An Example of What Has Been And Shall Be

An Example of What Has Been And Shall Be

This Post is inspired by a post on www.owlofthedesert.com/blog

Jesus told the Nephites concerning Isaiah that "all things that he spake have been and shall be" (3 Nephi 23:3). The Book of Mormon prophet writers also selected events in their history that would be types of events that would happen in the last days. One in particular is very specific in its detail and is found in 3 Nephi 6-10. These events happened just before Christ came to the Nephites, and are prophetic types of endtime events that will occur prior to the Lord's second coming.

Written by Third Nephi, the son of Nephi, who was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi.

Note the pattern of how the word of God was taught from father to son.

From God to Abinadi

From Abinadi to Alma

From Alma to Alma

From Alma to Helaman

From Helaman to Helaman

From Helaman to Nephi

From Nephi to Nephi

From all these to me

From me to you

From you to ??

Not only are the events in 3 Nephi 6 described in detail, but they reflect the latter pattern of the word of God, and how apostasy is generational, as we come to understand (or not) that the catalyst for these events is the same catalyst for the same type of events occurring before the Lord's second coming.

I will put this in verse form so you will be able to see more clearly not only the events but the sequence of events and why these events happened, and why they will happen again.

3 Nephi 6

And they began again 

to prosper and to wax great...

and there was great 

order in the land

and they had formed 

their laws according 

to equity and justice 

(vs 4)

Now there was nothing 

in all the land

to hinder the people 

from prospering continually

except they should fall into transgression (vs 5)

Their appointed leaders 

had established this 

great peace in the land (vs 6)

There were many cities 

built anew, and

there were many old cities repaired (vs 7)

and there were many 

highways cast up,

and many roads made,

which led from city to city

and from land to land

and from place to place (vs 8)

and the people 

had continual peace (vs 9)

So far so good.  Perhaps America right after WWII? 

But then trouble starts.

There began to be 

some disputings 

among the people

and some were 

lifted up unto pride

and boastings 

because of their

exceedingly great riches,

yea, even unto 

great persecutions. (vs 10)

It always starts with some having more than others, then being proud (even thankful), and then being self righteous. But all the while persecuting or separating themselves from, or treating as nonexistent, the poor, reminding us that "it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin" (D&C 49:21).

For there were many 

merchants in the land,

and many lawyers,

and many officers. (vs 11)

Having bought into Satan's economic plan, they were out to get all they could, and were even lauded for their success. Even their education differed.

And the people began to be 

distinguished by ranks,

according to their riches

and their chances for learning,

yea, some were ignorant

because of their poverty,

and others did receive learning

because of their riches. (vs. 12)

What was the result?

Some were lifted up in pride,

and others were 

exceedingly humble;

some did return 

railing for railing

While others would receive

railing and persecution

and all manner of afflictions,

and would not turn 

and revile again,

but were humble 

and penitent before God. (vs 13)

Railing means to complain and criticize or protest strongly and persistently about others. 

Revile means to criticize in an abusive or insulting manner.

Certainly a lot of that today both in and out of the church.  

But thank goodness for those who will not 'turn and revile" in retaliation, but are humble and penitent before God.

And thus there 

became great inequality 

in all the land,

insomuch that the church

began to be broken up, yea...

the church was broken up

in all the land

save it were among a few

who were converted

unto the true faith;

and they would not 

depart from it. 

for they were firm,

and steadfast,

and immovable,

willing with all diligence

to keep the commandments 

of the Lord. (vs 14)

Notice it was not the Nephites who were faithful, but the Lamanites, and it was the Nephites failure to repent that was the catalyst for the events which took place shortly thereafter, as it will be our (Ephraimite Gentiles) failure to repent that will be the cause of these same type of events just prior to the Lord coming again. It is always the Lord's people who are the catalyst for these judgments. 

