Featured Art: Joseph the Prophet Addressing the Lamanites.” Lithograph by H. R. Robinson, 1844. Image from Church History Library, Salt Lake City.
LDS Teachings on the Ancestry of Native Americans: Who Are The Lamanites?
One important aspect of the LDS Church’s history is the doctrine of The Book of Mormon.
For those unfamiliar, Joseph Smith claimed that on the evening of September 21, 1823, an angel named Moroni appeared to him, revealing that a book was deposited on gold plates hidden in a hill called Cumorah in upstate New York. Joseph stated in his testimony that “there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang.” He visited the plates multiple times until 1827 when he was finally allowed to retrieve them. He then translated the book over the next three years, completing the translation in 1829.
In the narrative, Joseph describes the family of Nephi fleeing Jerusalem around 600 B.C. The truth of this story hinges on these people being the principal ancestors of Native Americans.
In this post, I aim to demonstrate how crucial it is for Latter-day Saints to believe these claims, as they are foundational premises of the Book of Mormon and thus to Mormonism itself. To accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God, one must believe in the historicity of this account. I recognize that some modern movements within the LDS community are transitioning the Book of Mormon to an allegorical interpretation. However, I believe this is a dangerous position that undermines the validity of modern LDS prophets, and I plan to address that in a future post.
What is the Purpose of The Book of Mormon?
The book’s title page, penned by Moroni, tells us that it is “written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.” This title page was said by Joseph Smith to be a direct translation off the gold plates, which means that this is not Joseph Smith’s thoughts, but the word of God. The main purpose of the book of Mormon is to preach the gospel to the Lamanites.
Next, I want to start by mentioning a troubling finding from my research into LDS history.
In the modern translation of the Book of Mormon, both in physical copies and on the LDS website, you will find the following statement in the introduction:
“After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.”
However, in older editions of the Book of Mormon, published before 2006, the statement reads:
“After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.”
This change was made in 2006 , here are two news articles from then to describe the change, Here and Here.
There is a straightforward explanation for this change from an LDS apologetic perspective. The online apologist group FAIR explains it best:
“The Church made the change in wording to the introduction to the Book of Mormon to remove the assumption, which was inserted in the 1920s and is not part of the original text, that all of the inhabitants of the Americas were exclusive descendants of Lehi. This had been the generally held belief since the Church was restored.” Source.
To be fair and honest regarding the LDS position, the change to the introduction of the Book of Mormon does not imply a change to the inspired word of the text. However, this does not mean the LDS Church never taught the earlier position. On the contrary, the belief that Lamanites were the principal ancestors of Native Americans was widely accepted and considered divine revelation by many prophets before the change.
In the Book of Mormon, Lehi is described as a direct descendant of the tribe of Manasseh. Also, see how god confirms this in 2 Nephi 3:4-5.
So in fact, this belief has been a part of Church teachings since its founding in the 19th century. This is the exact thing the standard works teach, there is no other way around it. To say otherwise is simply a lie.
Evidence from The Standard Works
The LDS scriptures, collectively referred to as the Standard Works, include The Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants, all of which affirm that the Lamanites are the principal ancestors of the Native Americans.
To start, a chronological reading of the Book of Mormon reveals that the Jaredites were the first civilization in the Americas, having arrived following the events at the Tower of Babel.
First Come The Jaredites?
During the time of the Tower of Babel, Jared and his brother prayed for divine guidance and were led to the Americas, where they established a civilization. The Book of Mormon, states the lord brought the Jaredites into a quarter where there had never before been people, and he guided them specifically to it and preserved it for specifically for them. See Ether 2:5-7:
“5 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel.
6 And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.
7 And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.”
This is the earliest mention of the first civilization to arrive in the new world. Again, the Book of Mormon states, that the Lord commanded them to go to a quarter of the world where there had “never had been man” and that the was preserved for a righteous people. However, in the narrative, the Jaredites all died out, and the land was prophesized to be given to other people ( Lehis descendants). See Ether 13:2 and 13:21
“wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof” (cf verse 2)
“Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his household save it were himself. And he should only live to see the fulfilling of the prophecies which had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land for their inheritance; and Coriantumr should receive a burial by them; and every soul should be destroyed save it were Coriantumr.” (cf verese 21)
This shows the lord would have those who dwell on the land serve the lord, when they failed to do they all died out and the land was prophesied to the descendants of Lehi.
