Who are the 'Gentiles' the Book of Mormon prophesies of?
The word "Gentiles" appears in five out of fifteen books in the Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, 3 Nephi, Mormon and Ether. Gentiles is referenced 146 times and is more frequently used by the prophets than: truth, Zion, resurrection and baptize. But why?
Who are these people and why would the Book of Mormon prophets warn, bless and prophesy about them? Why are they so special?
Understanding the Importance of the Gentiles
The Book of Mormon teaches: “out of the books that are written will the people be judged.” The Latter-Day Saints will be judged out of their books, just like the Jews.
“I would to God that every citizen of this land might read the Book of Mormon prayerfully and learn something of the prophecies made regarding this land — the promises made and the conditions upon which they are made …”-Ezra Taft Benson
In the Book of Mormon, there are 3 groups of Gentiles:
Anyone who isn’t Jewish or of the House of Israel.
Non-Jewish and settled the America's, preparing the way for the restoration of the gospel.
Those who receive of the fullness of the gospel through the book of Mormon.
The scriptures reviewed here will only pertain to the 3rd group: those who have the fullness of the gospel.
Gentiles = Those Who Received the Fullness
1 Nephi 10:14 14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the Gospel... 1 Nephi 13:35 35 ...these things [Book of Mormon] shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles 1 Nephi 13:40 40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records [Book of Mormon], which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, 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. 1 Nephi 13:42 42 ...manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles [Latter-Day Saints]; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last 1 Nephi 15:13 13 ...the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed—
And from the Introduction Page we read the following:
Book of Mormon title page: "Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile... to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile"
Here it says it’s written to "the Gentile". The only Gentiles who read this book are the Latter-Day Saints and the offshoots branches of Joseph Smith's restoration church. The Book of Mormon "came forth" by way of a gentile, and that gentile was Joseph Smith. This clearly explains that Joseph Smith is a Gentile, a modern Latter-Day Gentile.
The previously outlined scriptures show that: The only people who can bring this sacred work to the House of Israel, are those Gentiles who have received the fulness themselves. There is no question here that the "fulness" of the gospel comes to the latter-day Gentiles, who are today called: Latter-day Saints. The Latter-Day Saints receive of the fulness of the Gospel through the restoration under Joseph Smith and have the fulness continually before them in the form of the Book of Mormon. Nephi explains that the "fulness" means the true gospel of the Messiah found in the book of Mormon. No other people receive this fulness, only the Latter-Day Saints.
The Gentile/Latter-Day Saints spoken of in the Book of Mormon have a great work to accomplish. It is imperative that they understand the scriptural blessings, warnings and prophecies pertaining to them. Then they can begin to prepare to do the Father's will.
Nephi:
These are some of the promises to the posterity of Lehi through the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) in the last days, showing that the Latter-Day Saints will bring the Book of Mormon to Lehi’s posterity:
1 Nephi 10:12- Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree...
1 Nephi 15:17- ... it shall come by way of the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), that the Lord may show his power unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), for the very cause that he shall be
rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel. (Speaking of the Book of Mormon)
9- ... it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints); and not only unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. (The scriptures will be of worth to the LDS and Jews)
1 Nephi 22: 8- ...God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
2 Nephi 30:3- And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints). For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.
(2 Nephi 10:9)
Nephi explains the Blessings that will be given to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
1 Nephi 22:9- "... it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints); and not only unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." (The LDS understand these blessings because of the Book of Mormon)
2 Nephi 30: 2- For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; 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.
2 Nephi 33:9- I also have charity for the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints). But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
(2 Nephi 6:12, 2 Nephi 10:18)
Nephi writes the many Warnings given to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
1 Nephi 14: 1- And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) 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—
2 And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy 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.
1 Nephi 14:5- ...if the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) repent it shall be well with them;
6- ...wo be unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God.
2 Nephi 25: 3- (Nephi Warns) ...unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.
8- Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly.
9- And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.
2 Nephi 26:12 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;
20-And the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
21- And there are many churches built up which cause envying’s, and strife’s, and malice.
22- And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
2 Nephi 28: 32 Wo be unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), 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.
God follows the same patterns through each dispensation. The Jews had many chances to repent. They were his chosen people, the people who would prepare the way for the Messiah. However, they were also the people who would kill the Messiah because most of them couldn’t awaken and see with the Holy Spirit instead of their own wisdom. Today, the LDS are the modern Jews, with their laws and orders, they believe they are the only ones with the true gospel, just as the Jews believed. This leads to great pride and vanity. Even though they do have the fulness through the Book of Mormon, most do not understand this fulness, which causes great stumbling blocks for them.
(more references: 1 Nephi 14:7)
Christ-
Christ speaks to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
The salvation of the Gentiles and the Remnant of Lehi, are so important to Christ that he prophecies a great deal in regard to them. Christ knows that the people who will read the record of the Nephites, are the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints and also the Remnant. Hence, Christ spends a large amount of time reviewing those prophecies.
