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For some reason I have developed a desire to read the BoM again. Not sure why, I think part of it is the general comfort I feel when reading scripture. I think it’s because it’s something I’m *supposed* to do. The look and feel of scriptures is also calming.
Anyway, I have a question about this passage in 1 Nephi 13:
Quote:11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.
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And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. 13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the bland of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.
15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the bland for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.
Who is the man in the quote above? There is no cross-reference in the verse to give us any meaning. Is it Joseph Smith?
The common assumption is that it refers to Columbus – but it could refer to any one person and all of the early explorers and conquistadors. Personally, I think this passage is perhaps the clearest example of a possible anachronism, due to the seeming reference to Columbus – but if accurate visions of the future do occur (and I am not positive they do), it might be a simple description of the actual events throughout the Americas, since the description of scattering is accurate. This idea might be the most likely evidence of the book being “inspired fiction,” since it fits 1900 American ideology so well, but it also fits the standard ideology of the time in which it is set. (meaning, if the passage was written by someone who actually had a vision of the future, the idea of a divine mandate to conquer and convert different cultures would be familiar to them.
It also fits the historical mentality that discoveries were made through inspiration that prompted empire expansion. It is no different, really, than the Old Testament settlement of the promised land by the Ancient Israelites – or the spread of Islam and the Christian Crusades – or the Chinese empire – or the South American Incan and Malayan Empires – or the Ottoman Empire – or millennia of expansions in Africa – or Japan’s military movement in the early 1900’s – etc. All were carried out in the name of their God(s).
The general practice of people using skin color to distinguish and dismiss “the enemy” has existed as long as humans have existed and been aware of others with different skin colors. Again, if someone of that time had a vision (divinely inspired or purely from their own minds), and if that person was dealing with an “enemy people” of different skin tone, the way it is worded would be consistent with how these things have been described throughout history.
(Interestingly, similar narratives from the perspective of darker-skinned people generally are framed the same way, like the term “white-skinned devils” and other similar descriptions.)
Finally, the concept of people becoming white as a sign of righteousness is explicit in the Old Testament only in the Book of Daniel, but the idea of white symbolizing purity is common throughout the Bible. Generally, however, the link to people in the Bible is focused more on white hair and robes (and other garments) – which makes sense in practical terms due to white being seen as a “stainless” color and white hair being associated with advanced age and wisdom.
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