Who is Israel?
by David W. Allan
13 March 1992
Updated Sept. 29, 2010
But thou, Israel, [art]
my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
-- Isaiah 41:8
We
shall see that Israel the man, Israel the patriarch, Israel the nation, Israel
scattered among all nations, Israel gathered in the latter days and Israel of
the covenant have profound importance to all who care about God's dealings
with man. Further, we will see that the great covenant that the Lord made with
Abraham is vital, in an eternal sense, to us today. In addition, understanding
what promises were made, how the Lord has, is and will fulfill them, and when
and where they will be completed is enormously valuable in understanding the
great plan of our Heavenly Father. The covenant, promises and blessings made
to Abraham were passed on to Isaac, and thence to Jacob (Israel). The name
Israel takes on much more meaning than just the naming of this pivotal man. It
is through his seed the Lord has, does and will bring his blessings to all
nations of the earth. In fact, we will see that the story of and the
scattering and gathering of Israel is back-bone to the history of the world.
We will further see that participating in the Abrahamic covenant is essential
to our gaining Eternal Life.
It
seems that the Lord often works through miraculous ironies. These workings
then cause his children to marvel and focus on these events. Thus viewing or
hearing of these miraculous happenings we are brought to say, "It is of
the Lord!" If we are honest, we cannot say, "It would have happened
in the natural course of events." Examples of such miraculous ironies
are: the naming of Abraham and the birth of Isaac; the birth of the King of
kings in the most humble of circumstances; the work of the atonement performed
"ALONE" -- on a secluded hill side -- being central to the
salvation of ALL mankind; the name of probably the most fought over
city in the history of man, Jerusalem, which means “the city of peace,”
and which will eventually become so; and the calling of an unlearned boy,
tutored by the Lord and his angels, to head the most important dispensation of
the gospel in the history of mankind -- this because Joseph received the
Lord's wisdom, inspiration, and knowledge of the eternities (D&C 27:13).
Thus called, “this unlearned boy,” Joseph Smith, has done more for the
salvation of Father's children than any other person save Jesus only (D&C
135:3).
Let
us look a little more closely at the miraculous irony associated with Abram,
whose name was changed to Abraham (the father of many nations). At age 99 he
still had no birthright son, yet the Lord promised, in addition to being a
father of many nations, that "I will make thee exceeding fruitful... and
kings shall come out of thee... And I will give unto thee... all the land of
Canaan for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God (Gen. 17:1-8).
Born to 100 year old Abraham was Isaac, to whom the Lord promised, "I
will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his
seed after him" (Gen. 17:19).
A
further miraculous irony occurs, with great symbolism, as the Lord commands
Abraham to "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou
lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt
offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Gen.
22:2). Abraham in perfect obedience "rose up early in the morning"
to fulfill this most difficult of tasks with the question on his mind during
his three-days journey to Mt. Moriah, “How can I be the father of
many nations if I sacrifice my birthright son?”
When Isaac asks where is the offering, Abraham prophetically replies --
looking to the ultimate sacrifice -- "My son, God will provide himself
a lamb for a burnt offering" (Gen. 22:3-8). Jehovah led Abraham to the very
mount where he himself (the only begotten Son) would be offered as the
ultimate sacrifice. But in the Savior's case there was no "ram in a
thicket." The Father's Son was "not withheld" from performing
this most difficult task -- to work out the atonement (Gen 22:12-13). For
Jehovah knew, as He proclaimed through Isaiah, "I am the LORD thy God,
the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior" (43:3). Thus we see this
Abraham-Isaac story, known throughout most of the world -- even today --
points to the most important event in the history of the world -- the
atonement of Christ. In turn, this infinite atonement and incomprehensible act
of love on the part of the Father and the Son provides immortality to all
mankind and Eternal Life to all who will "come unto [Him]" (Matt
11:28).
Because
Abraham’s perfect obedience, the Lord further promised, “because thou hast
done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in
blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the
stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed
shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Gen.
22:16-18).
And
further the Lord promises,
thy
seed... 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 I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them
that curse thee; and in thee (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, even
of life eternal (Abr. 2:9-11).
