Results from Topical Study of the word “Gentiles”
Before we delve into the “Gentiles” in these passages I thought it might be helpful to provide a bit of information about topical study. There is a total of 33 chapters that contain information about the latter-day Gentiles in the Book of Mormon. Nephi, Jesus, Mormon and Moroni provide the commentary on the Gentiles to be examined. My personal analysis of these verses produced a total of 32 pages of commentary on the Gentiles. The personal summary was not originally intended for publication. It should be considered a “rough” draft. You should be aware my personal commentary was dynamic, evolving as I proceeded with this process. Topical research is a work in progress and views have to be adapted as new information is received.
A workable metaphor for what we are about to do is panning for gold. I have read the Book of Mormon cover to cover over 50 times. That is when I stopped counting. Never, in those 50 readings was I able to develop the kind of depth of understanding I gained through studying these scriptures topically. As I write my own commentary I am meticulously scrutinizing every word, searching for meaning that is often hidden in plain sight. I am constantly questioning why the Lord decided to use a particular word or phrase. Engaging in this process may be likened to panning for gold because it incorporates and stimulates pondering and our ability to recall what you are reading will be greatly enhanced because the function of the Holy Spirit is to “bring all things to your remembrance.” (John 14:26)
As my commentary is added to this chapter, a passage came to mind that was inserted at the beginning. It reminds of Nephi’s counsel early on in his record that is particularly relevant to what we are doing:
17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
18 For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (1 Nephi 10:17-19, emphasis mine)
We have an immutable promise from God that He will open the mysteries of God to all men who diligently seek. It was so anciently and will be so forever. Engaging in topical study is perhaps the most visible way of demonstrating diligence to the Lord. Let’s be diligent and press onward to the “mysteries of God.”
Personal Commentary
What we are about to read should be done so comparatively, with the Book of Mormon opened before you. If you are diligent and search these things we will learn more on the subject of the latter-day Gentiles than we ever dreamed of knowing. My commentary is “first impression” in nature and so no one should assume the content is final in its conclusion. It reflects what I have learned thus far in my journey but when we are talking about comprehending the mysteries of God, my musings do not begin to even scratch the surface of what God has to share. At the end is a brief, broad summary of the chapters that follow to show what “nuggets” were found at the bottom of the pan when the sifting was process is complete.
The Latter-day Gentiles
1 Nephi 10:14- The Gentiles receive the fulness of the Gospel.
1 Nephi 13:2-9- Formation of a great church.
1 Nephi 13:32-42
Remnant of Israel will be met with great judgments.
Gentiles stumble exceedingly because of the plain and precious parts of the Bible that have been “kept back”.
The Lord is merciful to the Gentiles when he manifests to them “much of my gospel.”
Nephite records will be “hid up” to come forth by the gift and power of Christ to the Gentiles. They contain the gospel, the “rock of Christ” and the “salvation of Christ”.
Those who seek to bring forth Zion in that day achieve the title of “blessed.” They receive the “power” of the Holy Ghost and will be lifted up at the last day and saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb.
They will “publish peace and tidings of great joy” and their feet will be “beautiful upon the mountains.”
The Bible comes to the remnant of the Lamanites from the Gentiles.
After the remnant of the seed of Laman and Lemuel receive these records “other books” are brought forth from the Gentiles to them, unto convincing of the Gentiles, the remnant of Laman and Lemuel and also the “Jews” (a synonym for Israel in the Book of Mormon). The “other books” will validate and support the records of the “prophets” and “Apostles” and prove they are true. The “other books” restore the “plain and precious things that have been taken away from the Bible. The restored knowledge will be given to “to all kindreds, tongues and people.” They will all know that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.
They must come according to the words that will be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb will be made known in the records of thy seed, “as well as in the records of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb: wherefore they both will be established as one.”
The time will come when the Lord will manifest himself to unto all nations, both Jew and Gentile.
