KnoWhy #110 - Why Did Book of Mormon Prophets Discourage Nephite-Lamanite Intermarriage? (Alma 3:8)

Alma 3 could be seen as disapproving of any kind of exogamy, yet this would fail to take context into consideration. At this point in Nephite history, ethnic and religious strife between the Nephites and Lamanites-Amlicites was so severe that war resulted. Intermarriage with the enemy at a time of war would’ve been unthinkable. At an equally volatile time in their history, the Israelites were forbidden from intermarrying with Canaanites, lest they abandon their covenants with the Lord. This is not to say that interracial marriage is inherently sinful. Rather, the Book of Mormon describes instances where intermarriage was not expedient because of specific circumstances. While the principles of the gospel found in the Book of Mormon are timeless, some of its other teachings are largely couched in specific historical contexts.