Let
us now look at how and why these ponderous blessings have been, are and will
be perpetuated. Important insight in this regard can be gained by addressing
the fundamental question, "Who is man?" (Ps 8:4) We know from the
scriptures and experience that we are what we are for four basic reasons: FIRST,
each of us has an intelligence, which is co-eternal with God (D&C 93:29).
Inherit to our intelligence is our agency (D&C 93:30). God respects that,
and will do nothing to violate our agency. We can use our agency to keep the
commandments and to follow light and truth -- providing the opportunity for us
to progress until we receive a fullness and know "all things" --
thus receiving a fullness of joy (D&C 93:27-28). As we so use our agency
to follow light and truth, which is Jesus Christ, we have the additional
blessing of protection from the adversary and his minions for "light and
truth forsake that evil one" (:37). If we choose to move away from light
and truth then we will loose that protection. Herein "is the condemnation
of man" (D&C 93:29-31).
SECOND,
we are spirit off-spring of Deity, and hence gods in embryo (Acts 17:28-29; Ps
82:6). Now, in mortality,
it is our choice to couple our spirit and intelligence light and truth, which
is Jesus Christ, who will to help us find our way in our life’s journey.
Our hope and promise is that, "He that keepeth his commandments
receiveth truth and light until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all
things" (D&C 93:28-40). And
the greatest of the commandments are to “love... God and all men.” (2
Nephi 31:20) In so doing, we are guaranteed eternal life.
THIRD,
each spirit is tabernacled with a physical body at birth, which determines
that person's genetics. As Abraham was fore-ordained as one of the "noble
and great ones" (Abr. 3:22-23) in the premortal council in heaven, so has
God "determined the times before appointed and the bounds of [our]
habitation" (Acts 17:26). In other words, Heavenly Father in His infinite
love has determined the place and the time that is best for each of us to be
born (and to whom) in the great economy of his plan. We rejoiced with that
choice as we were sent forth to the earth. (Job 38:4-7) Being born as the seed
of Abraham and/or into a covenant family brings with it the promise of great
blessings, but more importantly comes a responsibility to share these
blessings with as many of Father's children as will receive. Those holding the
priesthood have the responsibility to take the gospel and offer a blessing to
"all the families of the earth." The Lord is no respecter of persons
and extends salvation to all. The responsibility then falls on the individual
recipient of these glad tidings. If they are faithful and obedient and follow
the path that few will find (Matt. 7:13-14), they then become heirs of all the
blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whether adopted into Israel or the
literal seed (Gal. 3:25-29). Regardless of who we are, if we learn to love as
He loves and are obedient to the teachings of the gospel we have the promise
of being "joint-heirs with [Jesus Christ]" and will be recipients to
every blessing (Rom. 8:16-17).
The
FOURTH and last element determining who we are is our environment, the
traditions (true or false) with which we were raised, the culture we inherit
and learn, etc. The environment provides opportunities to see if we will use
our agency to chose good or evil -- "For [there] must needs be, an
opposition in all things" (2 Ne. 2:11). The false traditions of men can
lead us away from light and truth (D&C 93:39). The beautiful part of the
plan is that we are free to choose what we do with and how we react to the
environmental influences around us. We can often choose -- in large measure --
what our environment will be -- the music we listen to, etc. The Zion
environment should be our aspiration. By Zion we mean "the pure in
heart." We should reach for this in our personal lives, in our homes and
ultimately in society. In so reaching, we bring all four elements, of which we
are, in harmony with our creator so that we become one with Him. Therein lies
the potential for a "fullness of joy" (D&C 93:33).
The
problem is that Zion and Babylon don't mix. We cannot partake of a
"little bit" of Babylon and be a Zion people. Hence, the importance
of the parable of the wheat and the tares. The Lord will gather "first
the wheat into my barn: and the tares are bound in bundles to be burned"
(JST Matt. 13:29). As President Benson and the Book of Mormon clearly
prophecies, "...the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a
great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will
spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by
fire" (2 Ne. 30:10).
