Recently the LDS Church has changed chapter headings in its online Book of Mormon (a revised print edition isn't currently scheduled.) But, given the burgeoning number of people who read primarily online, these changes are significant. They reflect the way the LDS Church is distancing itself from its pervasive, foundational, historic racism against people of dark skin and against American Indians in particular.
They removed the words “skin of blackness” from the introductory italicized summary in 2 Nephi, Chapter 5, which details the “curse” God put on Lamanites who were unfaithful.
Some Mormons might argue that the headings were not part of the text on the golden plates and were not thus inspired and can be revised. However, a church built on continuing revelation, which has printed the books for nearly 200 years, cannot logically argue that point.
Another example of the changes is in the book entitled Mormon in the BofM, in chapter 5 the heading that previously called Lamanites “a dark, filthy, and loathsome people”now says that “because of their unbelief, the Lamanites will be scattered, and the Spirit will cease to strive with them.”
For more details, read the Salt Lake Tribune article here.
For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.
