Gentiles in Prophecy Part I

Joseph Smith recorded in the Kirkland Temple dedicatory prayer that we "are identified with the Gentiles." (D&C 109:60)

By analyzing the term Gentiles wherever it appears, it becomes easy to trace the Gentiles’ history and future.  Putting together a scriptural picture of what happens to the Gentiles serves as a second witness not only of the Gentiles’ saving role toward the house of Israel, but of the reversal that ultimately occurs between the Gentiles and the House of Israel (Jews, 10 Tribes and Lehi's Descendants).  Most of the scriptural references cited contain the term Gentiles. 

The New Testament shows that the Jews receive the first opportunity to accept the gospel.  But when these “judge (them) selves unworthy of everlasting life,” the gospel turns to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46).  

The blessing of Abraham, instead of resting on the Jews, now rests on the Gentiles who accept Christ (Gal. 3:14).  God pours out the Holy Ghost on the Gentiles.  Many are converted.

The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants details the Gentiles’ latter-day experience.  Nephi calls the latter days “the days of the Gentiles” (2 Ne. 27:1).  He identifies as primarily the Europeans who go out of captivity to the land of America (1 Ne. 13:2-4, 10-14, 13-16, 30).

The Gentiles who migrate to America obtain the land for their inheritance (1 Ne. 13:15; Morm. 5:19).  The Lord blesses the Gentiles, and they prosper in the land (1 Ne. 13:20; 2 Ne. 10:10).

The Gentiles afflict Lehi’s descendants and act as a scourge to them (2 Ne. 10:18; 3 Ne. 20:28).  Yet, the Gentiles do no utterly destroy them (1 Ne. 13:30-31).

The Lord raises up a mighty nation among the Gentiles in America (1 Ne. 22:7).  This is a land of liberty to the Gentiles and they have no kings (2 Ne. 10:11; 3 Ne. 21:4).  The Lord makes the Gentiles on this land mighty above all (1 Ne. 13:30; 3 Ne. 20:27).  He delivers the Gentiles on this land from all other nations (1 Ne. 13:19).

The Gentiles have a book that is of great worth to them (1 Ne. 13:20-23).  They receive it from the Jews (the Bible), and they carry it to Lehi’s descendants (1 Ne. 13:26, 38; Morm. 7-8).

Plain and precious parts of the Bible are removed by the mother of abominations, the church of the devil (the world) (1 Ne. 13:26-28).  Defective gospel makes the Gentiles stumble, giving Satan great power over them (1 Ne. 13:29, 34).

God does not leave the Gentiles in a state of blindness.  In the day the Gentiles hearken to the Lamb, he takes away their stumbling blocks (1 Ne. 14:1).  The truth comes to the Gentiles as a blessing (3 Ne. 16:7; 20:15). 

The Book of Mormon supplies what the Bible lacks, and comes forth from the Nephites to the Gentiles (1 Ne. 13:34; 3 Ne. 16:4; 21:2).  Many of the Gentiles believe the Book (2 Ne. 30:3).  The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the Gospel (D&C 20:8-9).

God also pours the Holy Ghost as a blessing upon the Gentiles (3 Ne. 16:6; 20:27), and they are convinced that Jesus is the Christ (2 Ne. 26:12).  The Lord establishes his Church among the Gentiles, and they come into the covenant he made with the house of Israel (3 Ne. 21:22).  The Latter-day Saints are identified with the Gentiles (D&C 109:60).

The Book of Mormon is given to try the faith of the Gentiles:  it contains but the “lesser part” of Jesus’ words to the Nephites (3 Ne. 26:8).  If the Gentiles believe that portion—the Book of Mormon—the Lord will manifest to them the greater things also (3 Ne. 26:9).  If they don’t it shall turn to their condemnation (3 Ne. 26:10; D&C 84:54-57).

The Book of Mormon contains warning to the Gentiles.  Two consecutive histories of fallen peoples on this land forewarn the Gentiles of their own imminent fate (Eth. 2:11; 8:26-26).  Mormon also describes the destruction of the Nephites as a warning to the Gentiles  (Morm. 6:1-22).

