Having prophesied of the Babylonian Captivity, the return of
the Jews to Jerusalem, and the coming of Christ, Lehi taught about the
continued unbelief of the Jews. After
they crucified Christ, He would “make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto
the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 10:11).
He spoke about the house of Israel, comparing them to an
olive tree. The branches would be broken
off and scattered through the Earth. As
a part of the blessing Jacob gave Joseph, he said, “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall” (Genesis
49:22). Lehi said their being led to the
promised land would be a fulfilling of this prophesy.
After Israel is scattered, they would be gathered
again. This would happen after the
Gentiles had received the Gospel. The
natural branches of the olive tree would be grated on allowing the Jews to come
to a knowledge of Christ.
Truman Madsen discusses the olive tree.
“Such a tree has symbolized Israel, the family of the
faithful, and the Redeemer of Israel. Prophets have sung of the time when the
branches that have been rent from that tree and dispersed to the ends of the
earth would somehow be gathered. Then, by graftings and prunings, the tree
would be renewed and become exquisitely productive (see 1 Nephi 10:12–14).”[1]
Robert Millet explains the role of the Book of Mormon.
“The Book of Mormon is even more specific in clarifying this
principle of gathering: the people of Israel will be gathered again to the
degree that they return to Christ and become formally associated with the
Saints of God. That is, people are gathered first spiritually and second
temporally, first to the Lord and his church and then to the lands of their
inheritance or to the congregations of the Saints.”[2]
Lehi prophesied many things that were not recorded on the
small plates. All these things happened
while they were staying in the valley of Lemuel.
While Lehi was preaching to Laman and Lemuel, Nephi listened
to his father as well. Nephi “was
desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the
power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto gall those
who diligently seek him, as well in times of hold as in the time
that he should manifest himself unto the children of men” (1 Nephi 10:17).
Nephi writes God is the same yesterday, today, and
forever. From the foundation of the
world, the way was prepared for us to repent and come to Christ.
If we diligently seek to understand, we will find
answers. The mysteries of God will be
shown to us through the power of the Holy Ghost. Nephi tells us these will be revealed to us “in
these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to
come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round” (1 Nephi 10:19).
Alma told the people of Gideon, “I perceive that it has been
made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in
crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath
he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right
to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round” (Alma 7:20).
The Lord told Joseph Smith, “For God doth not walk in
crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither
doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight,
and his course is one eternal round.” (D&C 3:2).
What is meant by “one eternal round?” Hugh Nibley answers that question.
“[Alma2] says, there's something great behind
[the records]; we've got to keep them. While I can't explain, I don't invent
various possible explanations, although that's what science is supposed to do
and has been doing ever since. But they are preserved for a wise purpose.
Notice that they are timeless; they are straight and correct. They don't
deviate to one side of the track or the other. And they are ‘one eternal round.’
That means there's no point at which you can say the record begins, or a point
at which it ends. It's an eternal round. Eternal doesn't mean it just goes
'round and 'round and 'round forever. But the circle is never completed; it
never has a beginning or an end. It's an eternal rounding.”[3]
Remember, he writes, we will be judged by all that we
do. If we are wicked during our lives,
we will be found unclean when we stand before God. As no unclean thing can dwell in the presence
of God, we must be cast off forever.
Nephi testifies he speaks through the authority of the Holy
Ghost. He cannot deny these words.
[2] The Gathering of Israel in the Book of
Mormon: A Consistent Pattern, Robert L. Millet, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute
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