That Which Truth Can Destroy

Truth is called by the Lord, "knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;" (D&C 93: 24) 

On September 6, 1977 I was on the campus of Brigham Young University. I had come there to listen to a devotional talk by Spencer W. Kimball. I had arrived late and the opening remarks were already being broadcast outside the auditorium where the talk was being delivered. It was a sunny, mild, early fall day so I decided to stay outdoors and listen while enjoying the sunshine. The talk given by President Kimball that day was called "Absolute Truth." I listened  carefully to every word. The premise of the talk, as the title implies, is that there is truth that is unchangeable. There is truth that is "Absolute." 

Absolute truth, president Kimball said, is independent of men's belief or not. Absolute truth simply is true and does not depend on anyone to believe it in order to make it true. Likewise, men's "unbelief" in an absolute  truth, does not alter the truth in any respect. The lord revealed, "All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it." (D&C 93: 30) That "independence" makes truth unchangeable by men. Men may misunderstand, they may misinterpret, they may remain in pure ignorance, men may care or not care, they may vehemently deny, yet truth, remains unaltered, unaffected, unchanged by what men do or don't do.

I was affected deeply by the premise of President Kimball's talk that day In 1977. It made perfect sense to me. The premise itself was "true." I have never forgotten the meaning of that premise. I still believe it strongly today. "Truth" means everything to me. In fact, the discovery of truth has become a consuming occupation. I have learned some things that are, in fact, true in the absolute sense. Other things I used to believe were true, have now been relegated to a category of something other than "truth." 

Not everything we "believe" is necessarily true. In fact, most of what men generally believe about themselves, about the world, about God, about truth itself, is based in faulty premise that is far from truth. Interestingly, it seems to work just fine for almost all people to not be grounded in truth. Just believing something, anything, true or not, gives people a complacency that falsely comforts. Though comforted by belief in something that may be other than real truth,  the eternal law of consequence will always meet out resulting rewards, good or bad. These consequences cannot be chosen after the fact. They simply follow what we believe as a matter of, well, consequence.

Recently, another blog posted this quote: "that which can be destroyed by truth, should be" (P.C. Hodgell.)  I have not been able to get the meaning of this verity out of my mind since I first read it. The Lord Jesus instructed "ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 32)  If we are to be made "free" by "knowing" the truth, then certainly, we ought to seek to know it. If knowledge of truth might have the effect of destroying some other belief we may hold dear, then, that other belief ought to be destroyed. Truth, and the knowledge of it, is what are important. It is not important to defend long held beliefs and traditions. If those cannot stand up to the truth, then they should be discarded and "destroyed." I like the idea that truth should be used to destroy any ideology or belief that cannot stand up to it. We should be willing to trade every false tradition and belief we have for even one truth.

The ability of truth to destroy false tradition and belief is exactly why the Lord Jesus used the truth of His word to destroy that which was false about the Jews he lived among. Jesus in Matt. 23 delineates the destruction by His truth of all the Jews false beliefs and traditions:

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (vs. 13)

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." (vs. 15)

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (vs. 23)

"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (vs. 28)

"Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:" (vs. 34)

There was much about the tradition of the Jews that truth needed to destroy.

False traditions that encumber our lives  in like manner should be destroyed by, and replaced with, truth. If exposure to truth can destroy something, then destruction is what is needed for that thing. The destruction of all that is false should be welcomed.

It was revealed to Joseph Smith, (D&C 123: 13-15)

"Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—These should then be attended to with great earnestness. Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things."

In the next entry we will consider a few of the false traditions that encumber the latter day saints. If any of those traditions cannot stand the light of "truth" they ought to be rightly "destroyed." We ought to be grounded in solid "Absolute Truth."

"COURAGE" The Great Separator of Men

Jesus taught His disciples in Palestine:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away." (Matt 13: 47-48)

The net of the word of the Lord draws men to Him. Each knot in the great net is a carefully, deliberately tied binding of truth that is in turn connected to the next knot or principle, and the next, and the next. The great mesh of truth catches men of all kinds. Some "good" and some "bad." Some, called "good" will be gathered into vessels to be preserved, and some will be cast away. The "good," are perhaps glad to be found in the net. The "bad" struggle and fight for escape, even though they, like the "good" might be put up in vessels and preserved.