For
this probationary "second estate," we move from Babylon toward Zion
as we focus with faith on the Lord Jesus Christ and as we make and keep
covenants. No unclean thing can enter his presence; He will have a repentant,
pure people whom He can totally trust. Thus in the primordial councils, He
for-ordained those with whom he could make covenants to be sent forth as his
"servants the prophets" and those willing to take upon them the
responsibility of the priesthood (Amos 3:7). These then were sent forth to the
earth as the patriarchs and a select set of their seed. The prime example of
this is Abraham and his seed, and through the birthright, Israel and his seed.
Those fore-
ordained
to come as their descendants represent essentially all the prophets and
bearers of the priesthood for the world. The teachings and ordinances provided
by these prophets and priesthood holders have, indeed, provided salvation and
exultation to the nations of the earth. We see how literally the promise made
to Abraham has been and is being fulfilled.
In
the detail, everything the Lord does is designed to lead us back to Him (2 Ne.
26:24). His work and His "glory is to bring to pass the immortality and
eternal life of man," (Moses 1:39). Hence, the single most important
event in all of world history is the atonement of His beloved Son. In general,
everything He has created is for our blessing and enjoyment -- to enliven the
soul, to gladden the heart and to delight the eye (D&C 59:16-19). All good
things come from God, and we can know with perfect surety that everything that
inviteth and enticeth to come unto Christ, through whom we come unto the
Father, is good and of God. The contrary is also true (Moroni 7:13-19).
Thus
we see that agency is paramount in this grand plan of happiness given us of
the Father. It is not God but "man's inhumanity to man that makes
countless thousands weep." At the same time the Lord does and will use
good and evil to bring about His eternal purposes. Consider, for example,
Lucifer in the Garden of Eden. Life would not be a growth opportunity if we
did not have opposition; Satan was cast down to the earth with his angels for
a very wise purpose. Whether we choose good or evil determines the direction
we will move in our eternal path. If
we choose Christ, He will lead us to eternal life.
Any other choice will not.
An
example, in the detail, of how the Lord leads us is in the names He gives His
servants. They are given to help us keep a clear focus as we contemplate His
dealings, to come back to Him. The naming of Israel is no exception --
mentioned more in holy writ (more than 2,500 times) than any other name save
the name of the "Lord" Himself. From our Bible dictionary it means:
"One who prevails with God or let God prevail." In the context of
the Book of Revelations, "He who overcometh shall inherit all
things." (Rev. 2:7,11,17; 3:5,12,21; 21:7) In other words let us put our
hand in the hand of the Lord; in so doing we will overcome the world and
prevail with God -- thus becoming part of Israel. As we are privileged to go
through the marvelous temple experience, we can clearly see this is our
opportunity and our goal. By way of perspective, listen to the context for the
occurrences of the name "Israel" the next time you are privileged to
participate in the various ordinances of the temple – especially their
significance as these occurrences tie to the hereafter.
Specifically, as we participate in last day activities, the Lord has
said:
Mine
indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and
this will I do when the cup of their iniquity is full.
And in that day all who are found upon the watch-tower, or in other
words, all mine Israel, shall be saved.
And they that have been scattered shall be gathered.
And all they who have mourned shall be comforted.
And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.
Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh
is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children
are scattered. They that remain,
and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and
their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of
Zion— (D&C 101:11-18)
Israel
in our modern vernacular is thought of as the State of Israel. But to the Lord
it is so much more than that. Let us now look at who Israel is as best we can
from the Lord's perspective. Jacob 5: is enormously helpful as Zenos goes
through the parable of the olive tree describing the nourishing,
righteousness, wickedness, pruning, scattering, gathering and the eventual
redemption of the House of Israel. He talks of the mother tree, the natural
and the wild branches, the grafting in, the planting of natural branches
elsewhere, the pruning, nourishing and the digging. Because of the agency of
man and his choosing to follow the adversary, wickedness corrupts the
vineyard. And in all of this the Lord says, "What could I have done
more" (:41, 47, & 49)? His ways are just and perfect. We only have
ourselves to blame for the wickedness in the world. Each of us can choose and
should turn from the wickedness of the world with full purpose of heart -- feasting
on light and truth at the Lord’s table – pressing “forward with
steadfastness in Christ...” Then,
“thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” (2 Ne. 31:20).
