Answers to Gospel Questions 2: 176; “Could it not be said of Ham that he was righteous in that he followed his father into the Ark? The seed of Cain had to be preserved, and Cain was chosen for that mission. It is very possible that Ham received his name due to the fact that he married a black woman. We learn that the names of many individuals in those early years were given them—and often changed—due to incidents which occurred in their lives. For example, Esau’s name was changed to Edom, and Jacob’s name to Israel, and Abraham was at first known as Abram. It is likely that Ham’s name was changed because he had a black wife, for ham is an adjective in Egyptian for black. The name Egyptus means forbidden. (Abraham 1:23.) Is it not reasonable to believe that this has reference to the fact that her descendants, as well as her ancestors, were denied some great blessing? And that that great blessing was denial of the priesthood?”

Gen. 6:10; “And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

HAM (Ham) Personal name meaning, “hot or burnt.” Second of Noah’s three sons (Gen 5:32). Following the Flood, he discovered Noah, his father, naked and drunken and reported it to Shem and Japheth (Gen. 9:20-29). When Noah learned of the incident, he pronounced a curse on Canaan the son of Ham. Ham became the original ancestor of the Cushites, the Egyptians, and the Canaanites (Gen. 10:6).