Now the cause 

of this iniquity

of the people was this---

Satan had great power,

unto the stirring 

up of the people

to do all manner 

of iniquity,

and to the puffing 

them up with pride,

tempting them to 

seek for power,

and authority,

and riches,

and the vain things 

of the world. (vs 15)

And thus Satan did lead away

the hearts of the people

to do all manner of iniquity... (vs 16)

As a result they were (we are) in a state of awful wickedness (vs. 17)

Now the question is who are they? This is were the rubber hits the road, because we cannot say it was because of all those other wicked people--those Democrats, those Republicans, those liberals, those conservatives, those white people, those black people, those gay and lesbian people, those terrorists, those non-Mormons, those immigrants--you get the idea.  Nephi makes it very clear who 'they' are!  

Now they did 

not sin ignorantly,

for they knew 

the will of God

concerning them,

for it had been 

taught them;

therefore they did

willfully rebel 

against God. (vs. 18)

And Nephi has already identified the sin--the vain things of the world, money, and the pride--and who--those who had been taught the will of God concerning them, and that His people (the Nephites) (and in our time the Mormon/Ephraimite Gentiles) willfully rebelled against God.

But the Lord never gives up.

And there began 

to be men

inspired from heaven

and sent forth,

standing among the people

in all the land,

preaching and 

testifying boldly

of the sins and 

iniquities of the people,

and testifying unto them

concerning the redemption

which the Lord would make

for his people,

or in other words,

the resurrection of Christ;

and they did testify boldly

of his death and sufferings. (vs. 20)

These men just showed up or were already there.  Not necessarily church leaders like Nephi, but others who were among those described in verse 14 above, called by God (types like Samuel the Lamanite) , to say nothing but repentance and to prophecy and warn.

But what was the result?

Now there were many

of the people

who were exceedingly angry

because of those

who testified of these things;

and those who were angry

were chiefly the chief judges,

and they who had been high priests and lawyers... (vs 21)

In other words, those with the most to lose, including priesthood holders and church leaders.

And how many of such were there who testified of things pertaining to Christ?

Now there were 

many of those

who testified 

of the things 

pertaining

to Christ

who testified boldly,

who were taken 

and put to death (vs. 23)

Is it dangerous to so testify? Yes!

Because of the 

wickedness among 

the Lord's people--

Others did combine against 

the people of the Lord, 

and enter into a covenant 

to destroy them, and deliver 

those who were guilty 

from the grasp of justice. (vs. 29)

And they did set at defiance

the law and the rights

of their country,

and they did covenant 

one with another

to destroy the (government)

and establish a king

over the land,

that the land should 

no more

be at liberty

but should be 

subject unto kings. (vs. 30).

Happening right now in America. There are those who want to destroy democracy and do away with government, and destroy the liberties granted under the Constitution. There has only been one president in the America's history who claimed he was infallible, with absolute authority, and wanted to be our king. And even more frightening, there are many who support him still. And what is the catalyst? The apostasy of the Ephraimite Gentiles, not the American Gentiles--liberal or conservative. What we find in America today is the result of that apostasy. There is a reason Jacob saw that the Gentiles who were grafted into the mother tree would bring forth only wild fruit! 

Even more signs.  3 Nephi 7

And the people were divided

one against another;

and they did

separate one from another 

into tribes,

every man according to his

family and his kindred

and friends,

and thus they did destroy

the government of the land. (vs. 2)

Not yet happened, but it will, and attempts have been and continue to destroy democracy. And why?

...all this iniquity

had come upon the people

because they did yield

themselves unto 

the power of Satan. (vs. 5I)

And they (we) are not even aware. (See 2 Nephi 28 on how Satan leads us carefully down to hell.) 

And they did cause a great 

contention in the land,

insomuch that the

more righteous part

of the people had

nearly all become wicked;

yea there were but few

righteous men among them. (vs. 7)

More detail on secret oaths and combinations (men conspiring to destroy free elections) and and how tribes established their own laws. (vs 8-14).

And it came to pass that

Nephi--having been 

visited by angels

and also the voice of the Lord,

therefore having seen angels,

and being eyewitness, 

and having had power

given unto him

that he might know

concerning the ministry of Christ

and also eyewitness to their

quick return from righteousness

unto wickedness,

and abominations;

therefore, being grieved

for the hardness of their hearts

and the blindness of their minds--

went forth among them...

and began to testify boldly,

repentance

and remission of sins

through faith 

on the Lord Jesus Christ. (vs. 15-16)

Now most were angry with Nephi, as they were with Samuel, but there were some who did repent. This is an example of how the Lord even up to the last minute where no man can repent, will still do all in His power to give the people one more chance to repent and return to Him before the endtime destruction. Nephi and the Lord did recruit others unto this ministry.

