Is it true that mormons believe that the original native americans were white?

Question

I was having a conversation with a co-worker and this topic came up. So is it true that mormons think that native americans were originally white, and then for some reason god punished them and turn them "red"? If it's true that they believe this, can you also post a source of information?

Answer 1

I fear your co worker is mistaken.
Researchers have proven that the DNA of native americans came from asia. They have the black hair and blood types common to asians, not to Israelites.
One more hole shot in the Mormon bible....

Answer 2

First let me say that I have been friends with Ute and Navajo Indians off and on over the years, as well as many Latinos from Mexico, Central America, and South America. Now here is something I have tried to research but have found little information on the Internet. There is a tribe in the Chiapas Mexico region called the Lacandon Indians. I have seen pictures of them in a book that is about 50 years old now. They are actually white Indians and for centuries took pride in the fact that they would not inter-marry with anyone who was not of their tribe, or anyone related to the Spanish conquistadors, etc. I am not sure if the DNA research some other answerer mentioned has ever been done on them. The Lacandon Indians are, however, becoming more and more modernized with time, and I don't know if they have more recently started marrying more outside of their tribe due to dwindling numbers.
I think it would be more correct to say that the darker skin was more of a differentiating sign rather than a curse. Laman and Lemuel, the older brothers of Nephi, had persisted in rebelling against God, even after having the experience of having an angel come to tell them to knock it off. Laman and Lemuel had even tried murdering their own brother at least 3 times by viciously assaulting him on on occasion and later on tying him up for four days to the mast of the ship (not raft, like someone else said) during a terrible storm that almost destroyed the entire family (see 1 Nephi Chapter 18 for that account in the Book of Mormon). The descendants of Laman and Lemuel continued to be angry with the descendants of Nephi, and most of the rest of their history is all about wars. I would like to point out what Church scholar W. Cleon Skousen said about this, from his book "Treasures from the Book of Mormon" volume 1. "The Lord told Nephi that it was his intention to make the Lamanites loathsome unto the people of Nephi unless they repented of their iniquities. This is a very significant passage. It means that these physical characteristics which appeared in a single generation to differentiate the Lamanites from the Nephites, were simply employed as a defensive tactic by the Lord. In later centuries, when many of the Lamanites repented, the Lord miraculously altered these characteristics for a considerable number of converts. We further learn that regardless of physical characteristics, the Lord always looks upon the righteous and repentant as beautiful people."
Have a happy day.

Answer 3

Thus the indians were Jews by nationality (Doctrin&Covenants 57:4)Their Forefathers having come from Jerusalem from the kingdom of Judah (2Ne 33:8-10)
To avoid intermarriage between them, the Lord placed a curse upon the Lamanites which included a dak skin (2Ne 5:21-25)

According to orginal Mormo Doctrin, once Native Americans accepted The Mormon Faith, there Skin was suppose to turn back to White. Well of course that never happend, But they still believe in "Due time " that will happen (D&C 49:24)

Crazy stuff!

Answer 4

That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard! How about this: White people were originally red and then for some reason God punished then and turn them White. As far as I can tell White people have done a lot more punishable acts than the Native Americans!

Answer 5

Yes. The Book of Mormon does state this, though I can't remember where (I've read the entire book). Being partly Native American, I find it offensive.

Note: I found a passage:
"...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." (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 5:21)

Granted, it says "blackness" and not "redness", but I have little doubt that it is in reference to the darker color of Native Americans, since they were the ones in North America and not blacks.

Answer 6

It's interesting how the criticisms of Mormons evolve over time. Early in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints one of the main reasons for the constant persecution of the church had to do with the church's friendly attitute towards Native Americans. Now that it is popular for everybody to be friendly to Native Americans some people above pretend as if the church has something against Native Americans. We believe they are of the descended from Abraham and are a chosen people of God.

Answer 7

yes it's true, they believe the Laminates (the name for American Indians in the Book of Mormon) were cursed with a dark skin for transgressing God - they also believe that if the American Indians accept Christ eventually they would become a "white and delightsome" people. Because of the criticism the church got over that statement in their Scriptures they changed that line to "pure and delightsome," but the damage was done

Answer 8

enable me take a wild guess and say which you probably did not get this wisdom from a internet site it somewhat is friendly to Mormons. a number of it somewhat is right, a number of it somewhat is slanted, a number of it somewhat is fake. before everything, God advised Joseph Smith to connect not one of the church homes, to not start up his very own church. He wasn't called to restoration the Christian church till later. alongside with the e book of gold plates, there substitute into additionally a Urim and Thumim deposited interior the stone field. It substitute into defined as 2 diamond formed crystal stones set right into a twine physique. It wasn't fantastic in keeping with se. Joseph had a undeniable present. He substitute right into a seer. A seer can see issues specifically stones. Few human beings are conscious of it, yet Peter is a nickname that Jesus gave Simon - it actually ability seer stone. approximately 15 separate human beings claimed to have considered the e book of Mormon, sixteen in case you incorporate Emma who felt it with the aid of a skinny fabric. the translation of the 1st e book - the e book of Lehi - substitute into lost or stolen. Joseph substitute into counciled to proceed on with the translation, and not retranslate that which substitute into lost. It has by no ability grew to become up.

Answer 9

No that's not true. They believe that Baptists were originally intelligent, and Jehovah Witnesses were punished and forced to carry around idiotic literature all day, and Catholics are descended from their own cousins.

Answer 10

Good question, I am American Indian and would like to know what Mormons think I was made, or what we were punished for... interesting