#nephites

i get so irritated with the nephites, and it disturbs my spirit to read what some of them have written about the lamanite people. and i don't believe their point of view sometimes.

i think the book of mormon ultimately condemns the nephites' sinful behavior, but that is a message i think many people miss.

i have a soft spot for zoram and the zoramites as well. zoram didn't ask to be involved in all that, and didn't have a real choice about going with nephi and his family (he was coerced on threatof death). the zoramites have a right to be upset about it. my people were brought to the americas against our will as well, and i just feel the zoramites justifiable anger deeply. and while their way of worship needs correction, it feels like a "White people stepping in to save Black folks from their ignorance" narrative (which is a racist white savior narrative). i'm not sure i believe how the nephites presented zoram's point of view and the zoramites either.

since the BoM is written from a nephite point of view, i think it contains the prejudices that the nephites have. i guess i'm "nephite critical," but i think that's okay.

the idea that israelites sailed across the atlantic ocean and formed a population in north america that could be attributed to native americans is racist.

the idea that jesus christ appeared to native americans and converted them to christianity pre-colonial times is racist.

the idea that the arrival of christianity to north america with european colonialism was a prophesied “reintroduction” of christianity is racist.

the foundations of your religion are racist.

the foundations of your religion are historical negationism.

the foundations of your religion justify american colonialism as the will of god.