Before we begin our study of the Gentiles we must address one of the great challenges we face when we seek after added light. Through out this process we will always be challenged to reconcile what we “know” or think we know with passages we read. If we engage in this process with preconceived notions it closes our minds and constricts the flow of truth the Lord is trying to give. For example, when I first began to study prophecy topically I approached the subject from a modern, post restoration perspective. From the modern perspective I considered my self a member of the house of Israel through Joseph. I am an Ephraimite according to the declaration of lineage in my patriarchal blessing. One of the more stunning realizations I came to through this study is the pre-restoration view of our ancient brethren. They did not share the idea Ephraim were Israelites at all. The Nephite Prophets, (as well as the Savior) grouped us with the Gentiles. There are Gentiles who remain un-repentant and there are those who repent. The repentant share the inheritance of land granted to the Nephites. Note the prophecy of Nephi when he describes these events:
10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.
(2 Nephi 10:10, emphasis mine)
18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel.
19 Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God.(2 Nephi 10:18-19, emphasis mine)
In Nephi’s writing he speaks of the Gentiles separately from the house of Israel. The Gentiles who repent will be “numbered” among the house of Israel but he doesn’t refer to us as “Ephraim” or anything that links us to the house of Israel other than we are “numbered” with Israel. This is not an isolated example. All of the Prophets and the Lord link us (and our fate) to the Gentiles.
Another example that specifically pertains to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ is found in 1 Nephi 14 where the prophetic distinction between the latter-day members of the Church and the house of Israel are even more pronounced:
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.(1 Nephi 14:10, emphasis mine)
In the last days there are only two churches on the earth. One is the church of the devil; the second is the church of the Lamb of God. Everything about this passage seems straight forward. As we continue to read Nephi’s prophecy we learn that within the Church of the Lamb of God are two categories of people. Let’s look at verse 14 of 1 Nephi 14:
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.(1 Nephi 14:14, emphasis mine)
The “power of the Lamb” descends on the “saints of the church of he Lamb” and upon “the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth.” Members of the “church of the Lamb” are covenant people with God. Why then are the scattered of Israel only referred to as “the covenant people?” My purpose in raising this question is not to trigger a debate about who are the covenant people of the Lord. My purpose is simply to point out that Nephi’s perspective is different from the modern, post restoration view of members of the Church.
The chronology of Nephi’s prophecy addresses sometime after Joseph Smith’s mission and sometime in our future. The “church of the Lamb” is segregated from the “covenant people” because they represent two separate but related efforts that eventually are joined together.
In the narration of Jesus during His mortal ministry to the Nephites the Savior explains why the Father has chosen to separate the “church of the Lamb from Israel:
5 Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;
6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel; (3 Nephi 21:5-6, emphasis mine)
The “Father” wants to save all of His children. His love and mercy are not limited to Israel. So the Father devised a plan that would give the opportunity for Eternal Life to be offered to the Gentiles even as He uses the Gentiles as a tool for restoring Israel. The Father’s plan is to “show” His power to the Gentiles in the hope that when they see His power they would not harden their hearts towards the revelation they receive, repent and come to Christ. The Father will manifest His power in a two stage process. First, the Father will manifest to the Gentiles “these works” (which are made up of the Book of Mormon record we now possess). Then “the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter”, (which are the sealed records that can only be obtained through obedience and faithfulness) will in “due time” be given to the Gentiles. In turn, the Gentiles will deliver the complete record to the remnant of the Nephites, (if the Gentiles become sanctified). If the Gentiles fail to live up to the privilege, the remnant of Nephi will bring them forward to the condemnation of the Gentiles.
When I originally read this passage I thought “these works” and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter” were all contained in the current editions of the Book of Mormon. Since embarking on this study I have come to believe another interpretation may be in order. I believe the “these things” refer to writings we currently have in the Book of Mormon. The “works which shall be wrought among you hereafter” refers to additional revelation. It may refer to the sealed portions of the Book of Mormon (containing the complete ministry of Jesus) or possibly additional writings or both.
The blessings to the Gentiles have always been linked to a contingency that they repent and come to Christ. This contingency is frequently repeated throughout these prophecies. The Savior referred to the Father’s plan to test the Gentiles who joined the church of the Lamb:
6 And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people;
7 But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people.
8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.
9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.
11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. (3 Nephi 26:6-11, emphasis mine)
We, (the modern Gentiles who belong to the Church of Christ) have been given the lesser portion to test our faith. If we are faithful we will be privileged to receive the greater portion and act as a conduit for truth, to be given to the scattered of Israel, (including the Nephite descendants.) If we are not faithful the sealed portions will be with held from us to our condemnation.
The modern Gentiles of the Church are currently under condemnation because we have yet to sanctify ourselves sufficient to receive the sealed portions of the record and because the Lord warned such was the case in the Doctrine & Covenants:
54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—
58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.
59 For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay. (D&C 84:54-59, emphasis mine)
It seems we remain perilously close to facing the “scourge” which encourages us to repent and come to Christ. When judgment follows hopefully many will repent and be justified while those who do not will face bitter consequences.
When we read of the Lord’s condemnation of the Church we tend toward one of two extremes. Either we believe the church collectively will suffer and be condemned or some remain in denial thinking “all is well in Zion.” The reality of this warning is found somewhere in the middle ground. There are those in church who are guilty of vanity and unbelief. On the other hand there are those who walk faithfully through life with a sure knowledge of their Savior. The answer is found when we contemplate the purpose of a “scourge”. At first it does not destroy, it only serves as a prod to persuade the wicked to repent. The Lord intends to gently persuade us to repent and come to Christ. Rather than trouble ourselves with questions of the church’s faithfulness, we would do much better engaging in self examination and questioning if we truly understand what it means to come unto Christ. Are we actively preparing to sanctify ourselves to become worthy by the grace of Christ to receive the greater things? Are we waiting for the Lord to magically transform us into a people who are pure of heart? Zion will be established one by one, as individuals independently decide to repent and form a collective society that shares repentance and coming to Christ as common values. The judgment following after the scourge will be individual and we stand responsible for our own state of righteousness or wickedness before the Lord.
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