It’s often claimed and believed that the Bible does not condemn slavery.

This however is FALSE…  See for yourselves:  Exodus 21:16

16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

It is true that the Bible primarily focuses on how to treat slaves and servants (aka slaves), but to be clear read the scripture.  If you steal a man, then sell him, or keep him, then you are doing wrong in God’s eyes.  Obviously this doesn’t address “having, keeping, or buying” slaves/aka servants, but that was simply the culture of the times.  Having a slave or servant was simply a way to give a job, to provide a way for a slave to be taken care of.

For the times, this wasn’t entirely a bad thing.  True, free agency ultimately was inhibited in certain cases (note not all, because many actually were free to leave, but they simply had know-where to go or means to survive, thus they chose to stay a servant/slave), which is ultimately why it is actually wrong, but the past is a bit more complicated than that.  We can’t simply judge the past based on our current value systems.

Anyway, the above video explains it all a bit better.  Go MachoSauce!

Update:  Some try to claim that this verse refers to “Kidnapping”.  That however is false….

If you read the verse carefully paying attention to each aspect, those are the key aspects to “slavery”. Kidnapping doesn’t include “sales”….. and when it does, it’s called slavery, aka human trafficking, child slavery, sex trade/slavery, etc.  In other words slavery!

As I’ve always said anti-mormons only see “half” of the truth, and then they make their judgments, ultimately being false judgments, because they miss KEY elements. For someone to think the verse is only talking about kidnapping, they are only focusing on a few of the words, not all.

Further, the context of the verse in the chapter itself is entirely about slavery .

In conclusion, the context and meaning of the verse is plain and clear.

Update 2:  Some also try to claim that the verse is saying that a free man is not owned, thus the phrase “stealing a man” actually means they are not to steal from other slave owners.

First it say’s those who “steal a MAN”…. It doesn’t say those who steal a “slave/servant”.
Second, if they were meaning the verse to talk about stealing a slave/servant, they would have said it.

People really need to stop “adding to the Word”.

Further, they are creating their own definitions. Stealing a man is simply the terminology they used when translating the Hebrew to English for what we call “Kidnapping”. They are talking about kidnapping by the translated phrase “stealing a man”, not stealing from some other slave owner. That’s simply not in the Hebrew nor the intent or purpose of the phrase and statement.

One other point. Even “if” we are willing to consider the verse refers to stealing from other slave owners, and not simply stealing men period, it’s STILL STEALING…..!!! Think about it. You’re still stealing a man, selling him, or keeping him for yourself. There is no real difference whether he was free or not before!!!  You’re still engaging in slavery and/or forced servitude.

Still, 1 Timothy 10 below and likely more settles the issue. This interpretation is false.

Update 3:  Then there is 1 Timothy 10:

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Translation….. Slavery is bad, and it’s listed among many other bad things.

God never condemned Slavery? Think again. Further, who’s ever said other than certain religious folks out there that the “Bible” contains everything God has ever said or believes? Certainly not Latter-day Saints. Folks, don’t embrace straw-men.