiles seen in this vision were, “white and exceedingly fair and beautiful” is key to understanding the mindset of early Mormonism relative to race. White was akin to beautiful and worthy. Dark was akin to ugly and rebellious.

Later in the Book of Mormon, it describes what God did when He divided the bad sons of a family from the good ones: “And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity, for behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto flint, wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people, the Lord did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.” 2nd Nephi 5:21

Notice the correlation between the “hardness of their hearts” and the color of their skin. And that in order to keep the good from being “enticed” by the hard-hearted, God caused a what? “A skin of blackness to come upon them.”

Later, in the Book of Mormon, in Jacob, the writer describes the Lamanite people (who were the darken skins descendants of a BOM character named Laman) by saying: “Behold the Lamanites, your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which

Racism in Scriptural Teachings

Got that? Then two verses later, the writer shares a “concern” he has for his white-skinned people, saying:

“O my brethren, I fear that unless you repent of your sins that their skins” (referring to the evil Lamanites) “. . . that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.”

So here, in the Book of Mormon, the supposed ancient writer feared that unless his white brethren repented, the skin of their evil brethren would become whiter than theirs.

Dark skin = evil and unrepentant! White skin = good and humble!

The Mark and Curse

In the BOM Alma, chapter 3:6-9, the writer explains what evil existed in the Lamanites that originally caused their skin to go from white to black. It says:

“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 and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.”

And then later, toward the end of the Book of Mormon, in 3rd Nephi 2:14-16, the writer describes an amazing dermatological event that was occurring in the land. It says:

“And it came to pass that those Lamanites (those are the dark-skinned people) who united with the Nephites and were numbers among the Nephites (the Nephites were the white and delightsome people) their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and were numbered among the Nephites.”

Scriptural Racism

So, here in the Mormons' most important spiritual book, there is a teaching that dark loathsome people, who are dark because of the hardness of their hearts, can and will in fact become white and delightsome if they join the side of the spiritually enlightened.

This is in the Book of Mormon. And here is one of the main points for the racism that existed, and continues to exist, in Mormonism yesterday and today.

Got that? Okay. Those Book of Mormon passages set the racist stage for the Indians – and most other people of color.

Then there is another scriptural reference which gave and gives life to racism in Mormonism past and present. It is found in a short reference in the Book of Moses, which is Joseph Smith’s re-translation of the biblical book of Genesis and which is included in the LDS book of scripture they call the Pearl of Great Price. The reference, found in Moses 7:22 reads:

“And Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them.”

From this “scripture,” also provided by Joseph Smith, skin color was once again used as a barometer for righteousness – but this time, the black skin – or the mark – came from the sinful loins of Cain. These are the primary scriptural sources within Mormonism that have to do with skin tone – with the Book of Mormon passages referring to the Indians and the book of Moses referring to black folks.

Now, take these two skin pigmentary positions and then we have to add a third influential factor that came from another popular teaching originating from one of Joseph Smith’s fanciful revelations. This one is found in the Book of Abraham, which is also located in the LDS book of scripture called The Pearl of Great Price.

In the Book of Abraham, 3:22, there are writings that talk about there being “great and noble ones” who lived in a pre-mortal existence before coming to earth and gaining bodies. According to Joseph Smith, he learned while looking at some old papyrus that Father Abraham had a vision of this pre-existence, and saw a premortal grand council where all these “great and noble ones” were gathered together.

Speaking of this great council and the great and noble spirits that were invited to participate, recently deceased LDS apostle Neil A Maxwell wrote (in “But for a small miracle,” pg. 93):

“Brother Joseph (Smith) was chosen for the last dispensation or seventh dispensation. At that time, the grand council set in heaven to organize this world, Joseph (Smith) was chosen to be the last and greatest prophet to lay the foundation of God’s work of the seventh dispensation.”

Examining Racism in LDS Teachings

“Revelation” of Joseph Smith’s contribute to it’s racist position?

Well, if there were many “great and noble” ones in the pre-mortal existence, then there must have also been “lowly and not-so-noble” ones too. And guess who they would be, once they came to earth? Anyone who didn’t have white and delightful skin! So, to summarize for simplicity, what we have in place that has fostered a tremendous and long living racist mentality among the LDS is:

The belief that skin color and righteousness are linked – as taught in the Book of Mormon and the Book of Moses.
The idea that Indian folk have a dark skin because of the curse placed on their forefathers due to being evil and that black people have a curse on their skin because of the evil nature of their forefather, Cain.
Finally, the idea that if there were great and noble souls who existed before the world was (like Joseph Smith) there must also have been LESS than noble souls – souls who deserved a lesser life here on earth – souls who deserved a dark skin based on their lives and actions in the pre-existence.

So there’s the scriptural foundation from which LDS racism grew. And boy, did it ever grow!

Modern Defenses of Racism

Now, let me briefly speak to several modern defenses the LDS use to justify their racism of the past – and I believe present. I once used these defenses as an LDS missionary for the Church and as an active member thereafter. Why? They were handy, ready-made statements of convenience that I never really took the time to think about then. But I have now.

