2 Ne. Why Could Joseph Smith Testify in Court at Age 13? “Perhaps, in the same sense that the biblical patriarchs were racist when it came to their pagan neighbors—the Hittites, the Canaanites, and the Amorites—and did not want their offspring to marry these unbelievers.”5, Brant A. Gardner remarked that “the Book of Mormon is, in fact, racist,” but quickly added that it is “not at all ['racist'] in the usual sense of the term.”6 Rather than being a form of modern racism that bases antipathy on a difference of skin color, Gardner reads Nephite “racism” as an ethnocentrism “along the insider/outsider boundary, not the white/dark boundary.”7 Gardner concluded that “the ‘skin of blackness’ was certainly intended to be a pejorative term, but it was not a physical description.”8. Another example is the dark/white pairing from the 1830 first edition of 2 Nephi 30:6: “Their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people.” 17 This verse parallels “fair and delightsome,” since “fair” and “white” are structural equivalents. About 559–545 B.C. Ethan Sproat, “Skins as Garments in the Book of Mormon: A Textual Exegesis,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 138–65. TG Israel, Remnant of. 11 And arighteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Douglas Campbell, “‘White’ or ‘Pure’: Five Vignettes,” Dialogue 29, no. Joseph Smith altered the phrase "white and delightsome" (in 2 Nephi 30:6) to "pure and delightsome" in the second edition of the Book of Mormon.This change was lost to LDS readers until the 1981 edition of the scriptures. It is human selfishness-the unbrotherhood of man to man....the cry which rises into his ears is the cry of stricken humanity-the cry of the poor and needy, the cry of the sad and weary...He hears God call him to lash the sins of the nation; but to him all the sins of the nation are forms of a single sin-selfishness....The burden of Isaiah is the burden of human compassion. The change does not appear to be an accidental error based on any visual or phonetic resemblance between the two words.”2. 2 Nephi 30:6 And then shall they rejoice, for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God. 2 Nephi 30:6 “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.” Jacob slammed Nephite ethnic pride when he declared, “Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you. Thought of the Day about Mormonism and 2 Nephi 30:6. This change was made in 1981, and accusations arose that the Church was changing scripture in order to back away from the idea of literal changes in skin color (which, to be clear, some believed to be the case, such as President Kimball.) 7:9 (1, 9–10). 2 Nephi 27. TG Darkness, Spiritual; Spiritual Blindness. 22:9 (5–10); 3 Ne. 2 Nephi 5. But just as Nephi’s vision in 1 Nephi 14, and just as Isaiah’s prophecies in 2 Nephi 23 and 24 all end in the victory of God, Nephi concludes his exposition of Isaiah’s revelations on a set of very promising notes. It is understandable how some, without this nuanced understanding, could read the Book of Mormon as a text that portrays the Nephites as having what we today would deem “racist,” or more properly ethnocentric, attitudes towards non-Nephites. 2 Nephi 6. We build enduring faith in Jesus Christ by making the Book of Mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. 2 Nephi 30:6, Book of Mormon (1830 Edition): 4. How could the Book of Mormon be inspired if it supposedly has what many assume to be “racist” teachings—in this case that having white skin is somehow a sign of divine favor? 2 Nephi 28. 2 Nephi 30. 1 Ne. Why might Joseph Smith have made this textual change in 2 Nephi 30? 9 And with righteousness shall the aLord God bjudge the poor, and reprove with equity for the cmeek of the earth. Posts Tagged ‘2 Nephi 30:6’ Decrees of God Unalterable? 2 Nephi 17. “Is the Prophet’s change from ‘white’ to ‘pure’ justified in the scriptural context? Clear at the end of Nephite history, tribalism and ethnocentrism was eschewed, and portrayed as leading to hatred, wickeness, pride, vanity, and rejection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (4 Nephi 1:38–43). The relevant section is available online at FAIR Mormon here. who should come to redeem his people from their sins,” shall “have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white” (Alma 5:21, 24). For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, and they had become like unto … The Book of Mormon states: "And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the … Continue reading 2 Nephi 30: 4-5 → 2 Nephi 30:6 (1830 edition, italics added): "...they shall be a white and a delightsome people." . Many are no longer sure we have a clear definition of “race” anymore (if we ever did). The answer is yes. 15:14; 