But this is the last chance because the destruction follows just 8 years after they had peace in all the land! 3 Nephi 8.

...there arose 

a great storm,

such an one 

never had 

been known

in all the land (vs 5)

And there was 

also a great

and terrible tempest;

and there was 

terrible thunder,

insomuch that it did

shake the whole earth

as if it was about to 

divide asunder (vs. 6)

And there were 

exceedingly

sharp lightnings,

such as never had been known

in all the land (vs 7)

And the city of Zarahemla 

did take fire (vs. 8)

And the city of Moroni

did sink into the 

depths of the sea;

and the inhabitants 

thereof were drowned (vs 9)

And the earth was 

carried up upon

the city of Moronihah,

that in the place of the city

there became a great mountain (vs. 10)

And there was 

great and terrible

destruction in the 

land southward

(and northward) (vs 11-12)

To summarize the rest, many and great and notable cities were sunk, and many burned, and many were shaken, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, etc. And all this was done in the space of about three hours (vs 13-22).

And then the darkness that had been prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite came and lasted for three days, and there were the groanings of the people because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them (vs 23).

And in one place 

they were heard saying:

O that we had repented

before this great 

and terrible day,

and then would 

our brethren

have been spared,

and they would not 

have been

burned in that great city Zarahemla. (vs, 24)

And those who were spared heard a voice which identified all of the cities that had been destroyed (vs. 3-11). 

But even these people still needed to repent.

O all ye that are spared

because ye were 

more righteous

than they,

will ye not now 

return unto me,

and repent of your sins,

and be converted,

that I may heal you? (vs. 13)

The voice then teaches them what he requires of them--a broken heart and a contrite spirit (vs. 20-22). And for us to survive the same kind of carnage and destruction before the Lord's coming again, we need to do the same. We do know that only 2500 people were in the multitude who did see, hear and bear record of hearing Christ and seeing angels descending out of heaven (3 Nephi 17:16-25).

And what was the cause again of all this destruction? 

"And many great 

destructions have I 

caused to come upon 

this land, and upon this people, because of their (our) wickedness and their (our) abominations" (3 Nephi 9:12).

Let's summarize the what and in what order.

1. Disputings. "There began to be some disputings among the people" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

2. Pride and Boastings. "Some were lifted up unto pride and boastings" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

3. Riches unto Persecution. They had "exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

4. Distinguished by Status. "And the people began to be distinguished by ranks" (3 Nephi 6:12). 

5. Distinguished by Learning. "Some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches" (3 Nephi 6:12). 

6. Inequality. "And thus there became a great inequality in all the land" (3 Nephi 6:14).

7. Church Breaks Up. "Insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land" (3 Nephi 6:14).

8. Seeking Power and Authority. "Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this ― Satan had great power . . . tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world" (3 Nephi 6:15).

9. Willfully Disregarded God's Law. "Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them" (3 Nephi 6:18).

10. Anger from Church Members/Leaders. "Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests" (3 Nephi 6:20-21).

11. Secrecy. "They did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings" (3 Nephi 6:30).

12. No unity--Breakup into Tribes. "The people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another" (3 Nephi 7:2).

13. Seduction of the Righteous. "The more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked" (3 Nephi 7:7).

14. Rule of Men instead of Rule of Law. "They were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders" (3 Nephi 7:14).

15. Mighty Miracles Performed by God's Servant. "And Nephi [this was Nephi the son of Nephi, son of Helaman, son of Helaman, son of Alma, son of Alma who was a priest of King Noah] did minister with power and with great authority" (3 Nephi 7:17).

16. Destruction. There arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land, etc (3 Nephi 6:21).

Hopefully Jeremiah was not summarizing your response when he said:

"Therefore ¹thou shalt speak 

all these words unto them; 

¹but they will not hearken to thee: 

²thou shalt also call unto them; 

²but they will not answer thee.