As
noted, through the birthright lines come the greatest blessings and
responsibilities. All the blessings of Abraham passed, through the birthright
to Isaac and thence to Jacob (Israel). Reuben
was the oldest of the 12 sons of Israel, but lost the birthright because of
transgression (Gen 49:3-4). Hebrew
tradition then gave the birthright to the first-born of the second wife
(Rachel), who was Joseph. We see
in the blessings given by Israel to his 12 sons that the greatest ones were to
Judah and to Joseph (Gen 49:8-
12,
22-26) – with the greatest being given to Joseph.
Through the loins of Judah (the Jews) came the kings, the Bible and,
most importantly, the King of kings, the Messiah.
We
find fascinating and very important promises in Joseph's blessing as the
birthright son. The essential blessings given to Abraham, and passed on to
Isaac and Jacob were given to Joseph, but then with the unusual promise, that
his blessing "prevailed above the blessings of [his] progenitors..."
In other words, Joseph's blessing was greater, in some way, than Abraham's,
Isaac's, or Jacob’s. How
could that be, since any offspring Joseph had would simply add to those of his
progenitors? The Lord explains to Joseph his blessing would prevail "unto
the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills:" (the Americas) (Gen
49:22-26). So where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were promised the land of Canaan,
Joseph was given all of the Americas! As we look at history and to Zenos's
parable, we see the most interesting fulfillment of this promise (Jacob 5:).
As
Zenos likens the House of Israel to an olive three, he discusses four groups
(natural branches) being led away into different parts of the vineyard. One to
a poor spot of land, another to a poorer spot of land, another to a choice
land and yet another with no mention of the quality of the land. These
"young and tender branches" were led away that the Lord of the
vineyard "may lay up fruit thereof against the season" (:13).
We see, in another grand irony, how the Lord in the extremities of the
gathering of Israel brings about the maximum good to those who will come unto
Christ and receive Him as the true Shepherd of Israel.
Lehi's
and Ishmael's families, both descendants of Joseph, were the natural branches
to be led away and planted in a "good spot of ground" (Jacob 5:25).
This part of the parable was literally fulfilled as Lehi and Ishmael and their
families left Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and with the Mulekites leaving shortly
thereafter. They all came to
America. With us today are a
large population of American Indians (Lamanites) inhabiting America and the
land of the "everlasting hills" as the part of the promise that
Joseph’s blessing would “prevail... above the blessings of [his]
progenitors..." .
In
721 B.C. we have the very important event of the 10 Tribes of Israel being
taken captive by the Assyrians. Apocryphal writings indicate they subsequently
migrated into various of the lands of the North. Apparently these were the
"poor" and/or "poorer" parts of the Lord's vineyard. We
also know that the Savior visited the scattered tribes of Israel after
visiting the Nephites and Lamanites (3 Ne. 16:1-
3).
The records of these scattered tribes will yet come forth telling of God's
dealings with them and the Savior's ministry among them. The Lord has promised
that we will have their records, and they will have ours (the Bible and the
Book of Mormon) (2 Ne. 29:13).
Another
extremely important event in this whole Israel scenario is the Lord inspiring
Columbus in the discovery of America. This opened the destined door for the
Pilgrims and the European migration to the Americas -- also in fulfillment of
prophecy (1 Ne. 13:12-16). We know from patriarchal blessings of members of
the church that most of these immigrants were descendants of Ephraim and hence
of Joseph in fulfillment of Jacob's promise to his birthright son. The
European area was apparently where most of the descendants of the tribe of
Ephraim, as part of the 10 Tribes, migrated after the Assyrian captivity. The
Columbus, Pilgrims, etc. events are repeat examples of the descendants of
Joseph coming "over the wall" (the ocean) to their promised land --
America.
From
the above we see the remarkable fulfillment of the Lord's promise to Joseph in
that essentially all the inhabitants of the Americas are either descendants of
Ephraim (Europeans) or Manasseh (American Indians) and hence of Joseph. On the
other hand, the rest of the 10 Tribes and "branches" to be grafted
into their "mother tree" are elsewhere. There is ample other
evidence indicating that the 10 Tribes were scattered among the Slavic and
Oriental Nations. Both apocryphal writings as well as statements in the
scriptures substantiate that a large part of Israel is in the land of the
north (Isa. 49:12; Jer. 3:18; 16:15; 23:8; 1 Ne. 21:12; D&C 110:11;
133:26-34) – Europe and Asia. When the Jews were last scattered with the
destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
the survivors apparently went in all directions.