The first line of defense that is often used says something to the effect that: “God Himself could be called a racist because of His dealings with ancient Israel! I mean, He only allowed the literal descendents of Aaron to hold the priesthood, right?” Now listen carefully. There is a big difference between God saying ONLY a specific small line of men could perform the priesthood duties in the temple, and God saying “Everyone can perform these duties except black people!” The arguments are not one and the same. It is not racist to exclude all people but one type from doing certain things. It is racist to include all people but one from doing certain things. Get the difference?

Persisting Beliefs in Present-Day LDS

Another defense – used frequently today – is that the ban was lifted in 1978. “So why worry about it now? I mean, we’re loving today toward the blacks and Indians, Shawn. Look around, we even adopt them into our homes!” First of all, just like the doctrine of polygamy, the doctrine and teachings on skin tone and pre-existence are STILL present in what you accept as scripture! Who cares what you allow. What do you believe in your heart of hearts? Second, the seeds are still present today in the hearts of the majority of Latter-day Saints who have been members since before 1978 – or people over 35 years of age who have been raised in the Church. And these people are the ones who for the most part fill the leadership positions of the current church. I would therefore suggest that these racist ideas are still alive and well – as they cannot be helped but be passed from the old guard to the new.

Finally, there has never been an apology. Just justifications and fallacious reasonings about why racism was allowed to run amok in Mormonism. How a black person – or a brown or yellow or red or “deeply suntanned individual” could ever feel comfortable in this religion KNOWING full well that the teachings are still in place – and no apology has ever been given – is beyond me . . . unless these people of color accept the doctrines as true!

Once the teachings of Joseph Smith that skin color was a result of personal righteousness both here and in the make-believe pre-mortal existence, the stage was set to start excluding certain races and people from being totally accepted into the religion – all because of the color of their skin.

Now, early on in the religion, Joseph Smith, I presume unaware of God’s view on black men and the priesthood, actually gave a black man, Elijah Abel, the priesthood and ordained him to being what the LDS called a “seventy” in the church. Some members today use this as evidence of the prophet’s magnanimous heart, and others say he hadn’t receive the fullness of the gospel yet. But the 11th president of the Church, Harold B. Lee addressed the

Curse of Cain Myth

Situation in a speech given April 19th 1961 at BYU. Lee was an ardent proponent of the curse of Cain myth and the idea that our actions in a pre-existence determined our place and skin color in this life. This is what he said relative to Joseph Smith ordaining Elijah Abel back in the day:

(READ QUOTE)

I’m going to leave off with Joseph having ordained one black man wrongly. Next week we’ll continue forward, and hear what his teachings on skin color did to the minds of MILLIONS who believed themselves righteous – and white.

Questioning Racial Narratives

Before we go to the phones, we have to ask ourselves some reasonable questions.

First, what kind of God makes changes to the skin pigmentation of people – from white and pure to dark and loathing – based on their attitudes, actions, and ideals? The Willy-Wonka God? Come on.

And why hasn’t God used this “pigmentology practice” on any other peoples throughout the history of world culture?

How come Nazi Germans remained white and delightsome? Why did the the Bolshivecks stay pale? The Manson Family? Old Charley Manson is even today white as a toilet seat. You see, the racial explanations Joseph included in the Book of Mormon were couched in the back wooded ideals of his day – and he included them in order to provide answers – no matter how ridiculous they appeared. America was getting settled and suddenly the white folk discovered all these red-skinned savages roaming about their back yards in loin cloths. “Damn, where on earth did these red folks a-come from!”

Joseph Smith's Racial Theories

Enter Joseph Smith who, having borrowed from popular theories already bantered around in his day and age, was willing to suggest some theories – and then claim they came from God! Now, I’m uncertain as to what the percentages of the world are relative to skin color, but I would guess that at least 80% of the world is not “white and delightsome.” So, while not only giving the people an fairly fanciful answer, Joseph gave whitey an ethnocentrically pleasing response, one which not only made all “white” people delightsome, and all “dark” people loathsome, but told them they were this way based on their own pre-mortal righteousness. Gosh this was appealing. “We really are, better, aren’t we?” Those Arian guys up in northern Idaho do the same thing today.

As this stuff accumulated in his head, it helped Joseph, over time, flesh-out an entire religious system that I call “progressive theology” – or the doctrine on how men become Gods. And where did all this conjecture go once it left Joseph’s pen and paper? Where all man-made ideas go that are ascribed to God and stamped with His authority – to heartlessness, exclusion, piety, and pride. Next week we’ll continue, examining now how these teaching formed the hearts and minds of millions of people past – and present.

Let’s open up the phone lines:

(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20

Please, LDS callers – come on – step up. First time callers if at all possible. And please have your questions ready with the TV sets turned down. While the operators clear your calls let’s take a break and air this spot for our partners program. We know there are a lot of very good ministries out there which are all calling for your support. If you are so inclined of the Lord, and if you are in a position to help us out after you have supported your church, we hope you will consider Alathea Ministries as a viable ministry worthy of your consideration.

Stay with us.

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The Role of Racism in Mormonism, Part 1

Heart of the Matter: Exploring the Role of Emotionalism