3 Nephi 21: 5-6:
"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;"
"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;"
Now keep in mind this is all within a "sign" Christ is telling to the Nephites. It is a "sign" of when the great latter-day work will begin to unfold.
What are "these works" referred to by Christ? Was it necessary for the "works which shall be wrought among you hereafter" to be included in the "works" the gentiles were to receive? Why? Why would the gentiles need to know of the great success and ultimate failure of Nephite faith? The greatest time in the Nephite history would be after Christ's visit, when they lived a united order. But the harrowing end described by Mormon and Moroni shows a depth of shocking evil. The violence, killing, cannibalism are disgusting to read and consider. Why did Christ want the "works which shall be wrought among you hereafter" to be included for the gentiles to have before them? What lessons would we not learn without these subsequent portions of the Nephite record?
Why do (from Christ's vantage point)/did (from our vantage point) the records need to come "from the gentiles?" And how did that "show forth [the Father's] power unto the gentiles?" What about the restoration was a visible display of the Father's power? Latter-day Saints have a "testimony" of the restoration, but gentiles seem unimpressed. The missionary effort among Americans today is nearly at a standstill. There are about as many people slipping into inactivity, or asking for their names to be removed as there are people volunteering to join at the present. So how is the restoration a display of "the Father's power" to the gentiles?
Does the Father use "small means" to display His power? (1 Nephi 16: 29; Alma 37: 6.) Is it possible for the Father to show forth His power and for people to miss it entirely? What kind of "power" is missed by those who reject it?
If they do not reject it, notice what the "Father's power" may lead the gentiles to receive:
-repentance,
-baptism,
-knowledge of the true points of Christ's doctrine,
-being numbered among Christ's people, even Israel.
But if not, then they will be swept away by their own wickedness and violence.
Now it may not be appreciably "powerful" when the gentiles receive the Book of Mormon. But if they repent, and are baptized, and come to know the true points of His doctrine, how great a change will take place? How great a show of power is it when the only ones at peace are those who dwell in Zion? (D&C 45: 68-71.)
It is clear the Lord will only gather to Zion in the great day of calamity those who had previously seen in His "small means" the path to safety and redemption.
For the most part, the gentiles will be unimpressed with the Lord's stretched out arm. Gentiles will remain slow to respond, skeptical of the means, and dispute whether the Lord is really involved. Even those who claim to believe in His restored Book of Mormon and covenant will take lightly what He offers them. Only a few will be willing to undertake a form of repentance. But to receive "knowledge of the true points of my doctrine" it will require something more than half-hearted conversion.
How do you suppose "knowledge of Christ's true points of doctrine" would change you?
Why do you think it will be necessary to "repent" before you receive "knowledge of the true points of His doctrine?" (John 7: 17.)
Why are both of these ("repentance" and "knowledge of true points of doctrine") required before you can be "numbered among Christ's people?"
Why do some of the gentiles need to become so numbered? How will we know when that sign has occurred? Has it already? If not, then the sign isn't before us yet -- But if so, then the sign has begun. Are you among those who have repented, been baptized, know the true points of His doctrine, and become numbered with His people?
This is all very interesting. Within the last 8 months, I've been led to certain websites and literature, as well as certain scriptures that I feel are preparing me and my family for the trials that lie ahead. I feel I'm being invited to take some steps up.It wouldn't surprise me if many people that followed this blog felt similarly.
ReplyDeleteI have been making big changes in my life and I plan on that continuing. In order for me to receive knowledge from the Lord directly, I need to be clean and become a new creature. This only comes through true repentance.
As for the sign, I would like to know more about it. Also, something that has perplexed me of late is I'm an Ephraimite, but I'm also a gentile. Please help me to make sense of this.
dan--I'm not sure I correctly posted this comment (so I will try again)...I've always felt V10 (the marred servant) is an important sign to watch for (see Isaiah 52). I'm anxious to read Denver's thoughts on V10.
