God is in the Details (Class 8 from The Book of Mormon: A Master Class, by John Hilton III) 

John 111, I'm so grateful for your great, great grandmother as well! She sounds like she had amazing strength! Because of her faith and goodness, you are here today to teach all of us!

Brother Hilton, your treatise on the hot-potato topic in the final segment was handled with such gentility and class, I expect it will quell the deep-seeded feelings of learned and / or lived perceived or real victimization and instead fill hearts and minds with the healing balm the Saviour eternally offers. Thank you for modeling how to approach such an incendiary issue with holy scholarship and grace. I felt a confirmation of the truths you shared. I also appreciated the tenderness and gratitude you couldn't help but express for your faithful great great grandmother who made poignant and difficult decisions in humble righteousness in an earlier segment. What a wonderful legacy and blessing that keeps on giving!

Brother Hilton, I love every time you say, “I know what you’re thinking. You are wishing that there is a comprehensive resource that expounds on this topic. Wish granted.” It cracks me up! Thank you for this wonderful lesson! ❤

I absolutely loved this lesson; especially, the part about the skins of blackness. Thanks for the kind, thoughtful, considerate way you discussed this topic. I’ve heard every good and bad teaching about this over the years and thought this was one of the best lessons on the topic that I’ve ever heard. Thanks as always Bro Hilton!

Thank you brother Hilton great podcast

Thank you bro Hilton.

I am Hispanic with brown skin and have never seen those scriptures as racism. Thank you for the lesson.

What a beautiful lesson! I love the simplicity and clarity you have on explaining the truths of the gospel. Thank you!

Bravo for your cogent messages and explanations.❤️😊 If it were not for a LDS member introducing me to the Book of Mormon, I probably would STILL be an agnostic. After studying multiple Christian churches and reading up on world religions, I was so confused that I stopped looking and chose to become agnostic. Now, as an energetic LDS MEMBER, there are so many things that strengthen my passionate (heart) and logical (head) testimony. There is NO doctrine in other churches that even comes close to the teachings found in the RESTORED Gospel. Anyone who disparages the Book of Mormon, I ask them to write THEIR version of the Book of Mormon under the conditions that Joseph Smith translated it and say, "I'll check back with you in 65 days." Crickets. NO ONE👈👀even considers writing a book. No one. 😁

What an excellent lesson! I loved all the scriptures at the end that gave such a wonderful and comprehensive look at skin color. I think the "whiteness" of righteousness means countenance. People who are pure radiate light, especially from their faces. Think of scriptures about the countenances of Abinadi, Moses, and Christ. They are white from the inside out.

Beautiful lesson with so many new insights! Thank you so much, Brother Hilton

Levi Savage is such a beast! Don’t know much about Jane but she sounds amazing too!

Thank you so very much for your insight and knowledge and passion for what you do. It is an inspiration and has helped me to achieve my goal of diving deeper into the Book of Mormon this year. I truly feel the spirit. I love this episode and thank you for the elaboration on the topic of “skin”. I love going to the temple where we are all dressed in white regardless of the colour of our skin.

Thank you for this beautiful lesson.

I have a friend with adopted children from another nation who has struggled as to what to teach them about skin color as it is brought up in the Book of Mormon. In years past this subject hasn't really been dealt with all that well IMO. The options that you present here help us understand the kinder and more loving and all-inclusive way that our Savior Jesus Christ is, and the true, deeply personal love that our Savior has for everyone. I am forwarding the information you have presented here to her. Thank you so much.

It's interesting that idea "easily doth beset" shows up at least twice in the Book of Mormon, once in 2 Nephi 4 and Alma 7

Thanks bro Hilton! Loved this lesson! Some of my fav chapters in the BoM!

A mark is not a race❤

I watched the segment on "skin of blackness." Well done. I appreciate that you showed how each theory is a valid possibility that supports modern prophets' teachings against racism. Kwaku El had a similar video about four years ago where he said that theory #1 (the traditional interpretation) gives extra power to the Book of Mormon's message against racism. I'm not married to any particular interpretation, but I do think it's important to give the Saints room to consider all of them since there hasn't been definitive revelation in favor of any of them.