But thou shalt say unto them, 

¹This is a nation that obeyeth 

not the voice of the Lord their God, ²nor receiveth correction: 

³truth is perished, 

and is cut off from their mouth" 

(Jeremiah 7:27-28).

If after reading this you still don't see how it affects you, consider this.  

It isn't that people wantonly disregard warnings. It's that they think it won't affect them. Consider tornado warnings, for example, where people who had been warned failed to seek shelter. The people who did not heed these warnings had one thing in common: they all lived in homes that had never been struck by a tornado. They inhabited a region prone to tornadoes, but had lived through many warnings. People could not imagine that all those tornados that had wound up hitting other people could instead have hit them, until one did.

Because my wife's grandparents had lived through WWI in France, they recognized the warnings that led to WWII, and to the extent possible prepared themselves against another invasion. But should it take living through one war to recognize the warning signs that will lead to another?

I think this is the reason Isaiah and Book of Mormon Prophet Writers use historical events, described in great detail, to tell us about what is coming. While we can only experience what happened in and around Zarahemla vicariously, by having it described so vividly and why, we cannot or at least should not ignore it. It happened and it will happen again, and for the same reasons.

We can choose our response to prophetic types.  

We can ¹ignore them and perhaps there is a false sense of security we get by not acknowledging endtime prophecies.  

We ²can choose not to believe that this historical narrative and others like it actually occurred.

We ³can choose not to believe that this is a type of what is to come.

We ⁴can choose to believe that it did happen and that it will happen, but that it won't involve us or our children, grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren. 

We ⁵can choose to believe we need no repentance, and that if these events happen, only those who are wicked (not us good guys) will be affected.

You may choose to not believe these prophecies because you don't trust the source. You will attack the messenger and ignore the message. The danger here is that the Lord has told us these things will happen and why, and has sent the messengers. Will we shoot the messenger from the Lord who has been called to warn us? 

None of these choices, however, address the real question which requires a self-analysis of where we are individually. This requires that we liken His words to us.

It's what we fail to imagine that will destroy us.  

And at the same time, it is what we do imagine that will destroy us.

I Am The Vine and Ye Are The Branches

A truth, because it is the word of God (D&C 84:45) is that we cannot bring forth fruits of ourselves because we are merely the branches. But unfortunately we often teach just the opposite--that it is through our works, efforts, strivings, behaviors, and successes that we receive eternal life. 

This teaching persists notwithstanding the mountain of evidence in the scriptures to the contrary. When Alma, for example, talks about 'fruit meet for repentance' (Alma 12:15; 13:15), he is teaching us that even these fruits come from Christ. When Christ says that He is the vine and we are the branches and that the branches cannot bring forth fruit of themselves (John 15), He is teaching us that the fruits of repentance are a result of Him beginning and continuing to change us, as long as we are repentant, put our faith in Him and rely totally upon His merits. As the Lord said unto Alma: "Marvel not that all mankind,..., must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures..." (Mosiah 27:25-26 emphases added). So as we turn to Him (repent), the fruits of our repentance come because of His changing us, not as a result of us changing ourselves and our behaviors.

God also teaches us that we do not bear good fruit when we take strength unto ourselves (Jacob 5:46). It is because of people taking strength unto themselves that the fruit of the vineyard becomes corrupted. "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit,..." (John 15:6-8 emphasis added).

Numerous fruits of repentance are found in scripture, and perhaps nowhere as clearly enumerated as in Mosiah 4 where King Benjamin gives an extensive list of some of the fruits of repentance. We can find many listed, but can we recognize these fruits in ourselves? King Benjamin had just spoken some of the words that had been delivered to him by an angel. These words had caused the people to view themselves in their lost and fallen state, and they had fallen to the earth and cried for mercy and that the atoning blood of Christ be applied to them so that they might receive forgiveness of their sins, and that their hearts might be purified, i.e., that they might also enjoy the fruits of their repentance.

King Benjamin then asked the people to hear the remainder of his words, and then asked if the knowledge of the goodness of God had awakened them to a sense of their nothingness, and their worthless and fallen state? He then gives us the formula for both faith and repentance--comparing our nothingness to His goodness, and reminding us that salvation comes to those who put their trust in the Lord, are diligent in keeping His commandments* and continue in the faith (in Christ) even unto the end of his life.