We saw evidence of Israelites being scattered to the Ivory Coast, when
we served our mission there in 1997-‘99.
We know of Ethiopian Jews. The
Lord promised Abraham that “...in
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast
obeyed my voice. (Gen. 22:18)
This in large measure came because Israel was scattered among all nations of
the earth (1 Ne. 22:3,5; 3 Ne. 28:29) – ironically because of their
wickedness.
In
contrast to the word Israelites, the meaning of Gentiles is multiple in the
scriptures. We see the opportunity for confusion is significant since the
descendants of Israel have been scattered among the nations of the earth with
much intermarriage. From before, we learned that we are each a function of
four elements: intelligence, spirit, body and environment. By fore-ordination
and blood-line the Lord has told us that Israel will be gathered from the
four-corners of the earth -- from among the Gentile nations. For many of the
Book of Mormon scriptures we use here, it is clear that the Lord calls the
Americas and nations of Europe Gentile nations.
Let
us next consider an incredibly important juncture in the scattering and
gathering process of the Lord's covenant people Israel. The Lord promised
that, "The first will be last, and the last will be first" (Matt.
19:30; 20:16; Mk. 10:31; Lk. 13:30; 1 Ne. 13:40-42; Ether 13:12; D&C
29:30). He explained this pivotal chiastic sentence: Israel (the first to
receive the gospel) rejected it and the Messiah. The kingdom was then taken
from them and given to the Gentiles (the last) (Matt. 21:43). The Gentiles in
this case -- mainly in the area of Asia -- blossomed and the gospel spread
rapidly to most of the known world. In spite of the persecutors killing the
Apostles, the powerful conversions with joy and rejoicing among them gave them
a momentum that carried the work in righteousness for more than 200 years. The
persecution from without and the apostasy from within drove the "woman
(the church)... into the wilderness" (Rev. 12:6). Then the last (the
Gentiles) were the first as the gospel was restored to them through the
Prophet Joseph Smith. When the gentiles reject and turn from the purifying
teachings of the gospel and take on the ways of Babylon, the gospel will be
taken from them and given back to Israel (the first will be last) (1 Ne.
13:42; 3 Ne. 16:10).
The
Apostle Paul obviously had access to the writings of the Old Testament Prophet
Zenos, for he said:
I
say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an
Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast
away his people which he foreknew... (According as it is written, God hath
given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that
they should not hear;) unto this day. I say then, Have they stumbled that they
should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto
the Gentiles,... For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of
the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to
emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the
casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving
of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is
also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the
branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in
among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root,
but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I
might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou
standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the
natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the
goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee,
goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut
off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in:
for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive
tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good
olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be
grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should
be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that
blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be
come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come
out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For
this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins (Rom. 11:1,
2, 8, 11, 13-27).
While
visiting America and referring to our day, the Savior said,
At
that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the
fullness 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 fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness
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 Ne. 16:10,11).
Addressing
the Nephites and the Lamanites, yet sharing it with us, the Savior further
tells when these things shall take place:
And
verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when
these things shall be about to take place--that I shall gather in, from their
long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among
them my Zion; 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 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; Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be
made known unto them of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, from
them unto you; For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established
in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that
these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the
covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his
people, O house of Israel; Therefore, when these works and the works which
shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto
your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; For thus it
behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may
show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, 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; And when these things come
to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things--it shall be a sign
unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already
commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the
people who are of the house of Israel (3 Ne. 21:1-7).
Tradition
within the Church has led most to believe that Mesoamerica is the place
setting for the Book of Mormon peoples. It
seems that the Lord has allowed that tradition to persist so that the gospel
could go to these humble and wonderful people in a major way.
Recent DNA analysis has proven that they are not of Israelite descent.
Using DNA research and statements from the Prophet Joseph Smith and the
Book of Mormon itself, Rodney Meldrum and others have demonstrated that the
“Mound builders” on the Mississippi drainage are remnants of the peoples
of the Book of Mormon. They have
the right DNA and the artifacts are numerous.