Christ addressed the Gentiles directly by saying things such as: “Turn all ye Gentiles” (3 Nephi 30:2) and “Come unto me, O ye Gentiles” (Ether 4:13).
Christ’s Blessings/Promises to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
3 Nephi 16:4- ... that through the fulness of the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer.
6- ...And blessed are the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me and of the Father.
7 -Behold, because of their 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 (Latter-Day Saints), that the fulness of these things shall be made known unto them.
Christ’s Warnings/Prophecies/Destructions to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
Christ starts off his teachings explaining that the gospel would go forth to the Gentiles because of Israel’s unbelief. He then explains that it will go forth again to the House of Israel after the Gentile’s rejection of His words and falling into unbelief after receiving a fulness of the gospel (3 Nephi 21:5-6). Christ expounds on the timing and purpose of the fulness going from the Gentiles to the Remnant.
3 Nephi 16: 8- But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints)…
3 Nephi 16:10- And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) 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 priestcraft’s, 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.
12- And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) 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.
13- But if the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel
15- But if they 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 (Gentiles / Latter-Day Saints), 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 20:15- And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—
16- 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.
20- And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints).
28- And they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father.
3 Nephi 21: 2 And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;
5- Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), 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 (Latter- Day Saints), that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), for this cause that the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), 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;
11- Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.
12- And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
14- Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots;
3 Nephi 23:2- For surely, he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore, it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints).
4- Therefore give heed to my words; write the things which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints). (more references: 3 Nephi 22:3)
There is a steady pattern of conditional warnings unto the Gentiles from Jesus Christ and Mormon. If the Gentiles stay in their wicked state after having received the fulness of the gospel then the remnant of Israel will tread them down.
Christ utilizes the ‘if/then’ warnings to the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints): “ 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; … as a lion among the beasts of the forest … who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. … And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles” (3 Nephi 20:15-16, 20).
We have not yet seen the remnant rise up, which means that we are currently in the middle of this prophecy. We are in the stage of the Gentiles/LDS falling into pride and unbelief after receiving the fulness.
It’s important to reflect upon Jacob 5. The prophets did not place the longest chapter in the Book of Mormon because it was a pretty allegory. One of the main principles in that allegory is to point out that none of the trees simply flourish until the Master of the vineyard returns. The branches overtake the roots in all the trees, leading to grafting. Not a single tree just brings forth good fruit continually, especially the tree representing the modern latter-day Gentiles. There are no trees that bring forth good fruit, consistently. Instead, over time, after the good fruit is plucked, the branches overcome the roots and the Master of the vineyard must work again with the servants of the vineyard to prune and/or replant branches. A more thorough study of that chapter will yield great understanding.
Mormon and Moroni:
Mormon and Moroni speak directly to the reader of the Book of Mormon in several places calling them ‘Gentiles’. They say: “Hearken, O ye Gentiles” (3 Nephi 30:1), “Therefore, I write unto you, Gentiles” (Mormon 3:17), and “O ye Gentiles” (Mormon 5:22), “And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles” (Ether 2:11) and “Wherefore, O ye Gentiles” (Ether 8:23).
These prophets don’t simply include a verse here or a verse there regarding the latter-day Gentiles, but instead they write 5-10 versus straight, warning them of what will come because they have seen it. These prophets could not have been more direct and urgent in their messages to the Latter-Day Saints.
Moroni was able to pinpoint the greatest threat to these people and the fulness they had received. Moroni’s warnings state that the Gentiles should watch for the time when pride, vanity and secret combinations would be among them and not to uphold those combinations in the last day for it would lead to their complete destruction (Ether 8:23). Then he warns that the lack of Charity among those Latter-Day Gentiles, because of their pride and unbelief would cause them to judge the sacred truths in the Book of Mormon as unimportant and also warned that if the Gentiles fail to have charity, God would take away that which they had received (Ether 12:35).
The Blessings and Promises to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
3 Nephi 26: 8- 8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught t he people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), 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.
-The sealed portion and 'other scriptures', constitute the 'greater things'.. One should ask themselves if they have received that portion. If the Latter-day Saints have yet to receive this greater truth, they should sincerely ask themselves: why hasn’t it been revealed? Why has the lord not brought forth this greater work if they believe they are faithfully doing all they should with what they have been given?
3 Nephi 29:1 -And now behold, I say unto you that when the Lord shall see fit, in his wisdom, that these sayings shall come unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) according to his word…
Mormon 3:17- Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;
Prophecies and Warnings to the Gentiles/Latter-Day Saints:
3 Nephi 30:1-2- Hearken, O ye Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), 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, saying:
2- Turn, all ye Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), 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.