It has never been easy to be a disciple of the lord. Sacrifice is always required.  Courage becomes the great separator of men. The Lord said:

"...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 16: 24-25)

Almost all men are unable to "lose their life" for His sake. Very few are able to muster the necessary courage to walk away from a former life in order to follow Him. The comfort of men's traditions has a powerful lulling affect that holds men tight, prompting them to resist and struggle against the net of truth that might draw them to the safety of vessels where they might be preserved. Change, even when the truth is recognized is never easy.

It was courage the Lord was speaking of when he said:

"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matt 10: 35-38)

Courage to change when truth is recognized is perhaps never challenged more than when there is recognition that family and old acquaintances will not understand. The comfort of traditions becomes the easy resort. And, sadly, it is to the comfort of their traditions that almost all men flee rather than to pick up the cross and follow whenever false tradition is challenged. Even men who consider themselves men of complete integrity and honesty are tempted to compromise what they know they "should do" when it might involve embarrassment, ridicule, or being cast out by peers or family. This is why courage is the great separator. This is exactly why Jesus said He had come to "set a man at variance" with those of his own household in many cases. And it is also why He would say, "he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me."

Courage includes moving in the Lord's time and way. We do not set the terms or the timing for our repentance and our movement to Him, He sets the terms, we obey. Jesus taught the singleness of mind required to follow him when one of his disciples asked for just enough time to go bury his dead father:

"And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." (Matt. 8: 21-22)

Following the Lord when He calls requires all the courage we can muster. It may require that we stand completely alone. It may require that we suffer in many of the same ways He was required to suffer for us. He took up His cross, we in like manner are expected to pick up ours. But He has given this promise:

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1Cor. 2: 9)

Have courage. Allow the net of the gospel of truth to bring you to vessels of honor in order that you be not cast away. 

Gentiles "Assistants" in Zion

How do the latter day Gentiles play into the Lord's plans for the establishment of Zion in the latter days? If they, (the Gentiles) carry the responsibility for restoration of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon, (1Nephi 15: 13 and 3Nephi 21: 5-6) then what about a role in establishing Zion as a place for the Lord to come and dwell among His people?

The Lord has declared His intention to "bring again Zion" (Isaiah 52: 8) in the latter days. This will be His doing. He will bring Zion. No institution will, or can bring or create Zion. From the beginning of time, Zion has never grown out of, or resulted from the efforts of an earthly institution of any kind. The Lord defines Zion as "The Pure in Heart." (D&C 97: 21) The pure in heart are blessed to "see God." (3Nephi 12: 8) The defining feature of Zion is the actual presence of God among His people. (2Nephi 22: 6) Only those that are pure in heart and can endure the presence of the Lord will be found in Zion. The Lord instructed the early Saints: "I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion—Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God." (D&C 97: 12,16) The wicked cannot endure the presence of the Lord, only the pure in heart. There will be only a few (3Nephi 14: 14) that will be sufficiently pure to be able to endure His presence in the flesh in Zion. (D&C 76: 118)

Moroni recounts teachings of the prophet Ether from the Jaredite record. Ether spoke of the future establishment of Zion on the American continent. He said:

"Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land... that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old;" (Ether 13: 4,6,8)

The remnant of Joseph to whom this land belongs by promised inheritance is the seed of Nephi's father. (3Nephi 15: 13, 1Nephi 13: 30) Lehi, Nephi's father was a descendant of Joseph. (1Nephi 5: 14) Though this remnant of Israel through Joseph's lineage was to be scattered, driven, and afflicted by the Gentiles of the latter day upon this, their land of inheritance, (1Nephi 13: 14) it will be them, (the remnant of Israel) that will finally find the favor of the Lord. It will be that favored remnant of Israel that will establish and build the New Jerusalem unto the Lord.

The Lord, while teaching the Nephites during His ministry pronounced a series of awful woes upon the Gentiles. (3Nephi 21: 14-21) After pronouncement of all the woes to befall the Gentiles, the Lord in his mercy makes this provision, (3Nephi 21: 22-24)

"But if they (still speaking of the Gentiles) will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance; And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem. And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem."