This is most fascinating because now is the fulness of the gospel via
the Book of Mormon helping them to know who they are and of their great
opportunities as the Lord’s covenant people.
The above scripture is now being fulfilled – making this a very
important juncture time for when "I will bring the fulness of my gospel
from among them [the gentiles]... 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 Ne. 16:10-11). The "first" is about to become the
"last" to receive the gospel before the Second Coming of our Lord
and Savior. We are seeing, before our very eyes, the gospel go in a miraculous
way to European Eastern block nations and the Republics of the former Soviet
Union. These are the "natural branches" the Lord of the vineyard led
away that He might bring forth fruit in the season thereof.
Another
important set of scriptures in conjunction with this transition time are the
following. The phrase "set his hand again the second time" occurs
six times in the scriptures (Isa. 11:11; 2 Ne. 6:14; 21:11; 25:17; 29:1; Jacob
6:2). That this particular wording is significant is emphasized in that of the
425 verses of Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon, over half of them are
different than in the King James addition. Those differences are often very
significant -- pointing, in part, to the "many plain and precious
things" taken from the Bible (1 Ne. 13:28-29). 2 Ne. 21:11 is identical
with Isaiah 11:11 except for two commas, which have minor significance. In
other words, the Lord intended this phrasing to remain.
The
Lord set his hand the first time with Moses and the second time with Joseph
Smith. Interestingly, the meaning of the word "Joseph" is "He
who gathers or he who causes to return" (p.17 Isaiah and the Prophets,
Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1984). Moses gave the priesthood keys to the
Prophet Joseph for "the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the
earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north"
(D&C 110:11). As the Lord set his hand a second time, he set it when the
"last" became "first" to receive the gospel. That is when
the gentiles received the restoration. Now he sets "his hand again
the second time" as the "first" becomes the "last."
That is, when "I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them [the
gentiles]... 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 Ne.
16:10-11).
This
is now being fulfilled, both with the Lamanites and among the other tribes and
the remnant of Israel – other non-American nations of the Earth.
This because the gentile nations have fulfilled in large measure the
conditions of wickedness (3 Ne. 16:10-
11).
Again, the people of the "house of Israel" are the natural branches
which were broken off and led away as outlined in Jacob 5: "...and this
is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard. ...begin at the last that
they may be first, and that the first may be last... Wherefore, dig about
them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end
draweth nigh" (:62-64).
How
the “First (Israel)” received the gospel is explained in the Old
Testament. How the “Last (the
Gentile nations)” received the gospel is explained in the New Testament.
How the “Last became the First through the restoration” is
explained in the Book of Mormon (1 Ne. 13:42) and it is the major set of
scriptures to bring the Gentile nations to the knowledge of the truth.
How the “First becomes the Last” is happening now and will be
brought about as true Israelites gather together in ONE in Christ and become a
true Zion people. New scriptures
will come forth as they “shall be gathered in one,...” (2 Ne. 29:12-14) as
a part of that great and exciting latter-day process in preparation of the
return of Him, who is King over Israel.
Ironically,
one of the ways in which the Lord "will bring the fullness of my gospel
from among them" (the gentiles) is that
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 Ne. 16:15). 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 Ne. 20:16; 21:12). Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles 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; (transportation systems) And I will cut off the cities of thy land,
and throw down all thy strongholds; (defence systems) And I will cut off
witchcrafts out of thy land, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers; (new age
religion, etc.) Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images
out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy
hands; (see D&C 1:16) And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of
thee; so will I destroy thy cities. (see D&C 84:114-115) And it shall come
to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and
priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away. For it shall come to pass,
saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my
Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel (3 Ne.
21:14-20). And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not
pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness
shall cover the land. But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall
not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse
God and die. And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many
desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take
up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another (D&C
45:31-33).
2
Ne. 20 (Isa. 10:) gives us even more details as the Lord describes how the
Assyrian (the remnant of Israel) shall come upon the hypocritical nation and
shall destroy and cut off nations not a few, and shall burn and devour in one
day. Several other scriptures tell of this critically important juncture in
world history and of the Father's covenant keeping process (Isa. 52:1-15;
54:all; Jer. 4:6-11, 19-31; Lam 4:1-22; Dan. 7:1-27; Joel 2:1-32; Micah
5:8-14; 7:8-20; Hab. 1:5-13; Rev. 13:1-18; 1 Ne. 14:1-17; 22:8-20; 3 Ne.
