Before I make my argument I would like to assert that there are many beautiful quotes of Gordon Hinckley and Brigham Young, and other top leaders of the LDS church speaking politely and kindly about homosexuality, and maybe even some lectures about the equality of race and the acceptance of Negros in the black-priesthood. We are not concerned with cherry picking here, but rather the truth the rest beyond the vague statements and biblical passages. “You can say red is red 99 times, but if you say red is black even just once there are some questions we need to ask,”
Okay here is what an argument looks like..
I want to base my argument on 2 premises that I will assume are true, and two truth statements that I will attempt to prove.
Premise 1. Anti-Mormon literature can be just as reliable as Mormon literature.
Ω Simply because it is against your church doesn't mean it is wrong. If you were to read a book on anti-socialism, would a socialist be justified in dismissing the truth statements in the book by simply telling people that it is anti-socialism? No. I rest my case. Please stop insinuating that anti-Mormon literature is instantly illegitimate. The source has to be judged based on empirical evidence, not based on what religion it is defending or slamming.
Premise 2. Google is in fact a better source of information than any “1” website, including www.mormon.org.
Ω I went to the website. It doesnt offer much information. It actually seems to be the worst place to get information about the church. I was looking for information about the Curse of Caine, nothing. Nothing about the black priest hood, it just seems to be a recruiting website like if you were to go to Marines.com when thinking about joining the military. The source is usually bias. Every website exists within the matrix of a search engine. Not only do I use google to find mormon.org, I use it to go beyond one particular website, and instead explore thousands of website and thousands of perspectives in order to collect more information and make a better more informed decision. If you care to argue why one website is better than me using google you go ahead and dig that hole yourself, I wont join you
Okay now that my premises have been established, on to my "truth" claims.
My two statements are:
1. The Church of Latter Day Saints believe in the Curse of Caine and the black skin.
2. The Church spreads intolerant messages about homosexuality that conflict with an individuals equal rights.
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Statement 1: The church of latter day saints believe in the Curse of Caine of the black skin.
Although leaders today are trying to tell members that it is not true, it seems they are simply trying to hide and obscure the doctrines of shame. Here is the evidence -
From 1848 until 1978, the leaders (Prophet and Apostles) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught, as doctrine, the following:
*Negroes are the descendants of Cain.
*The Mark of Cain was a black skin, flat nose, and kinky hair.
*Negroes were "less valiant" in the War in Heaven in the Pre-Existence.
*Negroes cannot enter and worship in Mormon Temples until the Curse of Cain is removed.
*Negroes would not get the Priesthood until the Curse of Cain is removed.
Joseph Smith the prophet of the Church of Latter Day Saints speaking on the curse of Caine
"It was well understood by the early elders of the Church that the mark which was placed on Cain and which his posterity inherited was the black skin. The Book of Moses informs us that Cain and his descendants were black" (The Way to Perfection, p.107).
Smith also stated that
"there is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantages. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient; more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less" (Doctrines of Salvation 1:61).
What I just offered is beyond reasonable doubt. you would have to destroy this argument to prove your case. Furthermore to clarify some historical biblical references to the account in question about Caine and further make my case based on evidence.
Cain's descendants would have been killed in the great flood, according to Mormons from the late 19th to mid 20th century, Cain's bloodline was preserved on the ark through Egyptus, wife of Ham (son of Noah). The Book of Abraham, accepted by Mormons as part of their canon, is the source of the story of this Egyptus who preserves "the curse as pertaining to the Priesthood" by surviving the flood as Ham's wife.
When did a biblical curse become associated with the "Hamites?"
The origin of the "curse of Ham" pre-dates the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by hundreds of years. The basis used is Genesis 9:18-27:
18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Sources
------------------------------------------------------------
Covering up the Curse of Caine:
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/lds/CAIN.html
Black skin and the Curse of Caine:
http://mrm.org/curse-of-cain
The Curse of Cain: the violent legacy of monotheism
By Regina M. Schwartz
http://books.google.com/books?id=hJucbWdEdl8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=curse+of+caine&source=bl&ots=I4FVAt4Mx1&sig=Zjo5ag9kpnUKr5TUsfrnqGTcJz0&hl=en&ei=SHSvTIPyO8P6lwfuqPHoDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false
Article about the Mormon church denying the Curse of Caine:
http://www.lifeafter.org/curse_of_cain.asp
and
Speech by Gov. Young in Joint Session of the Legislature concerning the Curse of Caine and racism in the church:
http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/curseofcain_appendix_a.htm
Wikipedia article on the bible and the Curse of Caine:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_and_mark_of_Cain
"It was well understood by the early elders of the Church that the mark which was placed on Cain and which his posterity inherited was the black skin. The Book of Moses informs us that Cain and his descendants were black" (The Way to Perfection, p.107).
Smith also stated that
"there is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantages. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient; more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less" (Doctrines of Salvation 1:61).
What I just offered is beyond reasonable doubt. you would have to destroy this argument to prove your case. Furthermore to clarify some historical biblical references to the account in question about Caine and further make my case based on evidence.
Cain's descendants would have been killed in the great flood, according to Mormons from the late 19th to mid 20th century, Cain's bloodline was preserved on the ark through Egyptus, wife of Ham (son of Noah). The Book of Abraham, accepted by Mormons as part of their canon, is the source of the story of this Egyptus who preserves "the curse as pertaining to the Priesthood" by surviving the flood as Ham's wife.