The role of Gentiles in building Zion, if they are willing to repent, hearken to His words, and harden not their hearts, will be to "assist" the remnant of Jacob. This doctrine of the Lord, when it is understood, will come as a major blow and disappointment to Gentiles who await the word of leaders to pack up and get ready to move to Zion under their direction. The Gentile's understanding of Zion, how it will happen, where it will take place, and who will be involved, is so much the precepts of men at this point, it has nothing whatever to do with the prophecy of the Lord Jesus and the prophets of the Book of Mormon. No wonder the Lord condemns the Gentiles for their unbelief of these things:

"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. 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- 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. For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay." (D&C 84: 54-59)

Despite the unbelief and wickedness of the Gentiles after the blessing they have received by the Lord in the restoration of the gospel, (3Nephi 20: 15) they may yet repent and be numbered among the remnant of Israel whose right it is to inherit this land. If any Gentile will repent, hearken to the word of God, and harden not their heart, they may come and assist the remnant of Israel in building the city New Jerusalem.

"And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel." (Ether 13: 10)

"And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst." (3Nephi 21: 25)

Gentiles The Arm of Flesh "A Curse"

All is not lost for the individual latter day Gentile if they will hearken to the invitation to repent and come unto the Lord. After having prophesied extensively about the latter day Gentiles, about their work of restoration and about their failures in righteousness, Nephi writes the following:

"...and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed. For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord...for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel." (2Nephi 30: 1-2)

The Gentiles will fall into wickedness and all kinds of abomination and evil after their latter day work of restoration of the Book of Mormon and the gospel. As a result, the Lord promised to remove the fullness of the gospel from them. (3Nephi 16: 10) There never the less remains the possibility that individual Gentiles may yet be saved. The only acceptable course for a repentant Gentile (or anyone else) is to enter into covenant with the Lord. And He covenants with "none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel." (2 Nephi  30: 2) This proves to be too great a challenge for most latter day Gentiles. According to Nephi, the propensity of the Gentiles is to tie themselves and their salvation to men who cannot save them. They will be under the mistaken idea that "the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;" (Nephi 28: 5) They will believe falsely that following men is the same thing as following Christ. Nephi describes this gross error of the Gentiles as follows:

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;" (2Nephi 28: 31-32) 

Relying on, and trusting in the arm of flesh is a curse to the latter day Gentiles just as Nephi prophesied it would be. Instead of trusting in and relying on the Lord, and the direction of the Holy Ghost, the latter day Gentiles choose unwisely to strictly follow a group of men and their precepts. Unfortunately, those precepts according to Nephi too often come from the "learning" of the man and not from the Holy Ghost that gives utterance. (2Nephi 28: 4) In this way, even the humble followers of Christ are "led that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2Nephi 28: 14)

The problem with relying on flesh of any kind, regardless of title or position is described in a revelation given to Joseph Smith. Joseph was told concerning the telestial kingdom, 

"And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;

For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.

These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;

But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant." (D&C 76: 98-101)

Among those in the telestial glory will be all those who "followed" fleshy leaders. Even great leaders such as Moses, Cephas, (Peter) Paul, and Enoch did not have power to, and could not save, or ensure a celestial reward for their followers. Following any of these men or any other man as prophet leaders will result in a telestial reward. In this case, according to the revelation of the Lord, "following the prophet" is a formula for the least reward. No wonder Nephi said that anyone who relies on the arm of flesh is "cursed." (2Nephi 28: 31-32)

It is interesting to note; we learn from the verses above that some of the followers of Enoch landed in the telestial kingdom. As we know, many of Enoch's contemporaries were translated along with Enoch to the heavenly city. We must conclude that those who were translated along with Enoch "followed," someone other than Enoch. Otherwise, instead of being translated, they might have ended in the telestial kingdom with those who "say they are of Enoch."  Following Enoch and trusting in Enoch could not ever save anyone. Those who were translated with Enoch, were disciples and followers of the Redeeming Christ, not Enoch. 