16:10-20; 20:12-45; D&C 45:all; 87:4-8; 103:1-20; 112:23-26; 133:all).
It
is often hard for us mortals to understand the purposes of the Lord, but we
can know with perfect confidence that his ways are just -- extending mercy,
through his Son, to all those who will do their part to receive the great gift
of eternal life offered by our most benevolent Father. So as we see these
destructions come upon us, we can know they have a divine purpose. If we are
prepared, he has promised we need not fear (D&C 38:30-31; 1 Ne. 22:17).
A Zion society cannot exist intermingled with wickedness. A purging and
cleansing must occur as the wicked destroy the wicked. "I have created
the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an
instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. In a little
wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will
I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer" (2 Ne. 30:10; 3 Ne.
22:16, 8).
The
great promises for the righteous that come out of this purging and cleansing
are beyond our fondest dreams.
...but
with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy
Redeemer... For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my
kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be
removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with
tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors,
and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates,
and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all
thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy
children. In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from
oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near
thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me;
whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake (3
Ne.22:8-15).
And
as many of the gentiles that will repent
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. And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also
will be in the midst. And then shall the work of the Father commence at that
day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.
Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among
all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost,
which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. Yea, the work shall commence
among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way
whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in
preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their
inheritance. And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out
in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I
will be their rearward (3 Ne. 21:23-29).
From
Doctrine & Covenants 45: and 133: we read:
And
it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a
place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; And the glory of the Lord
shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that
the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion. And it shall
come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword
against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety. And there shall be
gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only
people that shall not be at war one with another. And it shall be said among
the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of
Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand. And it shall come to pass that
the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to
Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy (D&C 45:66-71).
And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people,
and shall reign over all flesh. And they who are in the north countries shall
come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice,
and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the
ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the
midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, And in
the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the
parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth
their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants. And the
boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence. And there
shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of
the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. And they shall be
filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the
everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the
head of Ephraim and his fellows. And they also of the tribe of Judah, after
their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his
presence day and night, forever and ever (D&C 133:25-35).
And
from Doctrine & Covenants 84:96-102 we read:
For
I, the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them for
their wickedness. And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from
the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in
righteousness-- Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto
the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall
see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together
sing this new song, saying:
The
Lord hath brought again Zion;
The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,
According to the election of grace,
Which was brought to pass by the faith
And covenant of their fathers.
The Lord hath redeemed his people;
And Satan is bound and time is no longer.
The Lord hath gathered all things in one.
The Lord hath brought down Zion from above.
The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.
The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength;
And truth is established in her bowels;
And the heavens have smiled upon her;
And she is clothed with the glory of her God;
For
he stands in the midst of his people.
Glory, and honor, and power, and might,
Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy,
Justice, grace and truth, and peace,
Forever and ever, Amen.
President
Benson has said we live in that day which John the Revelator foresaw when the
dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ (Rev. 12:17). The dragon is Satan; the woman represents the Church of
Jesus Christ. Satan is waging war against the members of the Church who have
testimonies and are trying to keep the commandments. And while many of our
members are remaining faithful and strong, some are wavering. Some are
falling. Some are fulfilling John's prophecy that in the war with Satan some
saints would be 'overcome' (Rev. 13:7; Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp.
399-400).
The
woman (the church) goes through the birthing pains of bringing forth a “man
child.” (Rev. 12:) The “man child” – the priesthood of God – will
gather scattered Israel into Zion using the “rod of iron,” which is the
“word of God.” (1 Nephi 11:25; Gal. 4:19)
Let us then labor with all of our heart might, might, minds and
strength to assist in bringing about a Zion people. (1 Nephi 13:37)
"To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary
for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The
difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not
possess this personal knowledge or witness, will fall... The time will
come when no man or woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will
have to be guided by the light within himself" (Life of Heber C.
Kimball, pp449-450).