And It Came To Pass, Lehi’s Family Leaves For America.
According to the narrative in The Book of Mormon, the patriarch Lehi and his sons—Nephi, Laman, and Lemuel—come to inhabit North America. Over time, the Nephites eventually diminished, leaving the Lamanites as the prominent descendants. (The Lemuelites are recognized as a subgroup within the Lamanite lineage.)
In the Book of Mormon, we see support for the prophecy that the inhabitants of the New World are Lehi’s descendants, as seen in 2 Nephi 1:8-11:
“8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.
9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves….and they shall dwell safely forever.
10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord…
11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten.”
This passage shows Nephi recalling the prophetic words of his father, Lehi, who indicates that the land is kept from other nations to prevent them from overrunning it. Lehi prophesies that his descendants will prosper and dwell safely, but warns that if they dwindle in unbelief, other nations will be brought to the land, resulting in the loss of their possessions.
Additionally, in 1 Nephi 18:25, Lehi’s family documents their findings, there is no mention of other groups:
“And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men.”
And again in 2 Nephi 10:10, we see Jacob, Lehi’s son, speak of the importance of keeping the commandments, to ensure that their descendants will inherit the land, further reinforcing the idea that Lehi’s lineage is destined to occupy the land.
10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.
And It Came To Pass, The Mulekites Arrived
The Mulekites, fleeing Jerusalem, arrived in the Americas shortly after Lehi’s family. While the exact timing isn’t specified, they settled in a place called Zarahemla. We know the Mulekites are generally believed to have arrived in the Americas shortly after Lehi’s family. While the exact timing isn’t specified in detail, it’s indicated that both groups fled Jerusalem around the same period.
Mosiah 7:1: Here, it mentions that the Mulekites had not kept a record of their history, which indicates that they were separate from the Nephites and likely had a different timeline of arrival.
Mosiah 18:34: This verse shows the merging of the Mulekites and Nephites under Mosiah’s leadership, emphasizing that they had been living separately before coming together.
- Mosiah 25:2-3: This passage describes how, after the Nephites led by Mosiah discovered the Mulekites, they learned that the Mulekites had been in the land for some time but did not know about the Nephites or their history. This suggests that the Mulekites arrived shortly after Lehi’s family.
Lehi’s family, later encountered the Mulekites, and the two groups eventually merged under Nephite leadership, led by a man named Mosiah, as we see written in his account titled, “Mosiah”. This union allowed the Nephites and Mulekites to flourish, becoming the sole inheritors of the land.
The Uncomfortable Prophetic Truths
I want to be clear: It is acknowledged the Jaredites had arrived long before Lehi’s family, and again I want to reiterate, they all died.
The Jaredites are the only non-Israelite group mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and only one individual, Coriantumr, survives to tell their story. After witnessing the destruction of his people, he lived among the Mulekites for a time, and his story concludes with his death, where he was given a proper burial by them. This indicates that, while the majority of the Jaredites perished, only one individual, connected with later inhabitants of the land. The Book of Mormon explicitly identifies no other peoples besides direct Israelite descendants as inheritors of the land, strongly suggesting that they were the only significant inhabitants of the New World.
This is the only accurate interpretation of the text.
Ether 13:21 contains a prophecy that the land is reserved for a righteous people, stating, “the prophecies which had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land for their inheritance; and Coriantumr should receive a burial by them.” This aligns with the narrative that Lehi’s descendants, along with the Mulekites who merged with them, would ultimately inherit the land, as they are the ones who buried Coriantumr.
In essence, this is the fulfillment of prophecy. For the prophecy to hold true, the land—referred to as the “quarter where there never had man been” (Ether 2)—must be preserved for righteous people, specifically those who buried Coriantumr. There is simply no alternative if the prophecy is to be realized. Ether 11:21 further underscores this idea, where Ether pleads with the Jaredites to repent and return to God, stating, “And that the Lord God would send or bring forth another people to possess the land, by his power, after the manner by which he brought their fathers.” This indicates that the promised land—preserved for a righteous people (Ether 2:5, Ether 2:7)—is destined to be taken away and given to another.
