![]() ![]() He warned those who tried to interfere with slavery would face divine consequences. In 1836, Smith taught that the Curse of Ham came from God, and that it demanded the legalization of slavery. ![]() This book was also later canonized as Mormon scripture. The Book of Abraham also says the curse came from Noah ( Abraham 1:26). Pharaoh could not have the priesthood because he was "of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood,"( Abraham 1:27) and that all Egyptians descended from him ( Abraham 1:22). It relates the story of Pharaoh, a descendant of Ham, who was also a Canaanite by birth. Later, in 1835, Smith produced a work called the Book of Abraham. These Canaanites lived before the flood, and hence before the Biblical Canaan. The Book of Moses also discusses a group of people called the Canaanites, who were also black ( Moses 7:8). It states that "the seed of Cain were black" ( Moses 7:22). Parts of it were canonized as the Book of Moses and accepted as official LDS scripture in 1880. In June 1830, Joseph Smith began translating the Bible. Phelps, wrote in a letter that Ham's wife was a descendant of Cain, and that the Canaanites were black Africans and covered by both curses. By the 1800s, this interpretation was widely accepted in America, including among Mormons. They argued that because Canaan was cursed to be servants of servants, then they were justified in enslaving Canaan's descendants. ![]() Because of this, Noah cursed Ham's son, Canaan to be "servants of servants".( Genesis 9:20–27) While nothing explicitly supports enslaving black Africans, one interpretation that was popular in the United States during the Atlantic slave trade was that the mark of Cain was black skin, and it was passed on through Canaan's descendants, who they believed were black Africans. In another biblical account, Ham discovered his father Noah drunk and naked in his tent. : 126 According to the Bible, after Cain killed Abel, God cursed him and put a mark on him,( Genesis 4:8–15) although the Bible does not state the nature of the mark. Curse of Cain and Ham įurther information: Curse and mark of Cain and Curse of Ham Joseph Smith justified slavery using the Curse of Ham.īoth Joseph Smith and Brigham Young referred to the Curse of Ham to justify slavery. Critics said the church's definition of abuse of slaves was vague and difficult to enforce. ![]() While promoting the legality of slavery, the church consistently taught against the abuse of slaves and advocated for laws that provided protection. While in Missouri, Joseph Smith defended slavery, arguing that the Old Testament taught that blacks were cursed with servitude and the New Testament defended slavery, : 22 a belief that was common in America at the time. Mormon scripture simultaneously denounces both slavery and abolitionism in general, teaching that it was not right for men to be in bondage to each other, but that one should not interfere with the slaves of others. He also encouraged members to participate in the Indian slave trade. Brigham Young taught his followers that slavery was ordained by God and that efforts to abolish it were contrary to the decrees of God and would eventually fail. Young brought his followers to Utah, where he led efforts to legalize slavery in the Utah Territory. A smaller contingent followed Joseph Smith III, who opposed slavery and established the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). Young established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The largest contingent followed Brigham Young, who stated that he was "neither an abolitionist nor a pro-slavery man." He allowed enslaved men and women to be brought to the territory but prohibited the enslavement of their descendants and required their consent before their owners could move them. Īfter Joseph Smith's death, the church split. A few slave owners joined the church, and when they moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, they took their slaves with them, even though Illinois was a free state. New scriptures instructing Latter-Day Saints not to intervene in the lives of the slaves of others were revealed. After the church base moved to the slave state of Missouri and gained Southern converts, church leaders began to own slaves. Early converts were initially from the Northern United States and opposed slavery, believing that their opposition was supported by Mormon scripture. The Latter Day Saint movement has had varying and conflicting teachings on slavery. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |