Blacks and Curse of Cain: Answers Through Revelation Only
This final installment of The Truth About Blacks and the Curse of Cain addresses the question about the curse and how it applies to society today. No satisfactory conclusion will appease everyone. Until The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints produces a clear statement officially, there will exist many interpretations.
The early leaders of the Church taught Blacks of African descent represent the seed of Cain or Ham, while the current leadership of the Church provides no definitive teaching on who may descend from the seed of Cain. In recent history, most leaders of the Church keep personal opinions and interpretations out of public discourse to prevent those who would mix a revelation with a leader's opinion.
The days of Saints falling back on the opinions of their religious leaders to provide them some perspective on speculative topics has ended. God provides the only source of truth in this and all matters, a hallmark teaching of the Latter-day Saint communities starting with Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Restoration.
Only Canaan was Cursed
Ham had a daughter named Egyptus recorded to have had a son named Pharaoh who, though righteous, God forbade from the priesthood because of his lineage from Ham, whose wife happened to also be Egyptus who preserved the curse in the land from Cain
If Egyptus preserved the curse in the land from Cain, then is it safe to conclude that Cain was banned from the priesthood and all of his children? Three assumed iterations of the curse of Cain seems present:
- Abraham informs the ban means not having rights to the priesthood
- Noah describes it as being a servant of servants
- God Himself describes it as Cain being the ruler of Satan, accursed of men, and cut off from God.
Linking all the scriptures together gives some perspective; taking each individually also gives some perspective. Are they all linked as traditionally taught in Latter-day Saint culture or do they represent separate narratives altogether?
The third bullet point does not have an organic link to the other two points which are at least found in the same scriptural account. "Along with the problem that a priesthood restriction is never mentioned in the scriptures in connection with Cain, there is also the theological issue of why similar restrictions were not put in place for similar actions by other individuals" who killed their siblings. [1]
Brigham Young used that "curse" as a standard to put limitations on the priesthood banning Black people until God provided revelation to end such a practice.
What is not true is that Black people are a representation of Satan on the earth or evil from the beginning any more than other racial groups are. Only those who practice lifestyles contrary to righteousness represent the Devil in mortality.
Every person evil from the beginning never had the privilege of birth into mortality to receive a body according to tenants of the Church. One-third of the hosts or spirits in heaven did not find a place on earth for rebellion except by banishment! Banishment from what? Mortality!
Why would some spirits gain bodies if rebellious from the beginning when others did not? They would not. For more in this vein, read On Hell the Prison referring to Satan, demons, and the sons of perdition--the real evil from the beginning.
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Do you believe that Blacks of African heritage represent the seed of Cain?
What is the Curse?
The original curse logically, when combined with the tidbits of explanation throughout the scriptures suggests a separation from God, priesthood, Gospel message, Church, and Spirit.
Joseph Smith allegedly taught that Black people of African descent descended from Ham. The prevailing belief that Ham's children could not have the priesthood led Brigham Young to create the policy of banning all Temple sacraments and priesthood to Negros, mostly slaves because it logically made sense based on the information given to him.
No records produced by the Church indicate the Lord repudiated President Young's decision to ban Blacks of African descent until over a century after his death. Apparently, and as far as the Church leaders felt at that time, it did not matter whether the venue for an announcement of Church policy occurred at a governmental meeting or an ecclesiastical meeting. President Young announced the ban of priesthood on the Negro members of the Church and any future members of the Church until God revealed to him otherwise.
Some factors come into play with such a declaration or promise, the most important one being would Brigham Young listen humbly to receive communication from God if it came on that subject?
Jonah did not want to hear it when the Lord spoke to him about his prejudice against the people of Ninevah. Why would a Latter-day prophet be any more persuaded to change his mind? Could God have forced him? Why did He not force him? He forced Jonah to teach the people of Ninevah. The priesthood ban did not come from God. It came from Brigham Young.
- Race and the Priesthood
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces the universal human family. God created many diverse races & ethnicities & esteems them all equally
It still cannot be determined if God disapproved of the ban without revelation from Him about it. This is an important detail not to read over missing the weight of its truth. Revelation is what it will take to know God's position on the priesthood ban.
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It still cannot be determined if God disapproved of the ban without revelation from Him about it. This is an important detail not to read over missing the weight of its truth. Revelation is what it will take to know God's position on the priesthood ban.
Racism perpetuated the ban and the false teachings supporting it. Why make assumptions when any petitioner can ask God directly. The Truth about the Curse of Cain hinges on the fact that more revelation about it gives a clear explanation. Inferences exist otherwise.
If God did provide revelation on the subject would those who take opposing positions spiritually accept it or run like Jonah? President Russel M. Nelson, the current leader of the Church promised that:
In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. [1]
If God reveals the full nature of why He allowed the leaders of the Church to ban Blacks from the priesthood and temple blessing in the Church, would the members of the Church see it as a stumbling block or not?
If God reveals that the ban came at His command would that create more peace in the hearts of people struggling with the idea that the Church is racist?
If God reveals that the ban occurred because of the frailty of man, will it scatter suspicion of what other Church policies may also fall under that umbrella?
Related
- Reconsidering the Curse of Cain | Times & Seasons [1]
Eugene England once shared an experience he had with the prominent Latter-day Saint Church leader, scriptorian, and doctrinaire Joseph Fielding Smith. President Smith had written extensively on the subject of the priesthood and temple ban against ind - The Truth About Blacks and the Curse of Cain: What is the Curse?
The Church was not the only mostly White religion that taught along the lines of a curse on Blacks due to being the descendants of Cain; however, it was the only church claiming to be the Lord's restored church at the time. This is part two.
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2012 Rodric Anthony Johnson