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I have fond memories of growing up in Utah in the 1970’s. It would have been like stepping into Norman Rockwell painting. However, the only diversity I was exposed to as a child is what the church imported in off the reservations through the “Indian Placement Program”. I had neighbors and family members who had “lamanite” children in their homes. Let there be no doubt this was a program that the church wanted to succeed. Surly the educational help of the poor and uneducated Indians played a minor role in the program, but it is certain that the primary purpose was to fulfil Book of Mormon prophecy by helping the “lamanites” blossom like a rose! Read the following conference address by Pres. Kimball and imagine what type of indirect pressures were placed on wards and stakes to support this program:

President Spencer W. Kimball, Applying the Principles of Welfare Services, Ensign (CR), May 1979, p.98
We wish to extend our love and appreciation to all those who have provided service and sacrifice in the Indian student placement program. To you wonderful Indian parents, we give our love. We know of your sacrifice in allowing your children the opportunity for a good education away from home and access to the full Church program. We know how your love will bless the lives of your children and strengthen your entire family. To you foster parents who give of your life, your time, and your means, we offer our deepest appreciation. We know your participation requires love and a little extra to provide for these Lamanite youth. We also know that many blessings come to you and your family as you demonstrate this love and unselfishness for others. Both foster families and Indian families benefit from the experience. The placement program was inspired of the Lord. We have watched many of our Lamanite youth become strong leaders in the Church, and many have taken their place as leaders in their communities and in the world.
We encourage bishops to continue their work in this important and official program of the Church. Seek out Lamanite youth who will benefit from the program and help them blossom as the rose. Stake presidents, guide your bishops in this effort, too.


For over a century Mormon leaders have proclaimed with boldness that the American Indians were the literal descendants of the house of Israel. The Mormons were on a mission to help the Indians “blossom like a rose”. This all stems from the dozens of talks and statements and books written by the church hierarchy during this time period. The idea that all Native Americans were literal descendants from Judah was real, and not to be questioned. Our prophet at the time was none other than Spencer Kimball. He proclaimed the word of the lord with clarity to the saints: we must assist the Lord in bringing the Lamanite people to a knowledge of their forefathers and heritage through conversion to the gospel. There was no question as to the origins of all the Indians of this country and those on the isle of the seas, they were all Lamanites from the house of Israel descending through Lehi and his family.
Let me share with you a few quotes that depict the attitude of the day:

According to Joseph Smith, translator of the Book of Mormon,
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. . . . By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph which was sold into Egypt. History of the Church, 1:315


The Lamanites Must Rise in Majesty and Power
J. THOMAS FYANS, April Ensign, 1976 CR.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “One of the most important points in the faith of the Church of the Latter-day Saints, through the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, is the gathering of Israel (of whom the Lamanites constitute a part).” (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2:357.) In a proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the restored Church in 1845, we are told—speaking of the Lamanites of North and South America—“They will also come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and of the fulness of the gospel; and they will embrace it and become a righteous branch of the house of Israel.” (Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York, “Prophet” Office, Apr. 6, 1845, p. 3.)

Spencer W. Kimball made the following statement found in Ensign, July 1971, 7 "Of Royal Blood," (In the "Special Lamanite Section")
"Not until the revelations of Joseph Smith, bringing forth the Book of Mormon, did any one know of these migrants. It was not known before, but now the question is fully answered. Now the Lamanites number about sixty million; they are in all of the states of America from Tierra del Fuego all the way up to Point Barrows, and they are in nearly all the islands of the sea from Hawaii south to southern New Zealand. The Church is deeply interested in all Lamanites because of these revelations and because of this great Book of Mormon, their history that was written on plates of gold and deposited in the hill. The translation by the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed a running history for one thousand years-six hundred years before Christ until four hundred after Christ-a history of these great people who occupied this land for that thousand years. Then for the next fourteen hundred years, they lost much of their high culture. The descendants of this mighty people were called Indians by Columbus in 1492 when he found them here." --Spencer W. Kimball, "Of Royal Blood," Ensign, July 1971, 7 (In the "Special Lamanite Section")


There is no doubt as one who experienced this first hand, the church believed that the vast majority of the brown skinned peoples of the Americas as well as the islands of the sea were Lamanites.
I find the apologetics on this subject absolutely humorous. I recently read some of the apologetics around this and they can be boiled down to two claims. (1) Since Joseph Smith and all the others that followed him do not specifically claim there were no other peoples in the Americas then we can claim there were. (2) The prophets and leaders were simply wrong on this point, they misunderstood or misinterpreted the scriptures.