Fabulous lesson. As a white South African the topic of skin color in the BOM has always been a challenge to me. Thank you for going into depth to clarify, and also for the supportive resources.

I look at the skin-color issue as more of a countenance change. When we sin or leave God, our countenance often changes, becomes "darker" in a sense 😊

Their skin color did change just by natural measures- intermarriage. I am Mexican and since my conversion I was told I was “a Lamanite convert”. The fact that my parents were not members and that I was Mexican afforded much racism towards me especially from the Anglo members of the Mormon Colonies in Chihuahua (Hatch. Call, Romney, Eyring, Carson,etc., etc.). It affected my decision of whom I married since Pres. Kimball was preaching intermarriage was a sin. The Lord will sort things out. All will be made right through the blessed Atonement of Jesus Christ.

BEST EPISODE YET!! Thank you you so much for all of your "Wish Granted" comments.

Great lesson. Wish granted

Thank you for bringing such a powerful spirit.

Very good!

Another beautiful uplifting lesson!

Very well done!! Thank you! I really enjoy these lessons!!❤❤

This is an awesome discussion and explanation! Thank you!

Thank you for addressing such a sensitive topic regarding the skin colors, it’s always been an aspect of the book Mormon, that I think is avoided. I sounded very interesting bottom line follow God the person is removed.

Referring to the drawing idea and the shaking to the appearance of sin. I would like to sculpt that depiction. I’m fairly me to sculpting but getting pretty good at it.

I've never understood the, "You shouldn't find something discouraging and awful because it happened to someone else, too" line of reasoning. I never feel remotely comforted by being told something bad happened to someone else with no relief when they asked for help. All that tells me is, "Don't expect any help," and makes me think, "What's the point of all this?" I frequently find so many things said in church stuff about trials utterly unhelpful. I guess if you can develop an attitude of "Who cares and it doesn't matter," you do fine when your family is destroyed. I haven't mastered it yet. I have never liked the story of Lehi's family and now that I've lived it, I'm even more convinced that it's awful. Does anyone ever listen to the fine print in gospel talks? It's not reassuring.

Around the 14 minute mark there is 2 Nephi 5:1-2. Note And it came to pass. From a source speaking of the underlying Hebrew in the Old Testament comes: VAYEHI ויהו Vav Yod Hei Vav Or could have been rendered as vy hi (woe is it). “every time the word vyhi appears in the Old Testament and every time it appears it connotes a woeful event.” So it it came to pass? Or woe is it? I believe often it is our reaction to the event. Perhaps Gods pathway involved a separation of Nephi from his brothers. The path to allow this was to have their feelings no longer soften by God but to let it go. The result is not ideal for family relations. But, best in the interest of Gods purposes. Something to consider.

I found your discussion of racial discrimination and inclusion confusing as since I was a child I was taught the very simple principles that first we are to love God and second we are to love our fellow man as God loves us. I don't understand why there would even be a question about this in the book of Mormon. I think if it was an issue, then it would've been addressed by Joseph Smith. I have faith in the prophet that what he wrote meant lessons of love for all men and that anyone would think different is strange and somewhat surprising. I grew up on the West Coast in a large city, this may be why I found the discussion difficult. To think that this was a problem in the church is kind of disheartening. There were many different kinds of people in our ward and stake, I never even considered that any of them would be lesser or more than me. Thanks for your lessons. They are always so uplifting and the details that you include, the personal stories, really bring the words and meaning of the Book of Mormon to life.

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Please do not use the term “ systemic racism” . It is a term invented by sociologists to condemn our entire society, not individual instances of racism. Surely racism is evil, but the term systemic racism implies it is in, around and through everything , thus the “system” must be overthrown.

There is another group of people today who mark themselves with red in their foreheads. It is the Utah Ute football team. They wear red helmets on their foreheads. They are similar to the Amlicites who fight against the people of God. :) I am grateful that Brother Hilton is not employed by such people, but instead is employed by those who fight against those who wear red. :)

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