ReplyDeleteOrson Pratt
ReplyDelete(November 1, 1879, JD 21:153-154)
The Lord our God will command his servants to build that Temple, in the most perfect order, differing very much from the Temples that are now being built. You are engaged in building Temples after a certain order, approximating only to a celestial order; you are doing this in Salt Lake City. One already has been erected in St. George, after a pattern in part, of a celestial order. But by and by, when we build a Temple that is never to be destroyed, it will be constructed, after the most perfect order of the celestial worlds. And when God shall take it up into heaven it will be found to be just as perfect as the cities of more ancient, celestial worlds which have been made pure and holy and immortal. So it will be with other Temples. And we, in order to build a Temple, after a celestial order in the fulness of perfection, will need revelators and prophets in our midst, who will receive the word of the Lord; who will have the whole pattern thereof given by revelation, just as much as everything was given by revelation pertaining to the tabernacle erected in the wilderness by Moses. Indeed, before we can go back to inherit this land in all its fulness of perfection, God has promised that he would raise up a man like unto Moses. Who this man will be I do not know; it may be a person with whom we are entirely unacquainted; it may be one of our infant children; it may be some person not yet born; it may be someone of middle age. But suffice it to say, that God will raise up such a man, and he will show forth his power through him, and through the people that he will lead forth to inherit that country, as he did through our fathers in the wilderness. Did he then display his power by dividing the waters? Yes. Did the mountains and land shake under his power? Yes. Did he speak to the people by his own voice? Yes. Did he converse with Moses face to face? Yes. Did he show him his glory? Yes
Part 2
ReplyDeleteGod will assuredly raise up a man like unto Moses, and redeem his people, with an outstretched arm, as their fathers were redeemed, at the first, going before them with his own presence, and will also surround them by his angels. I expect, when that time comes, that man will understand all the particulars in regard to the Temple to be built in Jackson County. Indeed, we have already a part of the plan revealed, and also the plat explaining how the city of Zion is to be laid off, which may be found commencing on page 438, Volume 14 of the MILLENNIAL STAR. From what has been revealed of this Temple to be erected we can readily perceive that it will differ from anything that we have had. It will differ in regard to the number of rooms; it will differ very much in its outward and also its inward form; and it will differ in regard to the duties to be performed in each of its rooms to be occupied by the respective departments of priesthood. This house will be reared, then, according to a certain plan, which God is to make known to his servant whom he will, in his own due time, raise up. And he will have to give more revelation on other things equally as important, for we shall need instructions how to build up Zion; how to establish the center city; how to lay off the streets; the kind of ornamental trees to adorn the sidewalks, as well as everything else by way of beautifying it, and making it a city of perfection, as David prophetically calls it.
And then God will come and visit it; it will be a place where he will have his throne, where he will sit occasionally as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and reign over his people who will occupy this great western continent; the same as he will have his throne at Jerusalem. “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”
And again he says:
“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.”
I too have wondered about v.10. A few weeks ago I was looking for a specific apocryphal work on line and ran across this site and because of the content I copied it. I included the site for you to pull up yourself. You will have to seek for yourself as to the truth of it. I am going to copy just the one verse:
ReplyDeleteThe site is: The verse follows:
The Testimony of Mary found at www.thepearl.org
need to split this up:
ReplyDelete• 8 "At the time of my coming, all mankind, except the saints who remain on the mortal plane, will be in commotion and fear at the vision of the Light of the Eloheim," Jesus replied. "Their fears will be justified, for my Light will sweep the earth, so that every corrupt element will be consumed, and the earth will have peace for a thousand years. Then the heavenly plane and the physical plane will be one, for the Eloheim will reign among their people, and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord of All. Before that time will be days of great tribulation, however, for the satans will exercise their power throughout the mortal plane. Nevertheless, Jehovah will also pour out his Spirit on all mankind, and some will accept it; both men and women will see visions, dream dreams, and know that the coming of the Lord is near. At that time, I will do a powerful work for the redemption of Zion, for I will send my messenger before I come personally, through whom I will restore all things. Nevertheless, the power of the satans will resist him and mar him, for his blood will be shed as a testimony against the darkness of generation. They will have no power to destroy him, however, for my slave's life is in my hands.
