< 2 Nephi 5 >
v. 2 But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life.
Agency and prayerWhat’s Happening Spiritually?
Agency and prayerWhat’s Happening Spiritually?
- Prayer doesn’t always change others’ agency: Nephi’s prayer didn’t override his brothers’ free will. God doesn’t force repentance on anyone — Laman and Lemuel chose to harden their hearts further.
- Prayer strengthened Nephi, not necessarily them: His prayer gave him clarity and spiritual power to endure their opposition. God answered by guiding Nephi’s next step: separation, not reconciliation.
- Sometimes righteousness provokes greater opposition: The Book of Mormon shows a pattern: when a prophet preaches truth or resists wickedness, the wicked often double down in anger (e.g., Abinadi before King Noah, Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah). Nephi’s steadfastness may have made their rebellion burn hotter.
- Fulfillment of prophecy Back in 1 Nephi 2:23–24, the Lord told Nephi that Laman and Lemuel’s posterity would be “a scourge” to Nephi’s descendants if they rebelled. Their increased anger was part of the tragic unfolding of that prophecy.
- When we pray about conflict, God may answer not by changing them but by changing us — giving strength, clarity, or even direction to step away.
- Sometimes the answer to prayer is deliverance through separation, not immediate harmony.
- Nephi shows that peace isn’t always found by fixing others, but by obeying God’s direction even if others persist in anger.
v. 21 ... that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.
Skin of BlacknessTraditional / Literal Reading
Some LDS scholars and readers propose that “skin of blackness” may not refer to literal pigmentation, but to symbolic or spiritual conditions:
Perceived Scriptures on Race1 Nephi 11:13 (Mary): “She was exceedingly fair and white.”
1 Nephi 12:23 (prophecy of the Lamanites): “Became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.”
1 Nephi 13:15 (Gentiles): “They were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people [Nephites] before they were slain.”
2 Nephi 5:21: “A sore cursing … as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.”
2 Nephi 30:6 (prophecy to the Lamanites if they repented): “Scales of darkness shall begin to fall … they shall be a white and delightsome people” (“white and delightsome” was changed to “pure and delightsome” in 1981).
Jacob 3:5 (Lamanites cursed): “Whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins.”
Jacob 3:8-9: “Their skins will be whiter than yours … revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins.”
Alma 3:6: “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.”
Alma 3:9: “Whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed.”
Alma 3:14 (Lamanites cursed): “Set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed.”
Alma 23:18: “[Lamanites] did open a correspondence with them [Nephites] and the curse of God did no more follow them.”
3 Nephi 2:14-16: “Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites and … became exceedingly fair.”
3 Nephi 19:25, 30 (Disciples): “They were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness … nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof … and behold they were white, even as Jesus.”
Mormon 5:15 (prophecy about the Lamanites): “For this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us.”
Pearl of Great Price
Moses 7:8: “A blackness came upon all the children of Canaan.”
Moses 7:12: “Enoch continued to call upon all the people, save it were [i.e., except] the people of Canaan, to repent.”
Moses 7:22: “For the seed of Cain were black and had not place among them.”
Slightly anti-semitic
2 Nephi 10:3
Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ -- for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name -- should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him -- for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God."
Skin of BlacknessTraditional / Literal Reading
- For many years, “skin of blackness” was taken literally — that the Lamanites’ physical skin color changed.
- This view tied their outward appearance to the “curse,” making them distinct from the Nephites.
- However, this interpretation has also led to serious problems of racial misunderstanding and hurt. Modern Church leaders have disavowed any teaching that skin color makes someone cursed, inferior, or less worthy in God’s eyes (Race and the Priesthood, Gospel Topics Essay).
Some LDS scholars and readers propose that “skin of blackness” may not refer to literal pigmentation, but to symbolic or spiritual conditions:
- Metaphorical “mark” “Skin” in Hebrew (ʿor) can mean surface, covering, outward appearance. Could be describing an outward spiritual aura or a figurative mark of separation rather than pigmentation.
- Clothing or cultural markers “Skin” sometimes refers to garments made of skin. Some propose it could mean the Lamanites adopted distinct clothing, tattoos, or body paint that set them apart culturally.