Comments like these in the 1970's would have landed the apologist in a court of love!

...

Because of modern day revelation we have clear counsel from God through his prophet on issues like this.

'I don't know that we teach it. I don't know that we emphasize it .

Dcharle wrote:I have fond memories of growing up in Utah in the 1970’s. It would have been like stepping into Norman Rockwell painting. However, the only diversity I was exposed to as a child is what the church imported in off the reservations through the “Indian Placement Program”. I had neighbors and family members who had “Lamanite” children in their homes. Let there be no doubt this was a program that the church wanted to succeed. Surly the educational help of the poor and uneducated Indians played a minor role in the program, but it is certain that the primary purpose was to fulfil Book of Mormon prophecy by helping the “Lamanites” blossom like a rose! Read the following conference address by Pres. Kimball and imagine what type of indirect pressures were placed on wards and stakes to support this program:

President Spencer W. Kimball, Applying the Principles of Welfare Services, Ensign (CR), May 1979, p.98
We wish to extend our love and appreciation to all those who have provided service and sacrifice in the Indian student placement program. To you wonderful Indian parents, we give our love. We know of your sacrifice in allowing your children the opportunity for a good education away from home and access to the full Church program. We know how your love will bless the lives of your children and strengthen your entire family. To you foster parents who give of your life, your time, and your means, we offer our deepest appreciation. We know your participation requires love and a little extra to provide for these Lamanite youth. We also know that many blessings come to you and your family as you demonstrate this love and unselfishness for others. Both foster families and Indian families benefit from the experience. The placement program was inspired of the Lord. We have watched many of our Lamanite youth become strong leaders in the Church, and many have taken their place as leaders in their communities and in the world.
We encourage bishops to continue their work in this important and official program of the Church. Seek out Lamanite youth who will benefit from the program and help them blossom as the rose. Stake presidents, guide your bishops in this effort, too.


For over a century Mormon leaders have proclaimed with boldness that the American Indians were the literal descendants of the house of Israel. The Mormons were on a mission to help the Indians “blossom like a rose”. This all stems from the dozens of talks and statements and books written by the church hierarchy during this time period. The idea that all Native Americans were literal descendants from Judah was real, and not to be questioned. Our prophet at the time was none other than Spencer Kimball. He proclaimed the word of the lord with clarity to the saints: we must assist the Lord in bringing the Lamanite people to a knowledge of their forefathers and heritage through conversion to the gospel. There was no question as to the origins of all the Indians of this country and those on the isle of the seas, they were all Lamanites from the house of Israel descending through Lehi and his family.
Let me share with you a few quotes that depict the attitude of the day:

According to Joseph Smith, translator of the Book of Mormon,
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. . . . By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph which was sold into Egypt. History of the Church, 1:315


The Lamanites Must Rise in Majesty and Power
J. THOMAS FYANS, April Ensign, 1976 CR.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “One of the most important points in the faith of the Church of the Latter-day Saints, through the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, is the gathering of Israel (of whom the Lamanites constitute a part).” (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2:357.) In a proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the restored Church in 1845, we are told—speaking of the Lamanites of North and South America—“They will also come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and of the fulness of the gospel; and they will embrace it and become a righteous branch of the house of Israel.” (Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York, “Prophet” Office, Apr. 6, 1845, p. 3.)

Spencer W. Kimball made the following statement found in Ensign, July 1971, 7 "Of Royal Blood," (In the "Special Lamanite Section")
"Not until the revelations of Joseph Smith, bringing forth the Book of Mormon, did any one know of these migrants. It was not known before, but now the question is fully answered. Now the Lamanites number about sixty million; they are in all of the states of America from Tierra del Fuego all the way up to Point Barrows, and they are in nearly all the islands of the sea from Hawaii south to southern New Zealand. The Church is deeply interested in all Lamanites because of these revelations and because of this great Book of Mormon, their history that was written on plates of gold and deposited in the hill. The translation by the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed a running history for one thousand years-six hundred years before Christ until four hundred after Christ-a history of these great people who occupied this land for that thousand years. Then for the next fourteen hundred years, they lost much of their high culture. The descendants of this mighty people were called Indians by Columbus in 1492 when he found them here." --Spencer W. Kimball, "Of Royal Blood," Ensign, July 1971, 7 (In the "Special Lamanite Section")


There is no doubt as one who experienced this first hand, the church believed that the vast majority of the brown skinned peoples of the Americas as well as the islands of the sea were Lamanites.
I find the apologetics on this subject absolutely humorous. I recently read some of the apologetics around this and they can be boiled down to two claims. (1) Since Joseph Smith and all the others that followed him do not specifically claim there were no other peoples in the Americas then we can claim there were. (2) The prophets and leaders were simply wrong on this point, they misunderstood or misinterpreted the scriptures.