For any Gentile that will repent, turn to the Lord, and trust in Him and His redeeming power, the mercy of the Lord is always extended. He, unlike any man who claims to have and exercise His power, is the only one with the power to bring His children unto Him and then to the Father. Because, He employs no servant there. (2 Nephi 9: 41)

"nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." (2 Nephi 28: 32)

Turn All Ye Gentiles

What then is to become of the Gentiles of the latter days? If the plan of the Lord is to "bring the fulness of my gospel from among them," (the Gentiles) (3Nephi 16: 10) and to "then... remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them," (the remnant of Nephi's seed) (3Nephi 16: 11) what is to become of the Gentiles and the restoration work completed by Joseph Smith and the Gentiles? We have already seen that the restoration work of the Gentiles was fulfillment of Book of Mormon prophecy.  The bringing forth of the Book of Mormon and other scripture by the Gentiles was in large part done so that the truth and those sacred records could be transmitted to those of the house of Israel, especially the remnant of Israel whose fathers made the Book of Mormon record. (1Nephi 10: 14, 1Nephi 13: 39, 1Nephi 15: 13, 2Nephi 28: 2, 2Nephi 30: 3, 3Nephi 21: 2-3 among many others)

In a revelation given to Joseph Smith through the Urim and Thummim in July 1828, the Lord made clear His plan concerning the contents of the record of the Book of Mormon. He said,

"...my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, (the Bible) even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people—And to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers—And this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their brethren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations. And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen." (D&C 3: 16-29)

"For this very purpose" the record on the plates translated by Joseph was preserved by the Lord. This revelation to the Gentile prophet Joseph, clarifies and restates the Lord's declaration to the Nephites that after he has brought the fullness of His gospel from among the Gentiles, (3Nephi 16: 10) he will then "remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them," (3Nephi 16: 11) This then, is the very prophetic purpose, according to the Lord, of the Book of Mormon.

The work of the latter day Gentiles, according to Book of Mormon prophecy, has set the stage for the fulfillment of all of God's words concerning "His people." (1Nephi 21: 1, 3Nephi 16: 8-9, 11, 13-15,  3Nephi 20: 21-22 and many others) As often as  the Lord uses the phrase "my people," it is never used to describe the Gentiles. The focus of the Lord's plan after the restoration of truth by the Gentiles, shifts to the "very purpose" for which the Book of Mormon was preserved and brought forth. That focus of His plan will no longer be the Gentiles, it will be instead, "His people," scattered Israel.

There is no part of any Book of Mormon prophecy by Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Isaiah, Mormon, Moroni, or the Lord Jesus Christ, (or any other) that speaks about the successful perpetuation of any latter day institution established by the Gentiles. Quite strikingly to the contrary, the Book of Mormon prophets continually, and repeatedly, point out the failures of the Gentiles in the latter days. Here are just a few of the numerous examples. And, no, these words are not meant by the prophets to mean any "other people." Despite our undying inclination to attribute these unsavory observations of the prophets to those poor "other churches" and people who do not belong to the "true church," the warnings are in fact for, and directed to, the latter day Gentile church. Consider, how much like the Lord's own words to the Gentiles in the final verse of 3Nephi, these words of the other Book of Mormon prophets are. The message is perfectly consistent throughout because the message is the Lord's.

"Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up. They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up. They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2Nephi 28: 12-14)

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." (2Nephi 28: 31-32)

"And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver." (3 Nephi 20: 15-16)

"And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways? Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll? Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver." (Mormon 5: 22-24)

"O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing. And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted. O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world? Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?" (Mormon 8: 33-39)

The final words of the book containing the record of the ministry of the Lord Jesus to the Nephites:

"Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel." (3Nephi 30: 2)

Latter Day Gentiles Favor Lost

The Lord pointed out to the Nephites while he was teaching them face to face that the Gentiles would find God's favor because of their "belief" in Him. Interestingly, the Lord says it is because of the belief of the Gentiles, but also the "unbelief" of the house of Israel, that the truth would come unto the Gentiles in the latter day. 

"blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me and of the Father. Behold, because of their (the Gentiles) belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fulness of these things shall be made known unto them." (3Nephi 16: 6-7)

The "fullness of these things" refers to all the Lord made known to the Nephites and allowed them to write during His ministry among them. The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. All that is needed for every person to learn what is required to "come unto (Him)" can be learned from the words of the Book of Mormon. It is that fullness, the Gentiles are promised to receive in the latter day. 

