brigham young

Racism has been a tragic aspect of our nation's history. But did you know that the Book of Mormon considers dark skin to be a curse? In the Book of Mormon, sections such as Mormon 5:15; 1 Nephi 12:23; 2 Nephi 5:21-22; Alma 3:6; and 2 Nephi 30:6, are clear in what they teach. Dark skin is "loathsome" whereas white or light-skin is "delightsome" and a sign of God's favor. The 1830 version of the Book of Mormon used to read "white and delightsome" (a curious explanation from the LDS Church) but modern versions now say "pure and delightsome." Up until 1978, blacks were not allowed to enter LDS temples or be ordained to the LDS priesthood. But what is the current position of the LDS Church today about racism and dark skin? Is dark skin still a curse?  

On part three of our discussion with former Mormon and the great-great granddaughter of Brigham Young, the church's second President and Prophet, James Walker discusses the difficult issue of racism and dark skin in LDS doctrines and what it means for the church today. We will also be featuring a question-and-answer session with our missionary team on this episode you won't want to miss. 

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

• Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: watchman.org/LDS
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: watchman.org/Mormonism
• Sandra Tanner's ministry - Utah Lighthouse: Utlm.org
• New biography, Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism, by Ronald Huggins V. Huggins: uhop.me/Lighthouse

Related Podcasts

• 2020 Apologetics Profile podcast interview with Sandra Tanner (Part1): watchman.org/Sandra1
• 2020 Apologetics Profile podcast interview with Sandra Tanner (Part2): watchman.org/Sandra2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Micah Wilder (YouTube - Part 1): watchman.org/Micah1
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Micah Wilder (YouTube - Part 2) watchman.org/Micah2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Lynn Wilder (Part 1): watchman.org/Lynn1
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Lynn Wilder (Part 2) watchman.org/Lynn2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni chapter ten verse 32 says "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ..." 

The words sound familiar, but do Moroni's references to "grace" and "Christ" really speak of the same grace and of the same Christ found in the New Testament? No. Note that Moroni says God's grace is only sufficient if you deny yourself of all ungodliness first. But how is that to be done? According to Romans 7, not even the Apostle Paul could do that! 

But according to Moroni, you must deny yourself of all ungodliness before Christ bestows sufficent grace upon you. Then and only then does God's grace "kick in." The second book of Nephi, chapter 25, verse 23 says for example that "it is by grace we are saved" however grace comes only "after all we can do." 

Clearly this is not in accordance with what the New Testament teaches. It is indeed by grace we are saved, but not by works of our own. We can't simply do stuff in church to make ourselves right with God. We cannot earn our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB). 

On part two of our conversation with former LDS Sandra Tanner, we explore in more detail the LDS concept of grace, works, and salvation. We also discuss the problematic LDS scripture known as the Book of Abraham.

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

• Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: watchman.org/LDS
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: watchman.org/Mormonism
• Sandra Tanner's ministry - Utah Lighthouse: Utlm.org
• New biography, Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism, by Ronald Huggins V. Huggins: uhop.me/Lighthouse

Related Podcasts

• 2020 Apologetics Profile podcast interview with Sandra Tanner (Part1): watchman.org/Sandra1
• 2020 Apologetics Profile podcast interview with Sandra Tanner (Part2): watchman.org/Sandra2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Micah Wilder (YouTube - Part 1): watchman.org/Micah1
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Micah Wilder (YouTube - Part 2) watchman.org/Micah2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Lynn Wilder (Part 1): watchman.org/Lynn1
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Lynn Wilder (Part 2) watchman.org/Lynn2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Our very special guest for the next three episodes of Apologetics Profile is Sandra Tanner, former Mormon and the great-great granddaughter of LDS Prophet Brigham Young. Sandra sits down with Watchman Fellowship President James Walker to discuss her and her late husband Jerald's journey out of the LDS church in her new biography Lighthouse - Jerald and Sandra Tanner Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism by Ronald V. Huggins.

Sandra was kind and gracious enough to come and speak with our mission team that traveled to Utah this past July to share the gospel with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The full interview was recorded live with our team and part three will feature a question-and-answer session with our missionaries and Sandra.  Here on part one, Sandra describes how she as a Mormon boasted of being related to Brigham Young but had never read any of his most famous sermons. 

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

• Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: watchman.org/LDS
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: watchman.org/Mormonism
• Sandra Tanner's ministry - Utah Lighthouse: Utlm.org
• New biography, Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism, by Ronald Huggins V. Huggins: uhop.me/Lighthouse

Related Podcasts

• 2020 Apologetics Profile podcast interview with Sandra Tanner (Part1): watchman.org/Sandra1
• 2020 Apologetics Profile podcast interview with Sandra Tanner (Part2): watchman.org/Sandra2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Micah Wilder (YouTube - Part 1): watchman.org/Micah1
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Micah Wilder (YouTube - Part 2) watchman.org/Micah2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Lynn Wilder (Part 1): watchman.org/Lynn1
• Apologetics Profile podcast with Lynn Wilder (Part 2) watchman.org/Lynn2
  
  
• Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

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