When did a biblical curse become associated with the "Hamites?"
The origin of the "curse of Ham" pre-dates the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by hundreds of years. The basis used is Genesis 9:18-27:
18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Sources
------------------------------------------------------------
Covering up the Curse of Caine:
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/lds/CAIN.html
Black skin and the Curse of Caine:
http://mrm.org/curse-of-cain
The Curse of Cain: the violent legacy of monotheism
By Regina M. Schwartz
http://books.google.com/books?id=hJucbWdEdl8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=curse+of+caine&source=bl&ots=I4FVAt4Mx1&sig=Zjo5ag9kpnUKr5TUsfrnqGTcJz0&hl=en&ei=SHSvTIPyO8P6lwfuqPHoDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false
Article about the Mormon church denying the Curse of Caine:
http://www.lifeafter.org/curse_of_cain.asp
and
Speech by Gov. Young in Joint Session of the Legislature concerning the Curse of Caine and racism in the church:
http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/curseofcain_appendix_a.htm
Wikipedia article on the bible and the Curse of Caine:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_and_mark_of_Cain
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Statement 2. The Church of Latter Day Saints holds an intolerable doctrine towards homosexuals. Although the members are kind loving people and not always homophobic like my own cousins and many members I have met while living in Salt Lake City Utah, the message that the church and its leader represent conflicts with other individuals freedom, equal rights and civil liberty. The members of the church are representatives of the church and support these teachings. This is an example of someones belief conflicting with someones freedom and civil rights. Here is the evidence:
Top LDS Apostle' Boyd K. Packer: Mormons will always oppose Satan's counterfeit marriages http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDceBHOgm6A&feature=player_embedded
"We do not intend to admit to our campus any homosexuals. If any of you have this tendency and have not completely abandoned it, may I suggest that you leave the university immediately after this assembly.... We do not want others on this campus to be contaminated by your presence." Ernest Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University, in a 1965 lecture to the BYU student body, titled: "Make Honor your Standard."
Mormonism does not tolerate gays and lesbians. Any Mormon member that confesses homosexuality is automatically forced to appear in front of Church Courts. These Courts then decide whether the homosexual transgressions merit either excommunication or dis-fellowshipping. Mormons who have practiced homosexual intercourse with the same sex are automatically excommunicated. (source 5)
The Mormon Church is firm on its position condemning homosexuality as sinful behavior. One of the tenets of Mormon doctrine is the Law of Chastity. It permits sexual relations only between a husband and wife who are legally married. Marriage is a very important part of Mormon doctrine too. In the Mormon temple a couple can be married for eternity. This is part of living worthy to inherit the kingdom of God. The Mormon Church issued the document The Family: A Proclamation to the World in 1995. This official statement confirmed, "the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."
The Church opposes and campaigns against the extension of marital rights to same-sex couples believing that it would undermine the tradition of heterosexual monogamous marriage (Hinckley, Monson & Faust 2004). Homosexuality is an illness? Speaking to church educators and LDS psychiatrists in 1964, Kimball said, citing a Medical World News article, that "We know such a disease is curable," and that ex-gay Mormons had emerged from the church's counseling programs cured, although the cure was "like the cure for alcoholism subject to continued vigilance" (Kimball 1964, p. 13)
Sources
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Mormons and Homosexuality:
http://www.whatmormonsbelieve.org/homosexuality.html
Homosexuality and the church of latter day saints:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
The LDS church and Homosexuality:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_lds.htm
Why the Mormon hate the gays:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/11/why_the_mormons.php
and
The Mormon Curtain: Homosexuality in Mormonism
http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_homosexuality.html
the Hypocrites of Homosexuality by Orrson Scott – LDS member on why homosexuality should never be tolerated by the church.
http://www.nauvoo.com/library/card-hypocrites.html
http://www.whatmormonsbelieve.org/homosexuality.html
Homosexuality and the church of latter day saints:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
The LDS church and Homosexuality:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_lds.htm
Why the Mormon hate the gays:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/11/why_the_mormons.php
and
The Mormon Curtain: Homosexuality in Mormonism
http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_homosexuality.html
the Hypocrites of Homosexuality by Orrson Scott – LDS member on why homosexuality should never be tolerated by the church.
http://www.nauvoo.com/library/card-hypocrites.html
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If you have an argument against mine, it can not be based on what you "believe" or your opinions, or even separate research that doesn't directly respond to my claims and evidence. I just presented an overwhelming collection of data, information, evidence, quotes, videos, and sources that you would first have to carefully dissect one by one and "prove" are incorrect before you can even attempt to make your case and begin proposing any "opinions" of your own.
I want to make one thing clear to anyone who is Mormon, or maybe even Christian that opposes gay marriage. The purpose of this argument is not to argue weather homosexuality is wrong or right, or to argue weather exclusion of blacks in the church is wrong or right. It it simply about 2 statements that I have made in this essay. They are simple observations that I hope I have cleared up as to them being evidently true.
The Church of Latter Day Saints does in fact have an intolerable policy against homosexual freedom and the church definitely carries a doctrine which implies division and inferiority of the Negro race. So unless you have arguments about those two simple observations lets not make it an argument about ethics and morality when it is clearly an argument about history and doctrine.
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