Centuries earlier, in Nephi's day, the angel of the Lord said  "if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed..." (1Nephi 14: 1) The manifestation of the Lord "in very deed" is the culminating blessing of the fullness of Christ's gospel. That manifestation comes to every person who is willing to believe in Him and obey the narrow and strait course laid out by the Lord for the return to Him. The course back to His presence and the reception of His promises from His own mouth are available to every person who is willing. Joseph Smith the latter day Gentile prophet of restoration taught these principles and invited every latter day saint to "make their calling and election sure." The best source of which I am aware (in addition to the Book of Mormon and the scriptures,) to learn about the path and the requirements that must be met in order to receive such a manifestation from the Lord, is The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil by Denver C. Snuffer Jr. After a person has immersed herself completely and feasted fully and regularly on the words of the Book of Mormon and the scriptures, then a careful reading of the Second Comforter can open wonderful understanding and helpful instruction for the sincere seeker.

The entirety of the restoration work of Joseph Smith, the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon and other latter day scripture, constitutes fulfillment of the Lord's words, "in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them." (3Nephi 16: 7)

Through Joseph Smith, the latter day Gentiles received the "fullness of these things." They were offered the opportunity to become Zion. They might have been of one heart and to have had no poor among them. They received the invitation to have the Lord dwell among them in a house to be built unto His name. The latter day Gentiles instead, began early on in their history to fulfill the further words of the Lord and the prophets of the Book of Mormon. Those further words and prophecies do not flatter the latter day Gentiles (as we have seen in the final two verses of 3Nephi.) The favor and blessing of God enjoyed by the Gentiles through the period of restoration of truth is replaced with warnings and pronouncement of woes upon them.

Immediately after the pronouncement of the Lord to the Nephites that "in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them;" in the next verse the Lord begins to pronounce woes upon them. The next recorded words in the Nephite record begin with this, "But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles..." (3Nephi 16: 8) The Lord then prophesies to the Nephites about the failure of the latter day Gentiles and the removal of the fullness of the gospel from them.

"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them. (3Nephi16: 10)

The Lord's prophecy includes the following infractions of God's law by the latter day Gentiles. They will:

1. Sin against my gospel

2. Reject the fullness of my gospel 

3. Lifted up in the pride of their hearts

4. Filled with all manner of lyings, deceits, mischiefs, hypocrisy, murders, priestcrafts, whoredoms, secret abominations

The result for the Gentiles is a pronouncement by the Father, "I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them." (See D&C 45: 28-30) The favor of God enjoyed by the Gentiles through the period of restoration of truth by the prophet Joseph Smith is to be removed from them. Then, in the great chiasmic arrangement of stewardship responsibility for the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the ages of the earth since Christ, those that were first shall now be the last to receive the fullness of the gospel. The favor of the Lord will shift from the Gentiles to the remnant and all of Israel. 

"And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them. And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel." (3Nephi 16: 11)

Given the context and understanding of what we have learned from the precious Book of Mormon about the latter day Gentiles, it seems less surprising now that the Lord would instruct Mormon to insert these words as the final words of the book 3Nephi:

"Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel." (3Nephi 30: 2)

Latter Day Gentiles God's Favored People

Nephi, in his great vision of the latter days, was shown the migration and settlement of the latter day Gentiles of European decent to the land of promise. (1Nephi 13: 10-16) The description in Nephi's vision of the latter day European immigrant Gentiles, shows that the Gentiles came to the land of promise with the blessing and favor of the Lord. The latter day seed of Nephi's own family, on the other hand, are described as being out of favor with God. Concerning the favor of the Lord upon the latter day Gentiles, Nephi said:

"And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance...I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them...And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations." (1Nephi 13: 15-19)

At the same time, the angel's and Nephi's own description of the latter day seed of Nephi's family:

"Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren…and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten." (1 Nephi 13: 11,14)

The Gentiles, as they migrate to, and settle upon, the land of promise, are blessed of the Lord and enjoy His power and protection. At the same time, the latter day seed of Nephi's family are to experience the wrath of God upon them. They were to be scattered before the Gentiles and smitten. This part of Nephi's vision describes in precise terms, the treatment of the indigenous people of the American continent by the European immigrants. They were indeed "scattered" and "smitten" by the European immigrant Gentiles.

