In The Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of one of four main groups described in the book. The other three are the Jaredites, Mulekites, and Nephites. The Lamanites were originally called thus because they were the descendants of Laman and his followers. Later, after the visitation of Christ to the Lamanites and Nephites, the people no longer identified themselves as separate groups because they were one people. When divisions again surfaced, those who didn't believe in Christ took on themselves the name of Lamanites. The Lamanites later ended up destroying the people who took upon themselves the name of Nephites.

Those who believe in The Book of Mormon as scripture believe that the surviving Lamanites comprise some part, if not the primary origin, of Native Americans.

Origin of "Lamanites"

According to The Book of Mormon, the family of Lehi (a wealthy Jewish merchant and prophet), the family of Ishmael, and Zoram traveled from the Middle East circa 600 B.C.E. to the Americas by boat. Some time after the death of Lehi (in the Americas), Nephi (Lehi's fourth son) overheard that his brothers were plotting to kill him, so he (Nephi) and his followers left and went into the wilderness. The followers of Nephi called themselves Nephites. The followers of Laman (Lehi's oldest son) called themselves Lamanites.

The Nephites later discovered another civilization living in America and the combined group also called themselves Nephites. According to the Book of Mormon there were many interactions between the Lamanites and the Nephites; intermittent war, trade, and proselytizing transpired with varying degrees of success. God initially marked the Lamanites with a darker skin color to identify them and their state of wickedness. The Nephites were initially righteous and a civilization without social class. As pride corroded the Nephites, individuals and sub-groups defected and joined the Lamanites. Likewise, penitent Lamanites often defected to the Nephites. The mark remained a characteristic of Lamanite membership. Over generations the Nephite and Lamanite groups became intermixed and the names reflected the division of the two cultures more than a genetic heritage.

Following the American visitation of the resurrected Jesus Christ the Lamanites

Theories about Lamanites

Modern descendants

Many Mormons believe that the Lamanites comprise some part, if not the primary origin, of Native Americans. Officially, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church"; see also Mormon) appears to accept this position. The introduction to the Latter-day Saint (LDS) edition of The Book of Mormon states, "he Lamanites are the principal ancestors of the American Indians." See The Book of Mormon (2000), "."

However, this position is controversial. Based on genetic and archeological data, mainstream scientists have concluded that Native Americans are descended from the prehistoric inhabitants of East Asia. For this and other reasons, a few Mormon scholars view Lamanites as (1) one small tribe among many in the ancient Americas, the remainder of whom were not discussed in The Book of Mormon, or (2) a tribe that intermarried with indigenous Native American cultures. See generally Thomas W. Murphy (2001). .

"Skin of blackness"

In the Book of Mormon, Lamanites are described as having a "skin of blackness" caused by God as punishment for their wickedness and corruption:

"And he had caused the cursing to come upon , yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, and they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, 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 5:21).

While some Latter-day Saints consider this passage to mean that God miraculously darkened the Lamanites' skin, another common interpretation is that the Lamanites intermarried with indigenous Native American peoples with darker skin. Some believe that the phrase "skin

Several Book of Mormon passages have been interpreted by some Latter-day Saints as indicating that Lamanites would revert to a lighter skin tone upon accepting the gospel. For example, early editions of The Book of Mormon contained the passage: "heir scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people" (2 Nephi 30:6). As early as 1840, with the Third Edition of the Book of Mormon, the word "white" was changed to "pure" by Joseph Smith, Jr. to more closely reflect the original intent of the Nephite authors. Editions printed in England by the Twelve Apostles the next year, however, did not reflect the changes of the Third Edition (which was printed in Nauvoo, Illinois) and perpetuated the misunderstanding.

Unofficial statements (leaders' opinions) in support of the view that God miraculously changed the skin color of the Lamanites were made in a publication by Joseph Fielding Smith, then an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and who later became its prophet:

"Question: 'The question I have is concerning the present status of the Lamanites. I know that Laman and Lemuel and their families were cursed, but to what extent is this curse carried today? Was the darker skin all or just part of the curse? Will this curse be completely forgotten and taken away by the Lord on the basis of repentance and complete acceptance of the gospel?'

Answer: The dark skin was placed upon the Lamanites so that they could be distinguished from the Nephites and to keep the two peoples from mixing. The dark skin was the sign of the curse. The curse was the withdrawal of the Spirit of the Lord and the Lamanites becoming a 'loathsome and filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.'

.. At the time of the Savior's visit to the Nephites all of the people became united, and the curse and the dark skin which was its sign were removed.

.. After the people again forgot the Lord and dissensions arose, some of them took upon themselves the name Lamanites and the dark skin returned.

When the Lamanites fully repent and sincerely receive the gospel, the Lord has promised to remove the dark skin.

.. The dark skin of those who have come into the Church is no longer to be considered a sign of the curse. Many of these converts are delightsome and have the Spirit of the Lord. Perhaps there are some Lamanites today who are losing the dark pigment. Many of the members of the Church among the Catawba Indians of the South could readily pass as of the white race; also in other parts of the South."

Source: Smith, Joseph Fielding. Answers to Gospel Questions. Vol. 3. 122-123 Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1959-1961.

Spencer W. Kimball, another apostle of the LDS Church, who later became president of the church, also spoke about Lamanites in October 1960, in the context of LDS missionary efforts:

"(The Navajo)..are fast becoming a white and delightsome people." He said, "The Indian children in the home placement program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation" (Improvement Era, December 1960, pp. 922-3)

This statement is similar to others by Kimball concerning African-Americans (See Blacks and Mormonism). Such statements, considered by most people to be racist, reflect a mindset not uncommon before the Civil Rights movement. They are just opinions, and are not considered doctrine by the Church.

Lamanite economy

In the Book of Mormon, a principal economic activity of the Lamanite people seems to be the raising of flocks - but of what animals is not very clear. Sometimes they are also described as appropriating their neighbors' animals and crops by raiding or by war-tribute. In more peaceful times they are said to grow wealthy by trade. Their pastoral activities are interesting in light of the fact that "laman" means "herdsman" in the Mayan language.

Lamanite Kings

For most of their history, the Lamanites seem to have been ruled by absolute monarchs. Often these kings are not named, being called simply "the King of the Lamanites." Some are vassal kings, like King Lamoni, a righteous ruler who was subject to his father, the paramount king.

The last king of the Lamanites named in the Book of Mormon is Aaron, who ruled in the late fourth century and early fifth century. If his name is derived from the Egyptian Aha Rw, "Warrior Lion," then Aaron could perhaps be identified with Jaguar Jaguar-Paw, that is, "Jaguar Warrior," the aggressive conqueror (as Aaron was) and ruler of Tikal at this point in history.

In Belize in Central America, there is a ruined Mayan city named Lamanai. If this is a Hebrew word it would mean "Lamanite."