Comments like these in the 1970's would have landed the apologist in a court of love!

During the 60's the church unabashedly proclaimed native peoples to be Lamanite. My brother married into a family who were doing their part by adopting native youth into their family to "save" them. Then one summer these boys returned to their home village but returned "nativeized". They were now darker skinned, less complacent and, of course, they turned to criminal activities, like smoking and staying out late at night. Their adoptive family, feeling lost, returned their adoptive children to the family services claiming they could no longer afford to have these wayward youth under the same roof as their own children.

I remember one councillor talking about how these two boys had once been fair and delightsome youth, but who now were, dark and devilish.

I had a Navajo friend in junior high school. He was a really good kid and part of the Mormon Indian Placement Program. He taught me a lot about Navajo culture and beliefs. My interest in Native American culture started mainly with him.

He lived (prior to coming to the Salt Lake area) with his grand parents somewhere near Tuba City, AZ. His grand parents thought the program would give him a chance at a better education.

He was the most unhappy person I had known up to that time. He missed his grand parents. He missed his home. He missed his friends and cousins and he missed his Navajo culture.

He had very little respect for the Mormon family that sponsored him. He had no respect for the Mormon culture that was being forced on him. He was often teased by the 'white' kids because he was Navajo. He just wanted to go home.

I only knew him for one year in school. When I started the next year at school, he was not there. I can only hope that he went back to his home.

In my mind, the Mormon Indian Placement Program was very similar to the Carlisle Indian School project of the nineteenth century. An evil abomination.

Quasimodo wrote:I had a Navajo friend in junior high school. He was a really good kid and part of the Mormon Indian Placement Program. He taught me a lot about Navajo culture and beliefs. My interest in Native American culture started mainly with him.

He lived (prior to coming to the Salt Lake area) with his grand parents somewhere near Tuba City, AZ. His grand parents thought the program would give him a chance at a better education.

He was the most unhappy person I had known up to that time. He missed his grand parents. He missed his home. He missed his friends and cousins and he missed his Navajo culture.

He had very little respect for the Mormon family that sponsored him. He had no respect for the Mormon culture that was being forced on him. He was often teased by the 'white' kids because he was Navajo. He just wanted to go home.

I only knew him for one year in school. When I started the next year at school, he was not there. I can only hope that he went back to his home.

In my mind, the Mormon Indian Placement Program was very similar to the Carlisle Indian School project of the nineteenth century. An evil abomination.

I know many people affected by the 60's "scoop", where native children were placed with 'white, good parents'. When it all went wrong, few looked to the real causes and once again blamed the native culture. It would have been a lot better if white kids had been placed with native families.

bcuzbcuz wrote:I know many people affected by the 60's "scoop", where native children were placed with 'white, good parents'. When it all went wrong, few looked to the real causes and once again blamed the native culture. It would have been a lot better if white kids had been placed with native families.

Yep. Although that might have been an even bigger culture shock than the other way around.

No telephones, no TV, no electricity and no indoor plumbing (at least in those days for rural Navajos). They might have lasted a week. I'm sure it would have been a week they remembered for the rest of their lives, though.

I had that sort of opportunity much later in life and I had to pass up on it. I'm kicking myself right now for not working it out somehow.

I think the positive benefit to this program was helping these youth share a common experience with another culture, rather than viewing it as an attempt at the Delightsomization of the Lamanites.

It might be a positive way to view the program today but it most certainly was not the intent at the time. We were out to help the brown people become more like us!

Elder Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1952, First DayMorning Meeting, p.18
We have been given a serious responsibility in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. We have been told in meetings even preceding this conference session that we must reach out to the minorities. Our beloved Brother Kimball has urged others and has devoted his energies for the past few years to an energetic, proselyting urge among the Lamanites and those minority groups. But again, how can these backward children of our Heavenly Father be brought out of darkness and uplifted?

It's amazing the comments that were being made toward this group of people. No wonder this program was ended.

These prophets were working as men and not as prophets.
You are misinterpreting this.
This doctrine was not well understood.
A scribe got something wrong.
We don't know why God instructed this.
We don't know who the Lamanites are.

Have you signed up for tithing settlement yet?

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_lamanite ... ogram.html

And:

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_lamanites_section1.html