In the title page of The Book of
Mormon, the prophet Mormon identifies the three groups of people the book
addresses. “Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the
house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile.”
In order to receive the message of the
Book of Mormon meant for us. it is important to recognize which group
we identify with. Am I a Lamanite? Am I a Jew? Or Am I a Gentile?
Book
of Mormon Title Page
An Account Written
by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi
Wherefore, it is an
abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the
Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house
of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of
commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of
revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that
they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of
God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni,
and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the
Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgment taken
from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of
Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the
language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to
heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel
what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they
may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off
forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that
Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all
nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men;
wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found
spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
TRANSLATED
BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.
The prophets of the Book of Mormon saw
our day and know exactly who they are addressing and what message
each group needs to hear. These identities stay consistent
throughout the entire book.
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. Mormon 8:34-35
How does the Book of Mormon serve each
of these three groups?
- To show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever.
- To the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.
It was foreseen that the house of
Israel would be scattered among all nations. It would follow that all
the nations upon the face of the earth would be blessed by this
bloodline.
Wherefore, the
things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both
temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel,
sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth,
and also among all nations. 1 Nephi 22:3
With this understanding, Mormon
continues to distinguish the Gentiles from the House of Israel in his
writings. Notice even when the Gentiles receive the fulness of the
Gospel, they are still called gentiles. In the Book of Mormon,
receiving the Gospel does not seem to change a Gentile into an
Israelite.
Yea, even my father
spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of
Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose
branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the
face of the earth.
Wherefore, he said
it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land
of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we
should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
And after the house
of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again;
or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the
Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of
the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge
of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer. 1 Nephi 10:12-14
The gentiles are given the hope that if
they repent and return unto the Father, they shall be numbered among
God's people; but still the record does not show that their identity
changes when they accept God's offering and protection. What is the
difference between being numbered among them and becoming one of
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. But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the
Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of
Israel. And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of
Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the
Father. 3 Nephi 16:12-14
If Joseph and the people attending the
dedication of the Kirtland Temple have already been baptized, why did
Joseph still identify the members of the church and himself as
Gentiles? Joseph Smith reiterates these distinctions between these
three groups of people in his prayer.
Now these words, O
Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and
commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with
the Gentiles.
But thou knowest
that thou hast a great love for the children of Jacob, who have been
scattered upon the mountains for a long time, in a cloudy and dark
day. We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob,
that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed; And the
yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David;
And the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou
didst give to Abraham, their father.
And cause that the
remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten because of their
transgression, be converted from their wild and savage condition to
the fulness of the everlasting gospel; That they may lay down their
weapons of bloodshed, and cease their rebellions.
And may all the
scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the
earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and
be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee. D&C
109:60-67
Just as the gentiles were allowed to go
through and tread down the seed of Nephi's brethren,
And it came to pass
that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of
promise; 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 13:14
the house of Israel shall go through
among the gentiles, and shall tread them down. The last shall be
first, and the first shall be last. 1 Nephi 13:42
But if they
[gentiles] will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will
suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that
they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they
shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good
for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my
people, O house of Israel. 3 Nephi 16:15
Which specific group of Gentiles is
Jesus describing in this verse? Who has been called to be the salt of
the earth?
When men are called
unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting
covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor
of men; They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that
salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for
nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. D&C
101: 39-40
Which group of Gentiles were called
with an everlasting covenant?
What is this group of Gentiles doing?
What have they rejected? What will the Father do?
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.
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. 3 Nephi 16:10-11
Who is the fulness of the gospel of
Jesus Christ? What does it mean to reject the fulness of the gospel?
What does it mean to receive the fulness of the gospel of Jesus
Christ?
Of whom we bear
record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed
in the heavenly vision. D&C 76:14
As Gentiles we have the opportunity to
be numbered among God's people but it requires us to repent and
return unto God. We too must seek the face of the Lord and receive
the promise of eternal life.
Verily, thus saith
the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his
sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my
voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I
am; D&C 93:1
And verily, verily,
I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that
receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me. D&C 39:5
And seek the face
of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and
ye shall have eternal life. D&C 101:38
Individually, we each must make the
choice.
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