QUOTE: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth….” -Joseph Smith, Introduction to the Book of Mormon. [source]
SCRIPTURE: “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 a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.” -2 Nephi 5:21. [source]
DISAVOWAL: “Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse….” -Race and the Priesthood, lds.org. [source]
COMMENTARY: I’m not sure how to square these statements. Something has to give, but what? We can’t say the Book of Mormon got it wrong. But neither can we say the church leadership is wrong. Wait. Maybe the dark skin was just a metaphor. I bet that’s it. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
