Judgement Day in Black and White

What is Jacob discussing regarding skin in chapter3 

O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God. 9  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 is at the temple teaching his people.  They have come up to the temple to hear these important words.  At the temple we receive a skin symbollic of the skin given to Adam and Eve.  

Adam and Eve tried to make their own covering.  They did great! It was a plant based covering, fig leaves. It may have been an elaborate dress and suit, or it may have been as the renaissance artists depict.  It's allegory anyway, so use your imagination.  Why did God reject Adam and Eve's fashion statement?  He rejected it because it wasn't enough to hide their sins.  They needed to be cleansed by the atonement.  Their own efforts were not enough.  They could not cover their sin with fig leaves.  They were still naked before god. and stuck in their sins.  You can't fool or mock God.  So God asks Christ to make a coat of Skin for Adam and Eve.  This was from an animal maybe even a lamb, and it had blood, it was shed for them.  The skin was shed from the lamb by the Lamb of God for Adam and Eve, and they wore the coats of skin and they were no longer naked, they had put off their natural covering and natural man, and put on a Christ's atoning covering, that hides their nakedness and covers their sins.  Christ's skin and atonement is pure and holy.  It is symbolized by a white garment.

What is the significance of him describing their skin at judgment?  Are there any other historical references to Judgement and Skin color?

Jacob is comparing the obedience of these two groups. When we go to the throne of God at judgement, we will be judged according to the acceptance of the Atonement of Christ in our individual lives.  We are judged by the degree to which we know Christ.

If we are covered in Christ's skin (atonining sacrifice) instead of our fig leaves (natural man), we are able to qualify to enter into his presence.  If we are covered with his sacrifice we are pure and holy and our skin is white as it is the skin of Christ.

If we are evil we will have a dark skin and we will be loathsome and filthy.  Our natural garment that we made, or were given as a hand me down from cursed generations will be filthy.  We will be dark, and our skin that we have made will be dark, as it is not the skin given to us by Christ or his atonment.  Or it is the skin we were given, and we did not take care of it and it is filthy like we are.

Is this supported in any other contemporary sources?

Yes!  3 Enoch 4:6 And the faces of the wicked souls were as black as the bottom of a pot, because of the multitude of their wicked deeds.

Also 2 Esdras 7:47-61 especially verse 55

 47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment? 
48 O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee. 
49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death? 
50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain? 
51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly? 52 And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all? 
53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it? 
54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.) 
55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness? 
56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death. 
57 Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight; 
58 That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say. 
59 For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live. 
60 Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have spoken unto them, 
61 That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.

These contemporary ancient texts support the idea of being black or white at judgement.  They help us to know that Jacob is referring to a spiritual idea of black and white.  He is also talking about a physical skin given to Adam and Eve, and possibly those who have taken on covenants in the temple.

A Different Approach to Adult Content

Thoughts directed to  youth, children, parents, leaders and missionary aged YSA battling against pervasive sex film/ pictures and literature.

People who make sexual material benefit from your sex drive.

A sex drive is healthy and normal. People profiting off of the teenage and below age of majority sex drive, or the curiosity of children is not. Producers of adult content are paying professional performers, or writers, to appeal to your wonderful natural sexual instincts or curiosity to get clicks or money from you.

The producers of the material that you consume were likely able to get to you before you had reached the age where you were able to make adult choices about sex. Almost 100% of youth do not make it through highschool without having seen adult sexual material.

Years ago, sexual material had to be purchased. It was only able to be purchased by adults. Adults then had a responsibility to keep magazines, VHS or cable subscriptions away from their children. Some did this better than others. But at least society would safeguard children at the 7-Eleven, or video rental store. The adult titles were in a separate room curtained off.

Now with the freedom provided to producers of sex films, performer/producers can reach any age person with just a simple google search.

When they reach a child, society may call it "unfortunate" or "bound to happen"

What we should be calling it is "indecent exposure" or "sexual exploitation of a minor"

The producer of the content is taking no safeguard to protect children. There is zero incentive for them to keep the material out of the hands of kids. In fact they have every incentive to keep you desiring to click for more sexual material.

So...

