No Respecter of Persons: What Does The Book Of Mormon Teach About Race?

No Respecter of Persons: What Does The Book Of Mormon Teach About Race?

I was reading today in the 15th chapter of Helaman in The Book Of Mormon when I realized that one of the main themes of the book is that God loves EVERYONE.

This chapter takes place in the year 6 BC. A prophet called Samuel The Lamanite is standing on the city wall in the Nephite capital city of Zarahemla. Samuel was called of God to preach repentance to the Nephites and to declare the message of Christ's birth across the sea. He predicted the appearance of a new star in the heavens and even told the people exactly when Christ would be born.

"Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name" (Helaman 14:2). 

At this time in The Book Of Mormon it seems like the Lamanites have begun to surpass the Nephites in their righteousness and willingness to follow God. What stood out to me is that God didn't care if they were Lamanites, he wanted them to believe in Him and follow Him. On the other hand, God didn't care that the Nephites were traditionally His followers. Through Samuel God declared that the Nephite nation would be destroyed unless they repent.

"And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate... Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord...Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them... Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for them than for you except ye repent...And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people of the Nephites: If they will not repent, and observe to do my will, I will utterly destroy them, saith the Lord, because of their unbelief notwithstanding the many mighty works which I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth shall these things be, saith the Lord" (Helaman 15:1,3,12,14,17).

After pondering these verses I considered the irony that although the Nephites had been considered "a chosen people of the Lord", the Lamanites in the end became the more righteous people. Then I realized that this theme can be seen throughout all the scriptures. In the Old Testament the Jews, or The House of Israel, were considered God's chosen people. We can see clearly from the Old Testament that God did not prosper The House of Israel when they worshiped other God's. In the New Testament the pharisees saw their familial link to Abraham as their their ticket into heaven. The irony of the New Testament is that those who professed to believe in the coming of the Messiah were the very ones who crucified him. After Christ's ascension into heaven His disciples, although previously commanded to preach the word only to the Jews, began to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. "So the last shall be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16). 

And thus we see (as The Book Of Mormon would say) that just because you belong to God's "chosen people" doesn't mean you are saved. And just because you may not belong to a certain group of people doesn't mean there is no hope for you. God loves all of his children equally. God blesses those who believe in Him, and repent, and come unto Him. All those who are baptized into the fold can become part of "the gathering of Israel" whether they are direct descendants of Abraham or not.

 "¶Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35).

I believe that we can all receive of Christ's grace and mercy and be forgiven of our sins if we have faith in Jesus, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. We are all created in the image of God. He is our father. We can all return to live with Him. Let it be known that The Book Of Mormon teaches this. We learn early in the book that: 

"he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile" (2 Nephi 26:33).

Missionaries and Kings in The Book Of Mormon

Missionaries and Kings in The Book Of Mormon

In my last post I briefly mentioned how some brave Nephites had gone into the lands of the Lamanites and attempted missionary efforts there. I mentioned the end result that thousands of Lamanites were converted and how they eventually separated themselves from the Lamanites. The stories that go into how this all came about are pretty amazing.

Today I just want to focus on one of those great stories. A missionary named Aaron, the oldest son of King Mosiah, a man who had given up his rightful heir to the throne to be a missionary, had an opportunity to teach a Lamanite king.

This king's curiosity had been sparked. And although the Lamanites believed that, "whatsoever thing they did was right" the king began to suspect that he may have need to repent.

Like most good missionaries Aaron began to teach the king from the scriptures and explain to him the history of the world, the purpose of life, and God's plan for us. The king expressed a desire to be forgiven of his sins and Aaron taught that this was only possible through Jesus Christ. Aaron told the king he needed to pray. Through a simple, beautiful prayer the king received an assurance that he could be forgiven of his sins and that he could have eternal life.

12 And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen.

 13 And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him,and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption,which was prepared from the foundation of the world,through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name.

 14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.

 15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea,what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

 16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

 17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth,and cried mightily, saying:

 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.

I know that God lives. I know that he has a plan for us. I know that he hears our prayers. I know that it is worth it to give away all our sins to know him. 

This king had a mighty change of heart. He was converted and truly gave away all his sins to know God.