I'm reading a book called "Under Banner of Heaven" that says the Mormons' founder claims that says Israelis immigrated to America. Supposably the reason their skin turned darker is explained by "some of them became evil" and killed off the lighter skinned ones.
Is this really what Mormons are taught?
2006-10-25 15:18:49 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Errr... I dunno about the guy claiming to be Mormon who said this isn't true, but I read the Book of Mormon just a year ago, and it's definitely in there.
The Book of Mormon is about ancient Israelites who immigrate to early North America, eventually becoming the "Native Americans." And God turns the skin of one of the two main groups dark, reflecting the fact that they reject the early church.
That's what the Book is about, folks; if you don't think it's so, go ahead and pick up a copy and see for yourselves (Mormon's will give you a copy for free).
2006-10-25 15:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by tylerism 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like most questions about religion there is some truth and some misleading statements. Yes, Mormons believe that there was some migration of ancient Israelities to the Americas. This migration was limited to a very small number of people in each instance.
What is more important is what is left unsaid, the Book of Mormon does not state, that they were the only people to migrate to the Americas nor does it deny that people migrated across the Bering Strait. It does not say that there weren't already inhabitants living there.
As for DNA evidence etc, the fact that a group around 20 migrated, intermixed with local people, one can easily imagine why DNA testing today would not pick up anything conclusive.
Science is not the enemy of Mormons, nor is science final or fixed. Science evolves, changes over time as new technologies, theories emerge. What is more important to religion is faith.
2006-10-25 15:47:11 · answer #2 · answered by Declan A 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You do know, don't you, that nearly 2/3 of Native Americans died because of disease and wars in ancient America brought by Conquistadors and early immigrants. Countless tribes were totally eradicated because of these events. Who's to say that one or two of those tribes were of Israeli descent. All the tribes that ever existed in the Americas did not came over a land bridge from Asia. Its just that the majority of surviving Natives are descended from that group, though not all. So who cares if Joseph Smith believed it, many non-members did also. It did make it easier for the members of the Church as they were not as Indian crazy as the other people were and had better relations with the Indians. There were some incidents, but not as many as non-members had.
2016-05-22 14:27:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to my friend Jimmy a Mormon, the Nephi was the tribe which came to America from Israel. The darkskinned people or Native Americans, are the ones who killed the Nephi because they were so different.
2006-10-25 15:41:20 · answer #4 · answered by martha d 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am Native American and this is true. Early Mormons actually believed we were ancient Hebrews come to America on boats and that we were once living like people in the Bible. It is so odd. I don't think it is the kind of thing they would want to admit now.
2006-10-25 15:25:27 · answer #5 · answered by Isis 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That was an idea that was floating around and started by a preacher and repeated by a congressman. The twelve tribes are still mostly in the Middle East but scattered over a wide area.
2006-10-25 15:24:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay, I'm mormon...and no offense but that book you read isnt the least bit true. Okay well it kind of is.
We dont believe that...but in the book of mormon there is 2 main tribes, the laminites (dark skinned) and the nephites(lite skinned) and its tru that the lamanites killed off the nephites...but nothing else in your question is tru. But thats okay cuz people talk . But yeah theres ur answer!
2006-10-25 15:24:02 · answer #7 · answered by ♥rawr♥ 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes, at least the part about them thinking that the indians are descendants of a lost tribe from israel. i'm not sure about the rest of it, but there WAS supposed to be something that changed their skin color.
2006-10-25 15:21:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ask the witnesses. According to the Hopi they came to this continent across the Pacific by boat. During their migrations across the country, they parted with their white brother, Pahana. He will return one day to restore their religion.
2006-10-25 16:32:25 · answer #9 · answered by Isolde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something like that.
Science proves there is no Israelite tribe DNA in the native Genetics, which disproves the theory. (Unless you rejecet Science that doesn't agree with you)
Too bad, Jesus didn't warn the natives about the Crusading European monsters who would decimate their culture. If Jesus came, and didn't wan ME of THAT, I'd piss on his grave, knowing he wasn't god.
http://flushaholybook.com
2006-10-25 15:22:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