To truly believe in the Book of Mormon, one must accept that the New World is intended exclusively for the descendants of the house of Israel, as God willed it to be a domain for the righteous. Ether’s prophecy in Ether 13:21 underscores this by declaring that the land would be given to a righteous people—specifically those who bury Coriantumr, the last survivor of the Jaredites.
This act of burial is not a trivial detail; it marks the group that inherits the land, which in this case, is the people of Zarahemla (the Mulekites), who later merge with the Nephites to form a unified civilization.This merger solidifies the Nephite group’s claim to the promise land.
This event even fulfills the earlier promises given by God, as we see in 1 Nephi 2:20, where God promised Nephi and his descendants that they would inherit the land if they remained righteous. The prophecy also aligns with the promise made in 2 Nephi 1:5, where Lehi tells his family that the land is specifically prepared for them by the Lord, and 2 Nephi 1:9, where Lehi states that the land will be theirs as long as they keep the commandments. Thus, the inheritance of the land by the Nephites (including their merger with the Mulekites) fulfills the divine promise to Lehi and Nephi that their descendants would possess the land, as long as they were righteous. Coriantumr’s burial by the people of Zarahemla signifies the transfer of stewardship over the land to this righteous group—the combined Nephite-Mulekite civilization.
This connection is finally cemented by Mormon 8:9-10, where Moroni laments the fall of the Nephites and states that all who remain are the Lamanites and the robbers (a remnant of the Nephites and Gadianton robbers): “And now behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city, and now there are NONE save it be the Lamanites and robbers who do exist upon the face of the land.”
This passage emphasizes that there are no other peoples left in the New World, further confirming the idea that Lehi’s descendants—through the Nephites and Mulekites—were the sole inheritors of the land until their eventual downfall. “There are none save it be for the Lamanites”
To conclude, Ether’s prophecy links the land’s inheritance to Lehi’s descendants, particularly the righteous Nephites and Mulekites. To deny this is to deny the core narrative of the Book of Mormon, which teaches that the land was divinely preserved for a chosen, covenant-keeping people. After their destruction, nothing remained but the descendants of the House of Israel as Moroni himself confirms in Mormon 8.
This Is An Argument From Silence
To be genuine to the LDS perspective, it is important to recognize that this argument is primarily based on an argument from silence.
The absence of mention of other groups in the Book of Mormon does not definitively negate their existence. Just because certain populations are not explicitly referenced in the text does not mean they were absent from the Americas during the time period in question. While we will soon see how this may not be the strongest argument from an LDS apologetic standpoint, it must be considered alongside other relevant evidence and interpretations.Moreover, we must take into account the significant 1,400-year gap between when Moroni buried the plates and when Joseph Smith discovered them.
Historically, it is clear Joseph Smith explicitly taught that no other peoples existed in the Americas besides those descended from Lehi. This viewpoint has been upheld by the LDS Church since its creation, reinforcing the idea that the Lamanites are considered the principal ancestors of Native Americans. It is not until recently have changes to this interpretation been made to account for emerging evidence.
In an honest evaluation of the text, it becomes clear that the Book of Mormon teaches that the descendants of the house of Israel, are the principal inhabitants of the land. This interpretation aligns with what Joseph Smith explicitly taught from text and after all, who better to trust than the man who led the Restoration and devoted his life to clarifying the divine principles found within the Book of Mormon?
Evidence from the Doctrine and Covenants: Continuing the Examination of the Standard Works
To go further, we can refer to the writings in the Doctrine and Covenants.
D&C 3:16-20 states:
“…18 And this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their brethren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations.
19 And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which He made to His people;
20 And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in His name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.”
Here, we see that the Lord desires the people living on this land to exclusively serve Him; those who fail to do so do not survive and are ultimately wiped out. This theme is consistent with the claims made in the Book of Ether, which we previously looked at.
