The Mark of Dark Skin Explained

After this war, the surviving Nephites buried their dead, which were too numerous to be counted. Then they all returned to their lands and houses, and to their wives and children. Many women and children had been killed, many flocks and herds had been destroyed, and many grain fields had been trampled by the great armies. Many bones of the Lamanites and Amlicites who had been thrown into the Sidon River came to rest in the depths of the sea.

Like the Lamanites, the Amlicites identified themselves with red paint upon their foreheads, but unlike the Lamanites, they did not shave their heads. The Lamanites shaved their heads and wore armor and small skins for loincloths. They carried bows, arrows, stones, and slings.

The Lamanites had dark skin, which was God’s mark upon them—a curse first given to their forefathers, Laman and Lemuel, because of their transgression and rebellion against their brothers, Nephi, Jacob, Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.

Because Laman and Lemuel wanted to kill their brothers, they were cursed with this mark of dark skin, and Ishmael’s wicked children were also cursed. This was done to identify their offspring. By doing this, the Lord could preserve His people, for the mark was intended to keep the Nephites from being enticed by the Lamanites, from marrying them, and from believing in their false traditions which would prove their destruction.

Also, the Nephites who married Lamanites brought the same curse of dark skin upon their children. And every Nephite who joined the Lamanites had a mark placed on him, and was then called a Lamanite.

Those who did not believe the Lamanites’ false traditions were called Nephites. They believed what was written in the records that were brought out of Jerusalem—the correct traditions of their forefathers—and they kept God’s commandments. And they have kept these true records of their people, and also of the Lamanites.

The light-skinned Amlicites had put red paint on their foreheads. By marking themselves, God’s word to Nephi was fulfilled, saying, “I have cursed the Lamanites and will put a mark upon them. By this mark, their offspring may be separated from yours forever, unless the Lamanites repent of their wickedness and turn to me so that I may have mercy on them. “I will put a mark upon those who mix with your brothers’ children and they will also be cursed. I will also put a mark upon those who fight you and your children, and those who leave you will no longer be called Nephites. But I will bless you and anyone who calls himself your offspring.”

Now the Amlicites did not know they were fulfilling God’s words by painting a red mark on their foreheads. But they had come out in open rebellion against Him, so this curse and condemnation came upon them. Like all who are cursed, they had brought it upon themselves.

Not many days after this battle, another Lamanite army attacked the Nephites at Amnihu Hill. A Nephite army was sent from Zarahemla to drive them out of the land. Alma had been wounded and did not go to battle this time against the Lamanites.

Alma sent a numerous army against the Lamanites. They killed many of them and drove the rest out of the land. Then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, and for a while they had no more trouble with their enemies.

All this fighting began and ended in 87 BC, the fifth year of the judges’ reign. During this year, tens of thousands of souls were sent to the eternal world to reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or evil, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery according to the spirit that they had chosen to obey, either a good spirit or a bad one. For everyone will receive the reward of whom he chooses to obey. This is the truth according to the spirit of prophecy.