2 Ne. 2 Nephi 23. Until the Law Shall Be Fulfilled – 2 Nephi 25:30 (6/12/2016) We Labor Diligently – 2 Nephi 25:23 (4/17/2016) That Our Children May Know – 2 Nephi 25:23, 26 (3/13/2015) 2 Nephi 30:6 "...their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people" 2 Nephi 5:21 "And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. While it is certainly possible that this change reflected the racial attitudes of early members of the Church, who assumed many of the views of their 19th century environment,10 Tvedtnes argued convincingly that the change may have occurred to emphasize that the text is speaking of a spiritual, not biological, condition. First, it is critical to underscore the fact that modern sociologists, historians, and cultural anthropologists are coming to see “race” as being largely, if not solely, a social construct and not a biological feature. 2 Turn, all ye a Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and b repent of your evil doings, of your c lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your d murders, and your e priestcrafts, and your f envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of … 6 And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people. 2 Nephi 10. 2 Nephi 30:8 It will bring about the restoration of God’s people upon the earth. 1 And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my a last-born.Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee. Copyright 2021 Book of Mormon Central: A Non-Profit Organization. Skousen elaborated that “the editing change to pure may represent a conscious attempt at avoiding what was perceived as a difficult reading (the Nephites were supposed to be light skinned), which therefore explains why the change from white to pure was made here—and only here—in 2 Nephi 30:6.”9 In other words, Joseph Smith may very well have recognized the possible racial undertones in … To answer this question—or to even see if this is the right question to ask—we need to first try to understand the Nephite concept of “race” (assuming they even conceived of “race” similarly to how we do today) and then reflect on what we might learn from it to improve our own ethical and spiritual sensitivities. As Nephi affirmed, the Lord invites “[all] the children of men . The scriptures And now, my beloved brethren, I make an end of my sayings. 2 Nephi 30:6. Why Did Moroni Quote Malachi about Elijah’s Coming? The things that have prevented them from knowing the truth will go away. 2 Nephi 2. This textual discrepancy understandably raises concerns for many readers. 12 aAnd then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead them. KnoWhys KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 26 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 27 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 28 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 29 KnoWhys on 2 Nephi 30 Recommended Resources Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. 2 Nephi 18. 16 Wherefore, the things of aall nations shall be made known; yea, all things shall be made bknown unto the children of men. 5:25 (20–26). Skin color (as well as gender, ethnicity, economic status, or any other such conditions) does not bar one from finding the fullness of Heavenly Father's blessings in this life and salvation in the life to come through abiding the laws, ordinances, and precepts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The 1837 edition was used for the European editions, which were in turn used as the basis for the 1879 and 1920 editions, so the change was lost until the 1981 edition \"What is that special form of sin which Isaiah sees? 2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 73:17 (3–17); D&C 29:17; JS—M 1:55. 2 Nephi 25. 14 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den. “Could the Nephites have been racist in their views of the Lamanites?” asked John A. Tvedtnes. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 2 Nephi 30:7 It will make us delightsome. 2 Nephi 19. 2 (2003): 183–97. Ps. 21:5 (3–7, 24–26); Morm. 2 Nephi 30:6 Pure, Delightsome Except the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon, in all editions prior to 1981 this verse read “a white and delightsome people.” The 1981 change was made in conformity with the 1840 edition (the only one personally revised by Joseph Smith) where the word “pure” rather than “white” is found. 17 There is nothing which is secret save it shall be arevealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed. 5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among athem; wherefore, bthey shall be restored unto the cknowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers. Matt. 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