A Kaupapa Māori Intervention on Apology for LDS Church's Racism, Zombie Concepts, and Moving Forward

Bibliographic Data

ID2145192
AuthorsH Simon (0000-0003-3764-0995, University of Waikato, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume33
Issue2
Pages118-145
Publication date2023-04-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropological Forum (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0066-4677 • E-ISSN: 1469-2902
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00664677.2023.2244184
OpenAlexW4386750588
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited42

This intervention paper, based on the Kaupapa Māori writinginquiry, aims to offer an alternative path forward to the ideathat The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shouldapologise for its racism. It argues that an apology is redundantto the Indigenous World. The goal is for better Church-Indigenous relations in the face of racism rooted in The Book ofMormon, Church Policy, doctrine, teachings, and theology. Theauthor develops a positionality and outlines mahi tuhituhi as aKaupapa Māori (post) qualitative writing inquiry. The Authorthen moves to contextualise these issues by framing them withwhat sociologists describeas Zombie Concepts. A briefoverview of the Book of Mormon and its significance inMormonism is provided. Following that, an understanding ofthe connection between Aileen Moreton-Robinson’swhitepossessive and Lamanitism is provided. Hagoth and hisrelationship with Tāngata Moana (Māori and Pacific Peoples) isthen addressed. Recent remarks by Thomas Murphy to helpreaders understand the racism in the Book of Mormon. Otherissues for Indigenous Peoples are highlighted, with an emphasison anachronisms and the Book of Mormon’splagiarism.Theinvestigation then shifts to provide Veracini’s commentary onsettling to build relationality is discussed from the viewpoint ofAotearoa New Zealand. A discussion of the issues is followed byan outline of the research’s consequences, which include sevenissues that need to be addressed as part of the relationalitybuilding in order to create a collaborative future values-basedproject to move Church-Indigenous relations forward in apositive way

Aotearoa · Confession (law · Doctrine · Indigenous · Racism · Sociology · Theology · Gender Studies · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Law · Mormonism, Religion, and History · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices