Three Outstanding Messages of The Book of Mormon to this Generation

Three Outstanding Messages of The Book of Mormon to this Generation

by Sidney B. Sperry

The Lord’s Kindness to the Remnant of Israel—They are not Cast Off.— The third outstanding message of the Book of Mormon to the world concerns the Lord’s intentions toward the remnant of the house of Israel. On the title page of the Nephite record there occurs this statement concerning one of the objectives for which the book was written:

“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 for ever.’’

In the light of these words, it is easy to understand the special interest displayed by Book of Mormon writers in the Lamanite remnant of our time. In fact, they demonstrate remarkable interest in the eventual redemption of all branches of scattered Israel. It should be explained that the prophets of the Nephite and Jaredite peoples thoroughly understood the part that the house of Israel should play in the salvation of the human race—something, incidentally, which few or none of the sectarian churches of our day comprehend rightly. What the sectarian world doesn’t understand is that when the Lord made his famous covenant with Abraham He promised the Father of the Faithful that through him and his descendants should all the families of the earth be blessed with the Gospel. Therefore the right to carry the Gospel to the human family and bless it with the message of salvation remains one of the precious heritages of Israel. Unfortunately the text of Genesis doesn’t carry all of the original promise made by God to Abraham. While Abraham was yet in Haran, so our modern scripture, the Book of Abraham, records, the Lord made him this promise:

“My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.” (Abr. 2:8-11.)

The implications of this promise are obviously of tremendous spiritual interest. In plain words, it must be recognised that the Church of Christ in any age after Abraham’s time was to be organised and directed by divine authority • in the hands of his descendants; the Church being the means by which God carries the message of salvation to mankind. Our Lord himself, the author of our salvation, was an Israelite; His apostles were Israelites; the Church in this age was restored by divine authority delivered to men who had in their veins blood of the tribe of Ephraim, the senior tribe of Israel.

The great Nephi predicted that Israel would eventually be scattered among all nations because of iniquity. He said:

“… 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. And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away. And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesised concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.” (I Nephi 22:3-5.)

Following these words, he explains that in the latter days the Israelites will be assisted by the Gentiles; that a mighty nation (United States) will be raised up among the Gentiles who, together with Israel, shall have the benefit of a great and marvellous work that will make known God’s covenant to Abraham. The Lord will make bare His arm among the nations, in making known His covenants and gospel to gathered Israel.

Finally, Nephi points out that every nation that turns against Israel shall fall.

“And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it.” (1 Nephi 22:14.)

Lehi, the father of Nephi, in his words to Joseph his youngest son, reminded him of the covenants made by God to his ancestor, the great Joseph who was sold into Egypt. This unusual seer received from the Lord the promise that from the fruit of his loins should a righteous branch be raised up (on this continent) and also the promise that the Messiah should be manifested to their descendants in the latter days. (2 Nephi 3:5.) To the remnants of Joseph would the Lord raise up a choice seer who would be like unto Moses:

“For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins. Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers. And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work. And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.” (2 Nephi 3:6-9.)

This seer would be given power to bring forth God’s word to Joseph’s seed. That “word” (Book of Mormon) together with that from the loins of Judah (the Bible) should confound false doctrines, allay contentions, and bring peace and the knowledge of God’s covenants to the remnant of Joseph. (2 Nephi 3:11-13.) Joseph the seer in Egypt was even shown the name of the choice seer who should be raised up in the last days:

“And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.” (2 Nephi 3:15.)

Joseph Smith the latter-day seer fulfilled this remarkable prophecy. To him was committed all of the keys of authority to restore the Gospel in our day and age. Through him and his successors will all of the promises to scattered Israel be fulfilled. We are now living in that day of fulfilment, although the world scarcely realises it.

It may be well to call attention to some other words of Nephi concerning the writing and gathering in one of God’s word in the latter days. Not only shall the Jew, Nephites, and the lost tribes of Israel write the scriptures, but after they have been gathered they shall each read the word of the Lord to the others.

“For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of then- possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed for ever.” (2 Nephi 29:11-14.)

Surely these words indicate the kindness which God will display in dealing with the remnants of scattered Israel in the latter days.

When the resurrected Christ visited the Nephite people on this continent He told them much about the blessings that would be bestowed upon the scattered tribes when they should be gathered. They were to come to a knowledge of the Lord, inherit this land and, should the Gentiles not repent, be among them as a lion among sheep:

“… Behold I now finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel. Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them — And verily, verily I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel. And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance. 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. Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. And I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.” (3 Nephi 20:10-18.)

Then He spoke of a New Jerusalem on this land and of the powers of heaven that should be among His people:

“And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenants which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of you. Verily I say unto you, yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have testified of me. And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” (3 Nephi 20:22, 24, 25.)

The Saviour also mentioned to the Nephites that others of the covenant people would receive their inheritance in Palestine or the “land of Jerusalem” as promised. These would have the Gospel preached to them and eventually believe in Him.

“And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them again the land of their fathers for their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them for ever, saith the Father. And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them; and they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.” (3 Nephi 20:29-31.)

At the present time the Jews are rapidly returning to Palestine. They now have their own state. The Lord's words are indeed coming to pass. In due time the Gospel will be taken to the Jews as predicted; many of the other tribes will also return and receive their inheritance in that land as specifically predicted by the prophet Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 48:1-29.)

It has already been mentioned that the Jaredite prophets knew of Israel’s status in bringing the message of salvation to mankind. That they knew of this—at least some of them—would seem to be indicated by the fact that Ether the last Jaredite prophet uttered great and marvellous prophecies concerning Israel and their gathering from the four quarters of the earth. He spoke of the New Jerusalem that should be built upon this land as well as of the resurrection of the old Jerusalem to the house of Israel. The remnants of Joseph (who was sold into Egypt) according to Ether shall inherit this continent and shall no more be confounded. Thus all of gathered Israel shall be blessed and be partakers of the covenant God made with Abraham. (Ether 13:4-13.)

The importance of the message of the Book of Mormon is reaffirming and extending the Bible message that the scattered remnants of Israel shall, through God’s kindness, be gathered and redeemed can scarcely be gainsaid. Israel is not cast off, and her gathering is more complete than the world realises.