The main passage is 2 Nephi 5:21 , where it says the Lord caused “a skin of blackness” to come upon the Lamanites. A related passage is Alma 3:6, 14 , which says their skins were dark and refers to a “mark” connected with the curse.

Key verses

  • 2 Nephi 5:21 : “the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them”.
  • Alma 3:6 : “the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers”.
  • Alma 3:14 : “Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed”.

Important note

Those verses are often discussed together, but they are not all phrased the same way: one uses “skin of blackness,” while another speaks of dark skins and a mark tied to a curse. Some interpretations treat this as literal skin color, while others argue it is symbolic or tied to covenant language.

Plain answer

If you want the shortest answer, it’s 2 Nephi 5:21. If you want the broader cluster of passages about the curse and dark skin, Alma 3:6–14 is the other main place to look.