The Savior continues to explain this work would be brought
by the Gentiles. “And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of
the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent
that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according
to the words which Jesus hath spoken” (3 Nephi 26:8).
The record will come to the remnants of the seed of Lehi
because they “shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity” (3 Nephi 21:5).
“And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us,
how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
“And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among
them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers,
and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers”
(2 Nephi 30:4-5).
“And also that the seed of this people may more fully
believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this
people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome
people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea,
even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their
unbelief and idolatry” (Mormon 5:15).
“And this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the
Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief
because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy
their brethren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations”
(D&C 3:18).
“[I]n this case, too, the sign prepares the way for its
audience to complete a particular task. At the same moment that the Book of
Mormon introduces the Gentiles to a new eschatological[1]
era, it also commissions them with the affiliated task of taking the gospel—in
the form of the Book of Mormon—to the Lamanite remnant of the house of Israel.
Just as the Nephites were alerted by Samuel’s sign to a messianic era,
prophetic fulfillment, and the task of repentance, so the Gentiles will be
alerted by the Book of Mormon to the arrival of the last days, fulfillment of
the record’s own self-aware prophecies, and the task of delivering that record
to its original audience.”[2]
It is appropriate for the Gentiles to bring this record to
their descendants. The Father will show His power to the Gentiles.
“And after the house of Israel should be scattered they
should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received
the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the
remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge
of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer” (1 Nephi 10:14).
“And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree
which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive; wherefore, that I may
preserve them also for mine own purpose, I will take of the branches of this
tree, and I will graft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the
branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own
self, that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring forth
good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard”
(Jacob 5:54).
This is why, if the Gentiles repent and are baptized, they will
be numbered among the house of Israel. “Know ye therefore that they which are
of faith, the same are the children of Abraham … And if ye be Christ’s, then
are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:7, 29).
“And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews
and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth,
and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there
shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall
carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed” (2 Nephi 30:3).
“But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith
the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel” (3
Nephi 16:13).
When the time comes, their
descendants will know these things.
“Surely he hath blessed the house
of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph.
“And insomuch as the children of
Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them
according to his word.
“Yea, and surely shall he again
bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God.
“And as surely as the Lord liveth,
will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the
seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth.
“And as he hath covenanted with all
the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted
with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring
all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath
covenanted with them.
“And then shall they know their
Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered
in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they
have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen” (3 Nephi
5:21-26).
This work will be a sign given them
that the Father has begun to fulfill the covenants made with the house of
Israel.
[1] The part of
theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and
of humankind.
[2] Temporality
and Fulfillment in 3 Nephi 1, Kimberly M. Berkey, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 80-81.
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