- Symbol of spiritual darkness Biblical idiom sometimes uses “darkness” for estrangement from God (e.g., Isaiah 9:2). “Skin of blackness” might have been Nephi’s symbolic way of saying they had become spiritually darkened, visibly manifest in behavior, not biology.
- The curse was separation from God’s presence and loss of spiritual privilege — not skin color.
- The mark (whatever it was) was to distinguish Lamanite from Nephite socially, not to assign worth or limit salvation.
- The Book of Mormon also teaches repeatedly that all are alike unto God (2 Nephi 26:33), and many Lamanites became righteous and blessed.
- Literal view: A change in skin color to set the Lamanites apart.
- Symbolic views: A metaphor for spiritual darkness, a cultural marker (clothing, paint, tattoos), or a figurative “mark” of division.
- Modern Church stance: Any racialized interpretation is rejected; God loves all His children equally.
Perceived Scriptures on Race1 Nephi 11:13 (Mary): “She was exceedingly fair and white.”
1 Nephi 12:23 (prophecy of the Lamanites): “Became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.”
1 Nephi 13:15 (Gentiles): “They were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people [Nephites] before they were slain.”
2 Nephi 5:21: “A sore cursing … as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.”
2 Nephi 30:6 (prophecy to the Lamanites if they repented): “Scales of darkness shall begin to fall … they shall be a white and delightsome people” (“white and delightsome” was changed to “pure and delightsome” in 1981).
Jacob 3:5 (Lamanites cursed): “Whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins.”
Jacob 3:8-9: “Their skins will be whiter than yours … revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins.”
Alma 3:6: “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.”
Alma 3:9: “Whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed.”
Alma 3:14 (Lamanites cursed): “Set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed.”
Alma 23:18: “[Lamanites] did open a correspondence with them [Nephites] and the curse of God did no more follow them.”
3 Nephi 2:14-16: “Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites and … became exceedingly fair.”
3 Nephi 19:25, 30 (Disciples): “They were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness … nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof … and behold they were white, even as Jesus.”
Mormon 5:15 (prophecy about the Lamanites): “For this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us.”
Pearl of Great Price
Moses 7:8: “A blackness came upon all the children of Canaan.”
Moses 7:12: “Enoch continued to call upon all the people, save it were [i.e., except] the people of Canaan, to repent.”
Moses 7:22: “For the seed of Cain were black and had not place among them.”
Slightly anti-semitic
2 Nephi 10:3
Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ -- for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name -- should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him -- for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God."
v. 27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness
The manner of happiness
In 2 Nephi 5, Nephi describes what led to their happiness:
Key Principles of the “Manner of Happiness”
How does this apply to us?
“After the manner of happiness” isn’t about ease, wealth, or freedom from trials. It’s:
It’s a way of living — not a fleeting feeling.
The manner of happiness
In 2 Nephi 5, Nephi describes what led to their happiness:
- They separated from conflict and danger (v. 5–6).
- They worked the land diligently (v. 11).
- They kept the commandments and built a temple (v. 10, 16).
- They had righteous leadership (v. 19).
- They labored with their own hands and avoided idleness (v. 17).
- They valued scripture and record-keeping (v. 12).
Key Principles of the “Manner of Happiness”
- Peace and Separation from Contention They removed themselves from destructive influences. True happiness requires a foundation of peace.
- Obedience to God’s Commandments Nephi emphasizes keeping the law of Moses and the words of the Lord. Happiness flows from alignment with divine law.
- Temple-Centered Living Building the temple (v. 16) gave them spiritual anchoring and covenant connection with God.
- Hard Work and Self-Reliance They tilled the soil, raised flocks, and worked with their own hands. Industry and creativity brought stability and satisfaction.
- Scriptures and Records Preserving God’s word on the plates was central. The word of God was their guide to happiness.
- Righteous Leadership and OrderNephi reluctantly became their king/leader (v. 19). Good governance allowed the people to thrive.
How does this apply to us?
“After the manner of happiness” isn’t about ease, wealth, or freedom from trials. It’s:
- Creating environments of peace.
- Living in obedience and covenant connection.
- Building spiritually (temple/scriptures) and temporally (labor/work).
- Choosing good influences and righteous leadership.
It’s a way of living — not a fleeting feeling.