Who is Israel?
by David W. Allan
13 March 1992
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 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 (the city of peace), 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, 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. 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 passed the test 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 from four basic elements: 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 we have the additional blessing of protection for "light and truth
forsake that evil one" (:37). If we choose to move away from light and truth then we will
loose it. 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). As we choose to do so, that spirit and intelligence can couple with the source
of all light and truth to help us find our way in this probationary state. 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).
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
God has determined the place and the time each of us will 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 are obedient to the teachings of the gospel we have the promise of being "joint-heirs
with [Jesus Christ]" and 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 a test 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 prophecie, "...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 as we work
out our probation here on earth.
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 see clearly 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.
Israel in our modern vernacular is thought of as the State of Israel. But to
the Lord it is 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 the light and truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ (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). Rueben 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). 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 and Isaac'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:).
Zenos likens the House of Israel to an olive three, and talks of 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).
Lehi's and Ishmael's families, both descendants of Joseph, were the last of
four 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 came to the Americas -- there to become two nations. With us today
are a large population of American Indians (Lamanites) inhabiting the land of the
"everlasting hills" as part of the promise to Joseph.
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 -- the Americas.
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.
Elder Melvin J. Ballard indicated that the 10 Tribes were among the Slavic <ref.> Nations.
Both apocryphal writings as well as statements in the scriptures substantiate this part of Israel
being 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). Russia and the Slavic nations appear to be the main area of focus for where the
remnant of Israel is. Except for the Jews, they and the Lamanite nations seem to be the highest
density of focus; even though the Lord promised that Israel would be scattered among all nations
of the earth (1 Ne. 22:3,5; 3 Ne. 28:29).
In contrast to 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 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 the Americas 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).
The first stake was organized among the Spanish speaking members in America
just 30 years ago in Mexico City. Now there are several hundreds of stakes throughout Central and
South America -- literally fulfilling the above condition for the sign the Savior gave us. We are
in that critical juncture hour 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 no 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). President Benson has these
priesthood keys today, and in the Lord's own way He will keep His covenants.
As we look at who is Israel, we see that the process has already begun in that
the gospel has gone in a major way among the Lamanite nations; that is still progressing. It has
started among the other tribes and the remnant of Israel. The previous event mentioned when the
Savior said, "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" is about to take place 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).
A principal way in which the Lord "will bring the fulness 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). He
cannot build a Zion society out of 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" (3 Ne. 22:6-8).
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.22:8-17).
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 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
-- D&C 84:96-102
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).
As the women (the church) goes through the birthing pains of bringing forth a
child (even Zion), let us labor with all of our heart might, might, minds and strength to assist
in bringing about a Zion people. "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).
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 for us --
seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Will we heed the words of our living
Prophet? Will we continually strive to tune our hearts and be worthy of the guidance of the Holy
Ghost? 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? If
we answer affirmatively to the latter two queries, we sell our souls into bondage.
...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 leads to Christ, which leads to
the making and keeping of covenants, which leads us to true freedom from sin and from bondage,
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).