In
Satan's last hour, one of his main tools will be deceit. President Benson in
quoting President Romney tells us how to not be deceived: '1. What do the
standard works have to say about it?... 2. What do the latter-day presidents
of the Church have to say on the subject, particularly the living
president?... The third and final test is the Holy Ghost -- the test of the
Spirit' (God-Family-Country, Our Three Great Loyalties, Deseret Book, 1974,
pp. 337-340). In addition, we
have the sure promise from the scriptures: “And whoso treasureth up my word,
shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his
angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather
together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other.” (JS Matt.
37) And Christ is the Word. (John 1:1)
Incomprehensible
are the rewards for those who thrust in their sickles with their mights and
become part of "Israel" in the Lord's sense of the word (D&C 4).
"For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for
the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with
your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto
myself against the time which will soon come" (Jacob 5:71).
Let
us be among the few who choose to follow the path of truth and light -- thus
finding the greatest of all the gifts of God and therein the greatest joy.
It
is our choice. Will we focus our minds on all that Christ has done and is
doing for us -- seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Will
we continually strive to tune our hearts and be worthy of the continuous
guidance of the Holy Ghost? This
is our promise as “let [our] bowels... be full of charity toward all men and
to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish [our] thoughts
unceasingly.” (D&C 121:45-46) Will we build Zion with all our might
and work to protect the sacred agency of man? Or in contrast, will we follow
the natural man -- tasting of the temporary sweetness of the tantalizing
temptations in Babylon -- seeking after the things of this world? Will we
ignore the poor, the needy, the father-less and the widow -- letting that be
the responsibility of the government? Will
we let the conspiratorial forces take away our freedoms and constitutional
rights? If we answer
affirmatively to the last three contrast queries, we sell our souls into
bondage and will lose the right to Eternal Life.
...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. And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O
house of Israel (3 Ne. 20:20-21). Wherefore, ye must press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of
God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the
word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall
have eternal life (2 Ne. 31:20). And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old;
and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in
the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in
from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are
partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father,
Abraham (Ether 13:11). How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings... that publisheth peace; that bringeth good
tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion:
Thy God reigneth (3 Ne 20:40)!
It
is our glorious opportunity to follow truth and light, which is Jesus Christ,
which leads to the making and keeping of covenants, which leads us to true
freedom from sin and from bondage – individually and as a nation – which
leads us to be the recipients of every blessing made to "the
fathers," and which thus leads us to a fulness of joy and eventual
Eternal Life with our loving Father-
in-heaven
and His Beloved Son. In this process we truly become part of Israel, the seed
of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. We enjoy the protection of the
Spirit. We receive the promise of peace in this world and Eternal Life in the
world to come. These blessings we will receive with our loved ones as part of
the family of Abraham if they live for it as well. We shall not fear in the
midst of a world awry. We shall have the privilege of building Zion and being
crowned in the mansions on high. Who would not want this the greatest of all
the gifts of God? It is offered freely to each of us. Shall we not go forward
in so great a cause and align our goals with those of the Father: to care, to
share, to lift, to lead and to love, that we may be one with Him in our life's
conduct, in our hope and in our faith (D&C 128:22-24).
And
blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they
shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto
the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the
everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings
of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.” (1 Nephi
13:37)
Moroni
gives the best summary of how to become a true Israelite so that by putting
our hand in His – totally trusting Him, Christ may present us “spotless”
to the Father:
And
awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful
garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy
borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of
the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be
fulfilled. Yea, come unto Christ,
and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye
shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might,
mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye
may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ,
ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And
again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his
power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the
shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto
the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
(Moroni 10:31-33)
As
we follow Christ, we become true Israelites – in the sharing of this
“Message of Gladness” and as we are changed by Him as we internalize His
marvelous message of faith, hope, and charity – learning to love as He
loves. He is the way, the truth,
and the life – bringing glory and honor to His Father as He helps us become
true ISRAELITES – BORN AGAIN OF GOD. (Jn. 14:6).
This is the greatest honor we can bring to Father, for then we are
helping Him do His most important work: “to bring to pass the immortality
and eternal life” of His precious sons and daughters in eternal family
relationships – kings and queens, priests and priestesses unto the most High
God. (Moses 1:39; D&C 128:20-25)
