Racism in the Book of Mormon Part 3
In part 1 we examined what racism is and looked at the text to see if we could find examples of the modern understanding of racism. We did find bias and God’s condemnation of the Nephite’s prejudice against their cousins. In part 2 we asked about the origins of the text to see if the book might be racist based on those origins. In this third and final segment, we will look some reasons why people might like to see the Book of Mormon as a racist text, what do they gain from this perspective.
Who Wrote the Book of Mormon? (Racism in the Book of Mormon Part 2)
Last week I went over racism in the Book of Mormon, in the text itself. While we did find human bias and prejudice, I do not think we found racism as we define the term today. The week, I am going to come at the same topic from a different angle.
Racism in the Book of Mormon Part 1
I’m going to talk about something that is going to be very controversial and I know it’s going to be very offensive to a lot of people. And this time it’s not polygamy. This time we’re going to talk about racism in the Book of Mormon.
Book of Mormon in the Fellowship of Christ (Video interview)
Book of Mormon Perspectives Forum: “The vantage point of The Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship from the co-Prophets, including discussing modern revelations and interpretation of the plates of brass.”
Note on the Sacrifice of Christ
By a vicarious and infinite atonement; that Jesus Christ, being Almighty God, infinite in all his attributes, offered himself a sacrifice to appease the wrath of God
Neum
This book is a collection of utterances, prophecies, and revelations given by a previously unknown (to the modern world) prophetess who identifies herself as “Neum,” Hebrew for “oracle.” The name of the book in English would be “The Declarations,”hence the title: “The Declarations of Neum.”
The Book of Melchizedek
Cults: Avoiding Deception in the Last Days
The dangerous types of cults may be seen in a variety of circles, from religious to business to politics and more.
The Divine Feminine
“And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me, Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.” -1 Nephi 3:46 RAV, 11:8 OPV
Within the Latter Day Saint movement, there are a number of theologies regarding the nature of God. In the Fellowship, and within Mormon Kabbalah, we accept all of them. It’s about how God reveals Himself, or Themselves, to us as individuals. We build, as it were, our own religions.
The Lord is My Shepherd
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” -Matthew 25:31-32
Today we have an opportunity to serve others in Christian love in the most simplest of ways. I am talking about our duty as Christians to take care of one another by getting vaccinated. Yes, there are those out there that call us “sheep” for accepting the Covid-19 vaccine or other vaccines the Lord has provided us through the miracle of science. And I for one am happy to be one of Jesus’ sheep, as He is the Good Shepherd.
Fasting with Purpose and Power
“I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.” -Doctrine and Covenants 85:21a CoC, 88:76 LdS
The meditation of prayer and listening to communicate with God is a key foundational practice of Mormon Kabbalah. Fasting has been a sacred practice carried out since time immemorial in nearly all cultures. Today, science tells us that fasting also has a number of benefits to our physical health, body and mind. Fasting can help detoxify the body and even contributes to the healing of some diseases.
Garments of the Priesthood
“Let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands; and let all things be done in cleanliness before me.” -Doctrines of the Saints 4a:51
As a part of receiving one’s Initiatories we are given the Garments of the Priesthood. Into these garments symbols are sewn or cut, that they may function much like a classic amulet that has power from God. What are these garments? When should we wear them?