If one cannot grasp this, then have the Faith to take it to the Lord.
Remember Laman and Lemuel? What did they say to Nephi about the Jews from whence they came?
” And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people.” (1 Nephi 17:22)
The Latter-Days Saints must come to see that there is a pattern of Blindness. If it was simple and easy to discern, then everyone would have already seen it. Do not throw aside the truth simply because it is not easily understood. Seek for further understanding. The Lord can only give line upon line and precept upon precept. However, he cannot give truth if a people believe they already have the answers or if they are unwilling to accept something that goes against their current belief system.
The Latter-Day Saints must be willing to let go of all things and cling only to Christ. That means being willing to be proven wrong, be corrected or redirected in all forms of belief and tradition.
Mormon 5:9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) …
10- And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints)…
15- And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles(Latter-Day Saints) …
22- And then, O ye Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
24- 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 8:35- 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.
36- 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.
Mormon saw the Latter-Day Saint churches and the clothing, apparel, pride and other iniquities. He says the churches have become polluted BECAUSE of the pride of the hearts of the people. Pride is a great stumbling block for the Saints. The prophets continually point out pride, vanity and unbelief as the greatest sins the Saints must overcome.
37- 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.
38- 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?
39- 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?
40- Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41- Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the a blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
There is great truth awaiting the Latter-Day Saint who goes to the Lord truly seeking his light and knowledge referencing verse 41. If the Saints go to him in Faith the truths hidden in verse 41 will be revealed.
Ether 2:11 And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.
Ether 4:6- (Explaining the Sealed portion of the scriptures) For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.
7- And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
What a grand promise! To see and experience what the Brother of Jared saw even to the unfolding of all revelations. This has not happened and will not until the Saints fulfill their part by having true faith and becoming sanctified in Christ.
13- Come unto me, O ye Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.
Moroni tells us that the Latter-Day Saints do not have the sealed portion because they have not repented and become clean and cast off their unbelief. When they do so, they will receive all that the Brother of Jared experienced!
15- Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you— yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
Here’s the Key, coming to the Father with a broken heart and contrite spirit. Latter-Day Saints believe they have all the truths necessary for salvation. Can their hearts really be broken and their spirits contrite? What great pride Moroni sees in the Latter-Day Saints, such that he tells them to “rend the veil of unbelief”.
Ether 8: 22- And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.
23- Wherefore, O ye Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that hereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24- Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up. (WAKE UP LATTER-DAY SAINTS!)
25- For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
Ether 12:22- And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints)…
23- And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) will a mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith…
25- … wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) shall mock at our words.
28- Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.
35- Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) have not charity, because of our weakness, that thou wilt prove them, and take away their talent, yea, even that which they have received, and give unto them who shall have more abundantly.
36- And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints) grace, that they might have charity.
38- And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles (Latter-Day Saints), yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the a judgment seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.
Conclusion:
Nephi, Mormon, Moroni and Christ saw the Latter-Day Saints today. They knew what the LDS would be fighting against and what great stumbling blocks they would encounter. The prophets warn of secret combinations. Latter-Day Saints must seek to have these combinations revealed to them.
Pride, vanity, unbelief and Secret Combinations are the great threats to the Latter-Day Saints today. In the allegory of the tame and wild olive tree, Zenos explains apostasy with the following words:
“Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard? And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted? (Jacob 5:47–48)
Ironically, the “stumbling block” of the Gentiles is their own learning. This learning replaces the plain and precious truths, causing them to look beyond the mark and stumble. Thus, the secret combinations overtake them and they are lead down to hell by the chains of Satan:
“he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.” (2 Nephi 26:22)
And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.(2 nephi 28:21)
Ezra Taft Benson warned:
"... I received the distinct impression that God is not pleased with our neglect of the Book of Mormon. In the eighty-fourth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord decreed that the whole Church was under condemnation, even all the children of Zion, because of the way they treated the Book of Mormon. "And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent," said the Lord, "and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon" (D&C 84:57).
If Zion is under condemnation, she cannot arise!.
The Gentiles in the Book of Mormon are the Latter-Day Saints. They have been given great blessings, warnings and prophecies for these last days. If members of the church choose to put aside these truths, it has been prophesied what will happen to them. If members choose to take these prophecies to the Lord and seek his guidance, then the Book of Mormon teaches that greater things will be revealed to them.
“…If you use the scriptures as a guide, you know what the Book of Mormon has to say regarding murderous conspiracies in the last day and how we are to awake to our awful situation today (see Ether 8:18–25). I find certain elements in the Church do not like to read the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants so much — they have too much to say about freedom.” -E.T.Benson
When the scriptures are understood the LDS will awaken. This will help them go to the Lord and receive greater truths that will strengthen their personal relationship with Christ. This relationship brings the blessings prophesied of and protects the Saints from the curses.
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