The Gentiles at this point in Nephi's vision are in the favor of the Lord. They enjoy His power and blessing. Though the Gentiles dominate, drive, scatter, and smite the latter day seed of the family of Nephi, Nephi receives the promise that they, (the Gentiles) will not completely destroy his (Nephi's) latter day seed. This land has been promised to the seed of Nephi's father. The Lord will therefore, preserve Nephi’s seed. The promise of the Lord that this land will be preserved for them (The seed of Nephi's father) as the land of their inheritance will ultimately be honored and upheld by the Lord.

The angel says to Nephi,

"Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren. Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren." (1Nephi 13: 30-31)

Although the latter day remnant seed of Nephi is out of God's favor at this point in Nephi's vision, they are not forgotten of the Lord. God yet has promises to fulfill to this remnant of Israel. 

As for the Gentiles, Nephi is told,

"Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in... Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment...after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel—and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy (Nephi's) father—wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb." (1Nephi 13: 32-34)

God's mercy is upon the latter day Gentiles. God's wrath is upon the remnant of Israel (the seed of Nephi's father.) Nephi is then shown the latter day restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Gentiles. This was to happen after the seed of Nephi (the "remnant of the house of Israel, the seed of Nephi’s father") was "visited" by God's great judgment and smitten by the hand of the Gentiles. The Gentiles, Nephi is told, will receive the mercy of the Lord. The Lord will, "bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious." (1Nephi 13: 34)

That which is "plain" and "precious" that will be brought forth by the Lord unto the Gentiles is none other than the "precious" Book of Mormon. Nephi is told,

"For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy (Nephi's) seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation." (1Nephi 13: 35-36)

As we have already discussed in other installments, the reason for the restoration of the gospel through the latter day Gentiles is so that the gospel could come from the Gentiles to the remnant of Israel. (1Nephi 10: 14, 1Nephi 15: 13, 1Nephi 22: 8, 2Nephi 30: 3, 3Nephi 16: 4 among many others) Nephi is now shown in his vision the sharing of the latter day documents that contain the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the remnant of Israel from the Gentiles. Nephi records,

"I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, (The Holy Bible) that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren. And after it (the Bible) had come forth unto them I beheld other books, (including foremost, the Book of Mormon) which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, (the remnant of Nephi's family seed) unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true. And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, (foremost the Book of Mormon) which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, (the Bible) which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, 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." (1Nephi 13: 38-40)

To this point in Nephi's great vision, the latter day Gentiles have been blessed of the Lord. They have filled the measure of the role given them as the restorers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have delivered that restored truth to the remnant of Israel, Lehi's seed.

The angel declares to Nephi,

"And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks— And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy (Nephi’s) father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded." (1Nephi 14: 1-2)

The latter day Gentiles have a marvelous opportunity to "hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day." If they do, He has promised to manifest Himself in three magnificent ways unto them. If they will hearken unto Him, He will manifest Himself unto the Gentiles in "word," and also in "power," and in "very deed." (That phrase, "in very deed" ought to be given extremely careful consideration by us.) If the Gentiles "harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God," they will thereby have the opportunity extended to them by the Lord to be "numbered among" the seed of thy, (Nephi's) father. In this way, latter day Gentiles may be "numbered among" the house of Israel.

Then, a few short verses later, the angel makes a suggestion to Nephi that seems ominous given the favored status of the Gentiles up to this point in Nephi's vision. The angel says,

"Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with them; and thou also knowest concerning the covenants of the Lord unto the house of Israel; and thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth not must perish. Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God." (1Nephi 14: 5-6) 

It seems unfathomable that those who were responsible for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon; those who would have responsibility to deliver that gospel to the remnant of Israel, could "harden their hearts against the Lamb of God." Why would the angel make such a suggestion to Nephi? So far, we know that there are two possibilities for the latter day Gentiles;  It can be "well" with the Gentiles if they "repent," Or, it could be "Wo" unto the Gentiles if they "harden their hearts." 

Perhaps it is at this juncture we may begin to understand the need the Lord felt to insert the last two verses in the book of 3Nephi. (3Nephi 30: 1-2)

We will find, as we continue this investigation, the favor of the Lord may not remain with a people indefinitely. The favor of the Lord may be a fleeting thing. Our choices with what we are given are everything.