D&C 19:27 further emphasizes that the Lamanites are descendants of Israel:
“Which is my word to the Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.”
Additionally, D&C 28:8 states,
“And now, behold, I say unto you that you shall go unto the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them.”
This is a straightforward reiteration of the official reason the Book of Mormon was written: to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. This theme continues in the following chapter, D&C 32,where it declares:
“And now concerning my servant Parley P. Pratt, behold, I say unto him that as I live I will that he shall declare my gospel and learn of me, and be meek and lowly of heart.
2 And that which I have appointed unto him is that he shall go with my servants, Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jun., into the wilderness among the Lamanites.”
The official Church heading description states, “The Lord would indicate His will as to whether elders should be sent at that time to the Indian tribes in the West.”
This revelation led Joseph Smith and his followers to Missouri, as prefaced in D&C 52, where the Lord Himself states:
“I, the Lord, will make known unto you what I will that ye shall do from this time until the next conference, which shall be held in Missouri, upon the land which I will consecrate unto my people, which are a remnant of Jacob, and those who are heirs according to the covenant.”
This is further supported in D&C 54:8:
“And thus you shall take your journey into the regions westward, unto the land of Missouri, unto the borders of the Lamanites.”
Also, in D&C 57:1-2:
“The land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints.
2 Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion.”
Logically following the teachings from D&C 3 to 57, we see the need to preach the gospel to the Lamanites, specifically identified as the Native Americans, to whom Oliver Cowdery and his companions were sent on a mission. They traveled to Missouri, which the revelation describes as “on the borders of the Lamanites.”
This is not merely a speculative idea; it is what the standard works teach. The Lamanites are, in fact, recognized as the principal ancestors of the Native Americans. The standard works believe this, and god himself believes this to be true.
See more of the following supportive verses:
D&C 49:24 But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose.
D&C 28:14 And thou shalt assist to settle all these things, according to the covenants of the church, before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites.
D&C 30:6 …for I have given unto him power to build up my church among the Lamanites.
D&C 28:9 …and no man knoweth where the city of Zion shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter. Behold, I say unto you that it shall be on the borders by the Lamanites.
Zelph the White Lamanite
We can see more of this teaching, directly from Joseph Smith, in the story of Zelph. Zelph the White Lamanite comes from early LDS church history. Zelph was discovered by a group of Mormon pioneers led by Joseph Smith in the early 1830s during an archaeological dig in Illinois. They found a skeleton buried with evidence suggesting he was a warrior who had lived among the Lamanites. Zelph was apparenlty identified as white and a warrior who was killed in a battle.
You can read the official story here from the Joseph Smith Foundation.
I’ll also cite two Mormon apologetic responses to the subject, from mormonr in which they write,
” The Zelph story, though some details and how we know them are fuzzy, is a story about a prophet telling a very specific story. Was Joseph Smith giving a kind of revelation here? Or was he telling a tall tale to impress his friends? If Joseph was making claims about his “area of expertise” and he was incorrect, could that be seen as a strike against his credibility?
Multiple witnesses did record that men on Zion’s Camp did find skeletal remains in a mound. They also attested that Joseph identified them as a Lamanite named Zelph.
To the early Saints, the term “Lamanite” was often used synonymously with “Indian,” so finding bones belonging to a Native American in a mound structure and referring to them as Lamanite is not unusual. However, Joseph Smith identifying the bones and talking about them seems odd. Later, the University of Illinois dated the mounds to the late Book of Mormon times.
It’s okay to feel a little confused or weirded out by the Zelph story—it is strange. It’s also fine to think it’s not that important. There is no “Book of Zelph” or a section of the Doctrine & Covenants containing a revelation related to him. Given Joseph never taught or spoke about Zelph again, it seems it might not have been that important. As to Joseph’s credibility—a better test than Zelph might be to focus on what he taught most, like the restoration or plan of salvation.”
Mormonr analysis of the Zelph story somewhat sidesteps the implications for Joseph Smith’s credibility in this instance, yet it continues to affirm his prophetic insights about the restoration. I find this odd, but at least they acknowledge the reality of the situation. Furthermore, FAIR writes the following about the story… personally I think this is much more disingenuous than Mormonr’s response.
