Jacob was the third prophet of the Book of Mormon. His family had left Jerusalem before he was born, when his father, Lehi, a prophet, was in danger. They came to a new land in the Americas. Sometime after their arrival, their father died. Lehi had two older sons who were wicked and they and their families had taken to persecuting and even trying to kill a younger son named Nephi. Nephi became the prophet after his father’s death, and the persecutions became so strong, the , Laman.
Over time, however, the Nephites became wealthy, which led to pride because they took full credit for their wealth instead of crediting God. Pride led to a letting down of obedience and moral standards. Jacob, who became the prophet when Nephi died, called his people together and spoke firmly to them, outlining their sins, including a serious problem in which the men were not honoring their marriage vows.
Jacob told them they hated the Lamanites due to their dark skins. The skin had been darkened by God in order to ensure the two groups didn’t initially intermarry. This helped to protect the Nephites from the wickedness of the Lamanites and helped them to recognize their enemy. However, the Nephites, as people sometimes will, had forgotten the purpose of the mark and had instead treated it entirely as a racial issue, not a religious one.
He told them in firm terms that they, the Nephites, had become more wicked than the Lamanites in many ways, particularly in terms of how they treated marriage. He said the Lamanites loved their spouses and their children, and some Nephites no longer did that. He explained that the Lamanite wickedness was because their fathers had trained them to be that way. The Nephites, raised in the gospel, had no such excuse. He warned them to stop judging Lamanites by their skin color and to be more concerned with their own wickedness.
“Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their fathers.” (Jacob 3:9)
Gordon B. Hinckley, a previous prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in an important church conference:
“Now I am told that racial slurs and denigrating remarks are sometimes heard among us. I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ…Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.
Brethren, there is no basis for racial hatred… If any within the sound of my voice is inclined to indulge in this, then let him go before the Lord and ask for forgiveness and be no more involved in such.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Need for Greater Kindness,” Ensign, May 2006, 58–6)
Over the years, the Church’s diversity has grown as the gospel has spread into many lands. I live in a very diverse ward (congregation) in a large city. Within the halls of the church on Sundays, we see people with every shade of skin color. Anyone can be asked to pray or speak, and prayers and “talks” are given in many different languages. Sunday School classes are taught in three languages and English classes are taught on Wednesdays.
Last year, our congregation had a cultural fair. Immigrants just in our own congregation were asked to create display tables for their countries. More than 35 countries were represented, and that didn’t include all the countries represented in our congregation, since not everyone chose to do a table. People of all races and nationalities can be seen in leadership positions in our congregation.
Unlike many churches, the Church of Jesus Christ has never held separate services for black and white worshippers. Congregations are determined by boundary lines and everyone who lives within the boundaries of a congregation is expected to attend that congregation.
Church materials today can be found in 157 languages and churches can be found in nearly every country in the world, where legally allowed. We have truly become a worldwide church.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