 

*Note: Alma tells us that he gave to Adam and Eve a second set of commandments after they failed to obey the one commandment He had given them in the Garden of Eden. He tells us as, does Enoch (quoting from Adam) what these commandments are. They are faith, repentance and baptism. See Alma 12:24;30-34;37 and Moses 6:50-52;56-60.

After telling his people "believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you" King Benjamin says that after they have tasted of his love, to always retain in remembrance the greatness of God, and their own nothingness. He then says "I say unto you that if ye do this" you will enjoy the following fruits of your repentance. (Mosiah 4:12-21):

1.    "you shall always rejoice"

2.    "be filled with the love of God"

3.    "always retain a remission of your sins"

4.    "grow in the knowledge of him that created you"

5.    "will not have a mind to injure one another"

6.    "will live peaceably"

7.    "render to every man according to that which is his due"

8.    "will not suffer your children that they go hungry"

9.    "neither will suffer that they transgress the laws of God"

10.    "will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness"

11.    "will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another"

12.    "will succor those that stand in need of your succor"

13.    "will administer of your substance to him that standeth in need"

14.    "will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain"

15.    "His Spirit shall be poured out upon you"

16.    "He has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy"

At first glance it may appear that He is commanding us to do these things, but He is actually showing us what He does for us when we "believe that (we) must repent of (our) sins and forsake them (give them to Him), and humble (ourselves before Him) then these fruits follow.

King Benjamin then adds to this long list of fruits, by recording what the people answered when he asked them if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them. "And they all cried with one voice, saying:  

17. we believe all the words which thou has spoken unto us; and also, 

18. we know of their surety and truth, 

19. the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that 

20. we have no more disposition to do evil, but to 

21. do good continually." 

They further tell King Benjamin that this is not all, but that 

22. they have great views of that which is to come..." (Mosiah 5:1-3).

The Lord defines corruption as taking strength unto ourselves (Jacob 5:46). In fact when we take strength unto ourselves we corrupt His vineyard and bring forth wild fruit which is good for nothing but to be cast into the fire.

Because of Unbelief

Do we really believe? Let me give two examples. First, a type was raised up in the wilderness by Moses that whosoever would look upon the staff would live. But few understood the meaning, and because of unbelief they would not look and therefore perished. The reason they would not look "is because they did not believe that it would heal them" (Alma 33:19-20 emphasis added). Alma then asks: "...if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief...? (Alma 33:21 emphasis added)

A second type of unbelief was given to us concerning the Liahona. "Just as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" (Alma 37:45). This type is also tied to the type of looking and being healed. "...do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so it was prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever" (Alma 37:46).

Do we believe that if we will look we may live forever? Or is this the type of unbelief that is spoken of in D&C 84 which has brought the whole church under condemnation? The Lord says "For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now" (D&C 84:51-53 emphasis added). He then tells us why "And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things (words--His voice) you have received--Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation" (D&C 84:54-55 emphasis added).

Another type is the Nephites who dwindled in unbelief, which foreshadows the Gentiles (of which Latter-day Saints are identified D&C 109:60) dwindling in unbelief in the last days, notwithstanding that the Lord has lengthened out His arm unto them. He says "they will deny me" (2 Nephi 28:32). And the reason they will deny Him is that "there shall be among them those who will not believe...in my words" (3 Nephi 21:9;11 emphasis added).

Nephi says the same "And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and ignorance of men; for they will not search knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be" (2 Nephi 32:7 emphasis added).

It is because of unbelief that many do not understand the word of God. (Mosiah 26:3) It is because of unbelief that miracles cease. (Moroni 7:37) It is because of unbelief that we deny the gifts and power of God. (Moroni 10:19) And it is because of unbelief that "there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one" (Moroni 10:25).

So another way of asking whether or not we believe is to ask: "Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?" (Alma 5:15)

The Salt of the Earth That Will Lose Its Savor

As with all key phrases in the scriptures, the phrase "salt of the earth" is used consistently to describe a certain group of people. There are other key words and/or phrases that are used in connection with the phrase "salt of the earth" such as covenant, savor, saviors of men, trodden under foot of men, cast out, light, gentiles and the house of Israel, which help to define who are the salt of the earth, what their role is and what is prophesied concerning them.