For you, this means that the material that you are viewing or are tempted to view should not be available to you. It should only be available to adults. Not when you are a child/teen.

No child should ever be exposed to adult entertainment. We do not allow children into strip clubs, or adult movie theatres, Society however allows them to have unlimited access to sexual material on the internet. With no punishment to the person who creates the material or to those who distribute it through ISP's, website domains, and payment gateway's.

You are still below the age of majority in some jurisdictions, and legally would not be able to purchase the material that you are accessing for free, or buying.

Essentially, you were taken advantage of sexually as a minor for your clicks. You were exploited by some people who had no care for your natural hormones and natural sex drive. You were mentally sexually abused.

Sex films aren't for kids.

If you are clicking to or turning to these materials, you have been exploited by the sex film industry. This can start from a young age.

Rather than seek treatment for addiction or sinful behavior, your treatment should be closer to that of someone who was abused. You deserve empathy, love and compassion. God loves you and wants you to be whole. You should be given a huge hug and a lot of love and support.

Go and get help. Stop white knuckling this on your own. You are battling this fight incorrectly. If there is an adult or peer you trust, talk to them, work up the courage to talk to a parent, and your bishop. Discuss this approach with your bishop, take your parent or the trusted peer or other adult with you.

You may be fighting yourself when you should have an enemy to fight.

Your enemy is the people profiting off of you. They have played the trick of internet freedom and freedom of expression in order to reach minors. Battle back by not giving them your money and clicks. Don't support their business.

You are not an addict. You are a victim.

Alma 3:4-6 Marks, Skin, Temple

I have been pondering Alma 3:4-6

4 And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for **they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites.

5 Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were naked**, save it were skin which was girded about their loins, and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth.

6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.

The Amlicites mark themselves. However they only do the forehead, they don’t do the other markings of dress and hair and loin material made of skin. the lamanites are “naked” except the skin.

The mark is at least 4 things. Red on forehead, shorn hair, “skin” gird about loins and they are naked.

Except how are they naked when they have skins girding their loins and all the armor on?

Then we learn more about the mark in 6. The “skins” of the lamanites were “dark”.

The mark- at least 4 elements were “set upon” their fathers

The mark was there because “transgression and their rebellion against Their brethren”

Let’s bring this full circle.

Transgression was that they tried to Kill Nephi.

This was like Cain. He killed Abel and was cursed he was naked and he was dark etc.

Laman and Lemuel have been “through the temple” They had a garment ( skin) with marks placed upon them. To cover their nakedness. They had made covenants that were binding and had ramifications of cursing if not adhered to.

Then they attempted to murder nephi.

Broke covenant, removed nephite temple garment (a white skin), put on different garments- (a Black skin), and marked themselves to distinguish themselves physically from the Nephites.

Fast forward to Alma 3. They are quite different now from each other. The Lamanites have been cursed for decades/centuries and they are still marking themselves after the manner of their fathers. Their Skins go about their loins are dark and contrast the white skin or garment of the Nephites.

The endowment is key to understanding Alma 3:4-6

What does it mean to Disavow the Words of a Prophet?

Ponder the word disavow...

We have in the past had statements, explaining the temple and priesthood ban, from beloved leaders of our church regarding race. These bans were removed from African Americans in 1978. Prior to that there were bans on other races. These explanations have now been disavowed.

What on earth does disavow mean?

President Oaks was a Utah Supreme Court Justice.

He spoke at the “Be one” celebration. He said “The reasons that had been given to try to explain the prior restrictions on members of African ancestry — even those previously voiced by revered Church leaders — were promptly and publicly disavowed.”

*** Update - the disavowal has gone further - Elder Stevenson said  "Our position as a Church is clear. We do condemn all racism, past or present, in any form and we disavow any theory that black or dark skin is a sign of a curse. We are brothers and sisters and I consider you friends.”

There are 2 definitions of disavowed, the common definition, and the legal one.

Common definition
Disavow transitive verb1 : to deny responsibility for : REPUDIATE disavowed the actions of his subordinates 2 : to refuse to acknowledge or accept : DISCLAIM

Legal definition.
TO DISAVOW.1.  To deny the authority by which an agent pretends to have acted as when he has exceeded the bounds of his authority.      2. It is the duty of the principal to fulfill the contracts which have been entered into by his authorized agent; and when an agent has exceeded his authority, he ought promptly to disavow such act, so that the other party may have his remedy against the agent. See Agent; Principal.

