There are only two verses in the
final chapter of the book 3Nephi in the Book of Mormon. We should notice that
the concluding words of Mormon as he wraps up the book we call 3Nephi are
directed specifically and exclusively to one group of people, the "latter day
Gentiles." (3Nephi 30) I find this fascinating. After all, 3Nephi highlights the
appearance, teachings, and ministry, of the Lord Jesus among the Nephites. This
precious record of the events of the Lord's personal ministry among the
Nephites ought to be for the entire world. It is the record of Christ's
ministry in the chapters of 3Nephi that substantially provides the "other
witness" of Christ that will be to the "convincing of the Jew and
Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all
nations." (Title Page of the Book of Mormon) Why then, after twenty
chapters in 3Nephi dedicated to the record of Jesus' appearance and ministry to
the Nephites, would anything at all need to be said specifically to the latter
day Gentiles? Let alone to direct the entirety of the concluding words of the Book
to them?
Mormon was under a direct commandment
of the Lord to address the final words of the book (3Nephi) to the Gentiles. He
says, "Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ,
the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he
commandeth me that I should write," (3Nephi 30: 1)
So, really, it is the Lord Jesus
Christ that made the decision to address the Gentiles In the concluding words
of 3Nephi. It is in fact Christ who is speaking directly to the latter day
Gentiles. This inserted editorial by Christ should give us latter day Gentiles
real pause. Particularly, the content of Christ's message in these two short
verses should capture our attention. His words are not flattering toward the
latter day Gentiles. Any time the Lord begins a prophetic discussion with the
words, "Turn... from your wicked ways," (3Nephi 30: 2), we ought to
jump immediately to attention. These are words that need to be clearly
understood and heeded by every latter day Gentile (saint).
We should be reminded, so we are
clear, the "Gentiles" spoken of in the Book of Mormon are that group
of primarily European immigrants to this continent who have responsibility for
bringing forth the Book of Mormon and other latter day scripture together with
the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter
day. (1Nephi 13: 34-40 and 3Nephi 16: 4, and D&C 109: 60 among
many others) The latter day Gentiles of the Book of Mormon are Joseph Smith and
the Church he established. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is
the latter day Gentiles.
Why then, would the Lord include a
warning like this, to the latter day church, with this peculiar placement at
the conclusion of the record of His personal ministry? I believe the Lord was
deliberate in the placement of this warning to the latter day church within the
record. It is not by chance that Mormon received the commandment he did, at the
time he did, to include these "words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the
living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you." (3Nephi 30:
1) The Lord obviously has a particular interest in the latter day Gentile church
and it's destiny. Enough so, that the concluding words of the book containing
his personal ministry would be directed specifically to what appears to be a
wayward latter day people.
Here is the Lord's warning to the
latter day church in its entirety:
"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)
These words of the Lord are a
restatement of things already discussed by the Lord during His ministry among
the Nephites and recorded in earlier parts of 3Nephi. Substantial portions of
the Lord's teachings to the Nephites during His ministry had to do with the
future activities of the latter day Gentiles. Chapters 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23,
of 3Nephi all speak of the latter day Gentiles at some length.
What does the Lord's focus in His
ministry on the latter day Gentiles teach us about them? (Therefore, what does
the Lord's teaching suggest about us latter day saints?)There is a great deal
to be learned about us from the Lord's teachings to the Nephites that is not
only important, but also pivotal in latter day events. We should understand
these teachings of the Lord with clarity. As we come to understand these
doctrines, our behavior ought to change because of them. We should be led to
"Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings...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)
But, we are the Lord's chosen people, we say.
We have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we claim to belong to His
true church. We have "living prophets" and apostles to guide us, we
say. Well, perhaps there is something to all of the prophecy, testimony, and
warnings of the Lord from the precious Book of Mormon that we do not yet fully
appreciate or understand? Otherwise, why would the Lord insert words like those
we find in the last chapter of 3Nephi in an effort to prod us latter day saints
to repent and change our course? Perhaps, if the Lord really feels this
way about us, we aren't doing as well as we like to think? Perhaps the whole
time we have thought in error that we are "favored" of the Lord? The
words of the two verses that comprise the last words of 3Nephi convey no
suggestion of "favor." Maybe all is not as well for us as the
messages to us from our leaders and teachers continually suggest.
We look around us in the church and
all seems to be going very well. We are prospering on every hand. You would
really have to say "all is well" with the church. Zion prospers and
grows all around us. The church seems to continually increase in favor with
society and the nations of the earth. There is a growing compatibility and
friendliness with other churches and governments with the church. Financially,
things just couldn't be better. Generally, there is an air of satisfaction and
delight among members of the church concerning the position of the church in
the world now. All of this belies, we might even say it all seems to ignore,
the words of the Lord directed specifically to us in the Book of Mormon.
In the next couple of entries we will consider in some
detail the teachings of the Lord concerning the latter day Gentiles, (us). We
will try to understand better why the Lord would take such a tone with us as He
did in the final words of 3Nephi.
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