D&C 101:39-40 tells us who are the salt of the earth, and what they are called to be. "When men are called into mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men; they are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is therefore good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men."

President Benson clearly taught that references to the salt of the earth in the D&C referred to Church members of this last dispensation. In CR April 1985, Ensign 15 (May 1985), he said:

"The Lord said to the Church members of this dispensation: 'But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them. For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men; and inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men'" (emphasis added).

Salt is linked with light. In 3 Nephi 12, the Lord said to the people "...I give unto you to be the light unto this people." This is said immediately after saying "...I give unto you to be the salt of the earth." Light and salt are therefore linked by the words 'ye are' and "I give unto you to be' and the Lord in the Sermon on the Mount says "Ye are the salt of the earth," and in the next verse He says "Ye are the light of the world." This connection is made even clearer in D&C 103:8-10 wherein the Lord tells the Church members, or those who have entered into the covenant, that "they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men; and inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor."

The idea of being saviors of men is also introduced. Since we know that men can be saved only in and through the Savior, being saviors of men implies that we bring people to Christ to be saved. The Lord also makes it clear that in order to be saviors of men ye must "...hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up..." (3 Nephi 18:24).

The phrase 'trodden under foot of men' is used with the phrase salt of the earth to denote the consequences of the salt of the earth losing its savor. Both 3 Nephi 16:15 and 3 Nephi 20:16 are prophecies concerning the salt of the earth (members of the Church), and also tell us that it will be the House of Israel that shall tread down the salt that hath lost its savor. This is a reversal of the Gentiles coming to America and casting out Lehi's descendants (who are of the House of Israel) and treading them down. It is the Gentiles, including the unrepentant Ephraimite Gentiles, in the latter days who are to be cast out and trodden under the feet of the House of Israel. 

Since these references make clear that these Gentiles shall become as the salt of the earth which has lost it savor and is good for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of men, the Lord is prophesying what will become of many who have entered into the covenant. (3 Nephi 16:15) These are those who have received the Gospel but rejected the fulness of the Gospel. (3 Nephi 16:10), or those who are not repenting, thereby linking the failure to repent to the salt losing its savor. 

"And thus commandeth the Father that I shall say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts...; and if they shall do these things and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them" (3 Nephi 16:10 emphasis added).

The prophecies in 3 Nephi 16; 20 & 21 concerning the Gentiles who are the Salt of the Earth are quite clear in that there is no question but that the majority of the Salt of the Earth (Ephraimite Gentiles) will reject the fulness of the Gospel, reject God's words which have been revealed unto them, and because they refuse to repent, will be trodden down under foot by the House of Israel.

In an end time context, those "cut off" include wild branches of the olive tree (Ephraimite Gentiles) who do not "continue in his goodness" (Romans 11:22; cf. Jacob 5-65-66), "whosoever will not believe" the words of Christ, which the Lord's "servant" will bring forth to the Gentiles (3 Nephi 21:10-11); cf. Isaiah 52:13-15), "whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son" at that time (3 Nephi 21:20), and those who "will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles" when the "arm of the Lord" is revealed (D&C 1:14; cf. JS. Matt. 1:55; JS-History 1:40).

In this end time setting, the Lord's "servant" who brings forth the words of Christ to the Gentiles, is also "like unto Moses." Jesus says of those who disbelieve his words at that time, "(It shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant (or the Salt of the Earth)" (3 Nephi 212:11).

This test may help you determine which of the Gentiles you are a part of. To whom is Nephi speaking when he says "A Bible! A Bible!"? Of the two ways in which we can interpret this prophecy, do we accept what the Book of Mormon is actually telling us or do we subscribe to current popular opinion? From what Nephi has seen when viewing our day, it seems evident that we "who are identified with the Gentiles" (D&C 109:60), are particularly vulnerable in the latter days to hardening our hearts, denying Christ, failing to search knowledge, and whom remain ignorant of the word of God.