I will raise him up from the grave, just as I have been raised up by my Parents, and he will minister in Light until the consummation of his work. I will also raise up to him an heir and a branch which is centered in propriety. They will be his ministers to complete his work. His heir will be a Priest of the Highest, clothed in the power of his Priesthood, and I will reveal to him everything necessary for the restoration of that Holy Order which was in the beginning of the mortal plane. The heavenly realm will be opened to him, and from the heavenly temple sanctification will envelop him. The Parents' voice will speak to him, and the Light of the Highest will rest on him, for he will receive the Spirit of Understanding and the Power of Sanctification. He will give the mysteries of godliness to his descendants through all generations. His posterity will extend to the end of time, and through his Priesthood the knowledge of the Holy One will be spread throughout the mortal plane. In his Priesthood, the effects of the illusion of separateness will come to an end, and he will lead the saints to eat from the Tree of Life and receive the Spirit of Holiness. Through his Priesthood, the satans will be bound, and he will give his children power over the spirits of darkness. The inhabitants of Zion will certainly have cause to rejoice in his day, for the Body of the Firstborn will be among them, and they will enter heavenly places while still mortal. Those who have the ability to perceive my meaning will understand it."
ReplyDeleteLike Dan, I need help in understanding the connection of being Emphramite and also a Gentile?????? And as far as the house of Israel...wasn't Emphram substituted in to the place of the first born birthright?
ReplyDeleteRegarding being a Gentile and an Ephriamite Avraham Gileadi wrote this in The Last Days-- Types and Shadows from the Bible and The Book of Mormon:
ReplyDeleteAn important key to understanding our Latter-Day Saint role and identity, particularly as Gentiles who are also of the house of Israel, appears in the expression “the fulness of the Gentiles.” That expression occurs five times in the scriptures, each helping to define the interrelationship of the Gentiles with the house of Israel. It occurs furst in Ephraim's patriarchal blessing given by Jacob. When Jacob knowingly crosses his hands to lay his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, he declares that Ephraim's offspring will become “the fulness of the Gentiles” (Hebrew melo haggoyim; KJV “a multitude of nations; Gen. 48:19.
There are 8 more pages relating to this so here's a link to those: Gileadi Link
When you ask "Are you among those who have repented, been baptized, know the true points of His doctrine, and become numbered with his people?," it seems evident that you are not talking about an initial repentence, baptism by water, the learning of basic gospel principles, and becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.
ReplyDeleteIt seems you are talking about a secondary process, which follows the necessary first process, and which is comprised of a similsr but more exalted and exalting series of steps.
If that's true then the 2nd baptism would be the baptism by fire, and the 2nd "number(ing)with his people" would be admission into the Church of the Firstborn.
Well and good. But How does one repent sufficiently, and powerfully enough to begin this 2nd phase. I am willing, but how do I proceed?
About Gileadi's writings, I learned by experience that I could not trust some of Gileadi's interpretations of the scriptures. Ask the Lord for your own witness as I had to do. God bless us all as we search for His truths - that we will be given the promised witness of truth in all these things that are so very important to our own testimony as we seek to establish our individual relationships with the Savior.
ReplyDeleteJ.
Gordon
ReplyDeleteCheck carefully Moroni 7:27-32 where the angels are sent 'showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.' v.31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the achosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
JR
JR
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is true that if a man were to have an angel call him on the carpet, that such a call might initiate some powerful repentance.
Denver's line that "Only a few will be willing to undertake a form of repentance," is a little odd. Unless, there is a form of repentance that is higher, more sacred. That may indeed be the case. And your answer may be right on the money.
Thank you. Gordon
Gordon,
ReplyDelete"I am willing, but how do I proceed?"
Have you read The 2nd Comforter? It is literally a step-by-step guide to the question you ask.