2nd Nephi 5:21 (Page 66) tells us that God cursed these people with a "skin of blackness". In this book they are known as Lamanites. The Mormon Church teaches that these were the ancient ancestors of today's native Americans, to whom they lovingly refer as Lamanites. This passage is supposed to explain why their skin is not white.
Until 1981, a companion passage within the Book of Mormon promised that the Lamanites would regain the WHITE skin that they originally had, as soon as they became righteous enough. The words of 2nd Nephi 30:3-6 (Pages 111-112) used to say that after the Book of Mormon would be taken to these native Americans, they would turn to the Lord, and they would become WHITE and delightsome again.
You can read the old wording of this passage if you find a pre-1981 Book of Mormon. You should compare the wording of verse six in the two versions. [Pre-1981 copies are usually pretty easy to come by. They haven’t been recalled.]
If you look at 2nd Nephi 30:6 in a pre-1981 version you will notice that the old cross-reference to 2nd Nephi 5:21 has been removed. That cross-reference used to be next to the word white. Now it says pure, and the cross-reference to 2nd Nephi 5:21 has been REMOVED.
Most will soon forget that this book once said that the Lamanites would become righteous, and God would give them back their original WHITE skin. Mormonism now teaches that even though it used to say 'white' (pre-1981), it really meant purity of spirit.
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I remember that this very passage and cross-reference used to be commonly taught in LDS seminary classes. I notice that no native Americans have particularly black skin. Perhaps they were becoming more righteous before the white man came?
As for the difference between "white" and "pure": Aren't Mormons taught that Joseph Smith's translation of the plates was direct from God and therefore without flaws? If so, wouldn't God have given Joseph the correct word in the first place? How can the church "brethren" presume to make changes to a supposedly flawless document if they really believe Joseph to be a true prophet of God?
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