I think the first definition, found in a regular dictionary doesn't fit what President Oaks was saying.

I submit that President Oaks is using his background as a lawyer and justice, to legally define the disavowal of the actions of beloved former leaders. I believe he means definition #2

This is a serious matter. This is historic. This definition fits.

By this definition a prophet can act within authority and without authority. When it’s determined that they are out of authority the actions are disavowed. This does not dismiss the authority that they do have. Nor does it fix the problems that the actions may have caused.

As a collective the church members faithfully followed direction that had no divine authority or mandate. Sadly there have been serious ramifications. When some of our members read these passages it adds an unnecessary burden to their membership in the kingdom.

This requires no gymnastics. It’s straightforward. It’s straight up agency. We fought for Agency. We act as agents of God. We can be incorrect agents. Prophets can be prophets and act outside of authority.

We have traditionally interpreted scriptures with racial overtones incorrectly. We must disavow these incorrect teachings. It’s imperative.

We can teach an enlightened view.

Ark the Cherub Angels Sing!

In Don Bradley's book The Lost 116 pages he compares the Ark of the Covenant to the Stone Box that Joseph and Emma were led to by the Angel Moroni.

The "ark" that Joseph found was inverse to that of the Ark of the covenant.  Meaning that the Nephite Ark was stone, and the Plates were of Gold.  Whereas the Mosaic Ark was Gold and the Commandments in Stone.

The Arks contained the temple relics. All of these point to the Savior.

Here is a table of contents:

Ark of the Covenant	Nephite Ark	Meaning
Cherubs	Moroni	Angelic Security
10 commandments	Book of Mormon	Word of God
Mercy Seat	Stone	Revelation
Goliath's Sword	Laban's Sword	Deliverance
Ephod	Breast Plate	Righteousness
Manna	Liahona	Food
Stones touched by God	Interpreters	He reveals himself
Aaron's Rod	Liahona	Will of the Lord

The day I listened to the podcast that talked about the Arks, we had the Sister Missionaries over for a meal.  They shared a video for the message. The video was "For God so Loved the World"

Did you catch something in the opening scenes,  What was stone?

The tomb! 

Let's add it to the Table

Ark of the Covenant	Nephite Ark	Tomb	Meaning
Cherubs	Moroni	Angels	Angelic Security
10 commandments	Book of Mormon	Christ is the Word	Word of God
Mercy Seat	Stone	Christ is the Judge	Revelation
Goliath's Sword	Laban's Sword	Christ delivers us from sin	Deliverance
Ephod	Breast Plate	Christ will gather is Sheep	Righteousness
Manna	Liahona	Christ is the Bread of Life	Food
Stones touched by God	Interpreters	He is Risen!	He Reveals himself
Aaron's Rod	Liahona	He is the way, truth, life	Will of the Lord

There are more columns we can add.  There was one more that was in the video.  The Birth of Christ!

Birth	Meaning
Angels	Angelic Security
The Son of God	Word of God
Born in a Cave of Stone, Placed in a manger of Stone	Revelation
The hope of Atonement	Deliverance
Swaddling Clothes	Righteousness
Animals Eat their food from the manger	Food
A New Star in Heavens	He is born/Reveals Himself
Wise men sought him	Will of the Lord

Are there examples of other Arks?

Emma came to get the plates with Joseph, Mary witnessed the resurrected Savior, the High Priest guarded the Ark in the Holy of Holies. Shepherds, and Wisemen witnessed the Birth of the Savior.

All sacred relics pointed to the Savior.  They pointed to the atonement and resurrection.  They guide us to Him and the hope and peace that is found in Him.

Connecting the Ark's is critical to remembering the Savior.  These objects served to connect testimony and the love of God through time.  To remember that covenants made in Holy Temples are sacred and to be guarded, and remembered.  That we honor Christ by remembering and loving and coming to Him.

I ordered Don's book The Lost 116 Pages today, I am excited to read it.