“Thus, it is unclear exactly what Joseph said. Many of the accounts date from many years after the event, and may have been shaded by later ideas in the writers. Joseph never had a chance to correct that which was published about the event, since he was killed before it was made public. The “Lamanites” may refer to native Amerindians generally, or Book of Mormon peoples specifically. If the latter are referred to, the events may well apply to post-Book of Mormon events, in which case it can tell us little about the geographic scope of the Book of Mormon text. It is at least clear enough that Joseph Smith called the peoples of the area “Nephite” in the statement that he made in the letter to his wife, but those titles of political factions again don’t do much for determining ethnicity.
As always, the Book of Mormon text itself must remain our primary guide for what it says. Joseph Smith does not seem to have later regarded his knowledge about Zelph as excluding other peoples or locations as being related to the Book of Mormon, or to have discouraged other Church leaders from similar theories.”
FAIR seems to not acknowledge the reality of the issue by stating the Lamanites “may refer to native Americans” whereas mormonr is pretty honest that this is and always was the Prophet’s intent with their comment, “the term “Lamanite” was often used synonymously with “Indian,” so finding bones belonging to a Native American in a mound structure and referring to them as Lamanite is not unusual.”
The Wentworth Letter
The Wentworth Letter, written by Joseph Smith in 1842, is an important document in the history of The LDS Church.
In this letter, Joseph Smith outlines the key beliefs of the church, touching on topics like the nature of God, the purpose of life, and the role of the church in restoring the gospel. He also discusses the Book of Mormon and its divine origins. The letter was a response to John Wentworth, a Chicago newspaper editor, who wanted to understand more about the Latter-day Saints. Overall, the Wentworth Letter helped clarify and promote the core tenets of early Mormon doctrine, making it a significant piece of LDS history. In this letter, we find the following excerpt;
“In this important and interesting book, the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the Tower of Babel at the confusion of languages to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the Tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country.” (The Wentworth Letter, Ensign, July, 2002).
Official Teachings and Wisdom from the Prophets; The Native Americans ARE Lamanites.
Joseph Smith taught this very thing as recorded in the history of the church stating,
“The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians; having been found through the ministration of an holy angel, and translated into our own language by the gift and power of God, after having been hid up in the earth for the last fourteen hundred years, containing the word of God which was delivered unto them” (History of the Church, 1:315).
Another good nugget is Ancient America Speaks, a popular LDS student video that describes the history of The Book of Mormon and its historicity. This was an informational video to describe the origins of the faith before the DNA evidence emerged. I would highly recommend the video.
In 1976, the church published a pamphlet telling Native Americans that their ancestors were the Lamanites. Here is a direct quote:
“You native Americans who are called Indians – who are you? .. Do you know that your ancestors were once a mighty nation upon the American continent? … The best source of true information that tells who you are.. is found in an important book – the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a history of your people. … The Book of Mormon tells how your forefathers came from Jerusalem … The Lamanites were marked by the Lord with a darker skin. … Members of the Church feel a responsibility to the Lamanite people, whose forefathers originally wrote the Book of Mormon.” You can find the pamphlet Here and Here.
1960 April General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball stated the following:
“Indians are people, and the longer I serve with them the more I realize that they respond to the same teaching and kindness and love as others do. They have the same emotions. … The day of the Lamanites is nigh. For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised. In this picture of the twenty Lamanite missionaries, fifteen of the twenty were as light as Anglos; five were darker but equally delightsome. The children in the home placement program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation. … These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness. One white elder jokingly said that he and his companion were donating blood regularly to the hospital in the hope that the process might be accelerated. … Not only the southwest Indians, but Lamanites in general, are facing an open door to education, culture, refinement, progress, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church has spent its millions in Hawaii and New Zealand and other islands to provide schools for the young Lehites.” — You can find the full conference report Here.
The church starts the 2024 Come Follow Me manual with an insistence that the Book of Mormon is real history and that Lehi and Nephi were real historical figures:
“The Book of Mormon is not just a history of ancient American civilizations. It seeks to convince all “that Jesus is the Christ”
Again we see The Book of Mormon begins with an account of a real family experiencing real struggles.
