Historians Paul W. Reeve and Thomas A. Wayment have examined the historical intersection of religion and race, specifically how 19th-century outsiders racialized the Mormon community to justify discriminatory policies and expulsions. Their research suggests that religious identity often functioned as a component of racialization, placing Mormons in a position where they were viewed as ethnically distinct from white Americans.
Researching Racialization and Religion
In a 2016 discussion published by the Religious Studies Center, Paul W. Reeve, who served as an associate professor of history at the University of Utah, detailed his research into the Mormon struggle for whiteness. Reeve noted that his research, which began in 2007, sought to address a gap in existing historiography. He observed that while historians have long studied the racialization of Irish and Italian immigrants as they sought to assimilate into white American society, much of that existing research focused on labor and immigration rather than the specific role of religion.
The Role of Religious Studies
Reeve's research, which eventually grew from a journal article into the book Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness, examined how Protestant Americans often viewed Mormons as being not merely religiously different, but physically and racially different. This process of 'othering' meant that Mormons were often conflated with other marginalized groups to justify hostility toward them.
The Lamanite Narrative
The research highlighted a unique dynamic where Mormons, despite being part of a religion born in America, were perceived as not being fully American or fully white. Thomas A. Wayment, the former publications director of the Religious Studies Center, noted that this created a complex scenario where Mormons were simultaneously attempting to redeem Native Americans while being viewed by outsiders as being racially similar to those they were seeking to convert.
Historical Interpretations of Scripture
Reeve explained that the Book of Mormon contains passages regarding race that have been interpreted in various ways. He noted that nineteenth-century Latter-day Saint leaders often interpreted the narrative of the 'fallen Lamanites' as a mission to redeem Native Americans, whom they understood as being racially distinct from Euro-American Latter-day Saints. This religious mission aimed to help Native Americans become 'white and delightsome,' a concept that influenced how the community interacted with indigenous populations during that era.
Justifying Expulsions and Violence
The perception of Mormons as being 'not white enough' served as a rationalization for significant historical violence. Reeve noted that whenever Mormons faced expulsions—including from Jackson County and Clay County in Missouri, from the state of Illinois, or during the Utah war—there was a corresponding accusation of a Mormon-Indian conspiracy. These accusations suggested that Mormons were conspiring with Native Americans to wipe out white Americans, a theme found in letters sent to Governor Boggs prior to the issuance of an extermination order.
Patterns of Discrimination
Reeve identified three primary forms of these accusations used by outsiders. First, they suggested that Mormons were conspiring with Native Americans to eliminate white Americans. Second, they accused Mormons of intermarrying with indigenous groups. Third, they argued that Mormons were becoming 'more savage than the savages' and were failing to perform 'whiteness' or act like 'true Anglo-Saxons.' These narratives allowed outsiders to justify discriminatory policies by treating Mormons as a marginalized group similar to African Americans, Asian Americans, or Native Americans.
Modern Perspectives on History
While the historical record shows these intense racial tensions, Reeve emphasized that the current generation of leaders condemns all forms of racism, both past and present, including racism within the Church. The research serves as an exploration of how religious identity and racial identity intersected to shape the social and political landscape of nineteenth-century America.
