Because we live in a day where prejudice and discrimination of all kinds remain fundamental problems across the globe,

members of the Church have been counseled to abandon all personal prejudices.

In 2020, President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

released a public statement across his social media accounts, writing,

quote,

The creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God's children.

Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent and quote.

He addressed the theme of prejudice again in the October 2020 General Conference of the Church.

Today I call upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice.

I plead with you to promote respect for all of God's children.

Around this time, Professor Jan Martin of BYU's Department of Ancient Scripture

had been contemplating different ideas for an article on a book volume on Samuel the Lamanite.

She realized that Samuel's story could set some light to help confront modern problems vexing society about prejudice.

My desire was to help to point people to the Scriptures and help them see that in these turbulent times

we have with these serious issues that the Book of Mormon speaks to them.

And especially using Samuel the Lamanite, what a great place to look at prejudice.

In today's episode, Dr. Martin shares her research publication about Samuel the Lamanite

and what a past prophets experience with discrimination can tell us about confronting and eliminating prejudice in our personal lives.

I'm Anthony Sweat and this is Why Religion.

Each year, religion professors at Brigham Young University produce hundreds of publications on subjects related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This podcast brings this research into one place to enlighten the everyday seeker of truth.

See learning, even by study and also by faith.

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