Official Church Student Manual on Doctrine and Covenants
In the Official Manual of D&C we see quotes from President Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, where he reaffirms the message that the Natives are Lamanites, “‘He has revealed the origin and the Records of the aboriginal tribes of America, and their future destiny.—And we know it.”
Newsletters From The Church
In this 2018 church newsletter, Native American LDS members meet with LDS elder Echo Hawk and Elder Pieper. In this, the article states, ” Elder Echo Hawk, who also is a Native American, encouraged those listening to study the Book of Mormon. “We are descendants of Book of Mormon peoples,” he told the group during his brief remarks. “And the title page to the Book of Mormon says it was ‘written to the Lamanites …” and when asking the native american members the conversation is recorded in the news article as this “Turning to Nelson, Elder Pieper asked her if knowing that she is a member of the house of Israel makes a difference in her life. “It does,” she answered. “We feel a part of something even bigger. It makes us feel special.” It doesn’t get much clearer than this.
In this 2016 News Article members of the LDS church visit a Navajo Nation, where they interact with the native American population, the article states the following,
” Many of the members are renowned for their dedication and devotion, said Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “They are the children of Lehi, and they readily embrace the Savior and the teachings of the Book of Mormon.”
Here again, elder Hawk is pointing out the current belief.
Current Music
In the current LDS Music library there is a Hymnn that is titled “O stop and tell me, Red Man” from Sacred Hymns (1835). The Hymnn states the following,
“O stop and tell me, Red Man,
Who are ye? why you roam?
And how you get your living?
Have you no God;—no home?
With stature straight and portly,
And deck’d in native pride,
With feathers, paints and broaches,
He willingly replied:—
“I once was pleasant Ephraim,
“When Jacob for me pray’d;
“But oh! how blessings vanish,
“When man from God has stray’d!
“Before your nation knew us,
“Some thousand moons ago,
“Our fathers fell in darkness,
“And wander’d to and fro,
“And long they’ve liv’d by hunting,
“Instead of work and arts,
“And so our race has dwindled
“To idle Indian hearts.
“Yet hope within us lingers,
“As if the Spirit spoke:—
‘He’ll come for your redemption,
‘And break your Gentile yoke:
‘And all your captive brothers,
‘From every clime shall come,
‘And quit their savage customs,
‘To live with God at home.
“Then joy will fill our bosoms,
“And blessings crown our days,
“To live in pure religion,
“And sing our maker’s praise.”
O stop and tell me, Red Man.
If the Lamanites are not the principal ancestors of the Native Americans, why is there a song dedicated to learning the history of the “Red Man”?
Lastly, an official BYU performing group called, Lamanite Generation has a song titled, “Yes, I Am a Lamanite,” it is directed by Janie Thompson, and produced by K. Newell Dayley. Lamanite Generation is a musical group variety show featuring talented American Indian, Polynesian, Mexican American, and native Latin American students in both traditional and contemporary productions. In this, the word “Lamanite” is used to describe all of the above cultures. You can find some of the music Here.
Also a simple Google search of ” Lamanite Generation”, will give many results showing other music as well, like ” Go My Son”. None of these songs were questioned by church leaders and there was no alternate opinion about who the Lamanites were.
An Argument Beyond Silence
In summary, while the Book of Mormon doesn’t explicitly mention other groups in the New World—an omission that could be seen as an argument from silence—the historical context and teachings within the LDS Church present a clearer picture. Joseph Smith, The Church itself, and subsequent prophets consistently affirmed that Native Americans are the primary descendants of the Lamanites. A clear reading of the Standard Works, in harmony with the original teachings of the Book of Mormon and official church materials, reinforces this belief as essential for members. To deviate from this understanding not only contradicts the original teachings of the prophets but also risks crossing into apostasy, making it essential for believers to uphold this core doctrine.
Ultimately, there is no evidence supporting the idea that the Lamanites were a different native group among the Native Americans, and this perspective does not align with the direction the Church is trying to take regarding the Lamanite position today. The official teaching has consistently affirmed their identity as the principal ancestors of Native Americans.