1 Nephi 14: 1-17 If the Gentiles hearken unto the Lamb of God “in that day” he manifests himself unto them in word, power and deed unto removing their stumbling blocks. And if they don’t harden their hearts against Christ, they will be numbered amongst the descendants of Lehi and the house of Israel. They will be a blessed people on the Promised Land forever. They, (or the house of Israel) will never be captive again.
The “great pit” dug for them by the “Great and Abominable Church” shall be filled by those who dug it to their “utter destruction.” (Not the destruction of the soul, save it be casting it into the hell that hath no end.) This is according to the captivity of the devil and the justice of God upon all those who work wickedness and abomination before him.
If the Gentiles repent it will be well with them. The Lord will honor the covenants made to Israel and all who will not repent must perish.
The time comes when the Lord will work a great and marvelous work among the children of men. A work that will be “everlasting” unto convincing of them to peace and life eternal or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil.
The Spirit calls to Nephi’s mind the covenants of “the Father” with the house of Israel. This begins the description of the division spoken of in verse 7 and the gathering of Israel which fulfills the Father’s covenant with Israel.
Vs. 10- There are two churches: The Church of the Lamb of God and the Church of the devil. If you are not with the Church of the Lamb of God you are with the Church of the devil. The Church of the devil is the “whore of all the earth.” (She sells herself for money.) She has dominion over the whole earth, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people.
The Church of the Lamb of God was few in number and they were scattered throughout the earth. Their numbers are small because of the wickedness of the “whore.”
The “whore” gathered many from the Gentile nations of the earth to war against the Church of the Lamb of God.
The power of the Lamb of God descended upon the “Saints” and upon the covenant people of the Lord (two different categories) who were scattered upon all the face of the face of the earth.
The “Saints” and the “covenant people” were “armed with righteousness” (D&C 113:7-10, D&C 121:35-36) and with power of God in “great glory.” Interesting the Lord narrows it down to two groups, the “Saints” and the “covenant people” or Israel. They are distinguished together as the Church of the Lamb but separate. (Vs. 14)
The wrath of God is poured out on the “Great and abominable Church” and there were “wars and rumors of wars among all nations and kindreds.
Vs. 16-17- The wars and rumors were among the nations that belong to the mother of abominations. When the wrath of God is poured out upon the “mother of harlots”, the “work of the Father will commence” (simultaneously) in preparing the way for the “fulfilling of His covenants with the house of Israel.”
Nephi has written “but a small part of the things which I saw.” (vs. 28)
1 Nephi 15:13- -The grafting in of the natural branches through the “fulness of the Gentiles” is that in the “latter days”, when the descendants of Lehi have dwindled in unbelief, many generations after The Messiah will be manifest to them “in body”, then the “fulness of the gospel of the Messiah will come to the Gentiles and from the Gentiles to the “remnant of our seed.” (Lehi)
“At that day” shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel and that they are the covenant people of the Lord. Then shall they know and come to a knowledge of their forefathers and also to the “knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer (which was ministered unto their fathers by Him). “…, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.” (3 Nephi 26:6-10)
At that day they will rejoice and praise unto God, “their rock and salvation.” At that day they will receive strength and nourishment from the “true vine”. (John 15:1)
The descendants of Lehi will be remembered and “grafted in” (to Christ the true vine.)
It comes to the descendants of Lehi by way of the “Gentiles” that the Lord may show his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that He will be rejected by the Jews or of the house of Israel.
Lehi spoke not only of his own seed (Joseph) but also the other scattered tribes of Israel, pointing to the covenant (between Israel and the Lord) that would be fulfilled in the latter days, “In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.”
Nephi refers to the words of Isaiah and Jacob (Nephi’s younger brother/High Priest) clarifies that when Nephi refers to the restoration of the “Jews” it is not intended to limit his comments to the tribe of Judah but refers to all the tribes of Israel. After their restoration, Israel will never be scattered or confounded again.
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