The Lord bids the Gentiles to come unto him (Eth. 4:13).  In him they may be cleansed and sanctified (Eth. 4:6-7).  The Book of Mormon teaches that people can rend the veil of unbelief—which has caused them to remain in an awful state of wickedness, hardness of heart, and blindness of mind—by calling on the Father in the name of Jesus with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  It further teaches that the great and marvelous things hidden up from the foundation of the world are the Father’s fulfillment of his covenant with the house of Israel, as contained in the revelation of John.  These great and marvelous things, however, have not yet been revealed.  (Eth. 4:15-16).  As adverse as it may seem, we conclude from these scriptures that many of us as Gentiles still remain in an awful state of wickedness.  We have not yet rent the veil of our unbelief.

Moroni shows us in Ether how the Brother of Jared “rent the veil” (Eth. 3:1-20).  The Lord now bids the Gentiles to do the same (Eth. 4:13).

The Lord’s great and marvelous work typifies the greater things spoken of by Moroni in Ether.  The Lord performs that work among the Gentiles (1 Ne. 22:8; 2 Ne. 29:1; D&C 35:7).  To that end he sends among them the three Nephites (3 Ne. 28:32).  The great and marvelous work involves the coming forth of the words of Christ (3 Ne. 28:32-34).  The Father empowers a latter-day servant to bring forth the words of Christ to the Gentiles (3 Ne. 21:8-11); compare Isa. 52:13-15). 

The Book of Mormon contains less than a hundredth part of Jesus’ words to the Nephites (3 Ne. 26:6).  Yet, in the last days, the fulness of Jesus’ words comes forth to the Gentiles (3 Ne. 16:7) in accordance with the servant’s mission (3 Ne. 21:11).

The plates of Nephi contain the greater part of what Jesus taught the people (3 Ne. 26:7).  They, therefore, are among the “other books” to come forth (compare 1 Ne. 13:39).  They “make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world” (1 Ne. 13:40).  They make known the folly and abominations of the Gentiles (3 Ne. 21:9, 11; D&C 35:7).

Prophecies about the Gentiles in the latter days thus show two facets.  Those Gentiles who are under condemnation—which causes the Lord to withhold from them the greater things (3 Ne. 26:10)—will remain under condemnation if they do not repent.  For that reason, the Gentiles must turn from their evil ways (compare Morm. 5:22).

.

In the latter days, the gospel turns first to the Gentiles (D&C 90:9).  But when many of them reject it, the gospel turns to the Jews and other natural lineages of Israel (1 Ne. 13:42; 3 Ne. 16:10-11; 20:28-31).

Many Gentiles will not believe the great and marvelous work—will not believe the words of Christ (3 Ne. 21:9, 11).  The words of Christ and the Brother of Jared’s vision cover the entire history of humanity (3 Ne. 26:1-4); Eth. 3:25, 27).  In that respect, they resemble the Bible more than the Book of Mormon does.  The two full accounts will come forth to the Gentiles—and turn from the Gentiles to the house of Israel (3 Ne. 26:7-9; Eth. 4:4-6; 12:22).

From these scriptures we gain a clearer idea of how so many Gentiles will sin against the gospel of Jesus Christ (compare 3 Ne. 16:10).  They will disavow the new revelations the Lord will bring forth.   Having formerly received the gospel, many Gentiles will now reject it (3 Ne. 16:10; 20:15, 28).  Refusing to come unto Christ and obey his voice, these Gentiles will be as “salt that hath lost its savor” (3 Ne. 16:15; D&C 101:39-40).

At the time they reject the fulness of the gospel, the wicked Gentiles are “lifted up in the pride of their hearts” (3 Ne. 16:10).  Being “lifted up in the pride of their eyes,” they “put down the power and miracles of God” (2 Ne. 26:20; Moroni 10).

Publishing for money, they “preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor” (2 Ne. 26:20).  These Gentiles have no charity for their fellow beings (Eth. 12:35-37).  They don’t thank the Jews nor Lehi’s descendants for the scriptures they have received from them (2 Ne. 29:4; 33:14; Eth. 12:23, 35).  The Lord lengthens out his arm to the Gentiles all the day long (2 Ne. 28:32).  But they mar the Lord’s servant who brings forth His words (3 Ne. 21:10-11).  Nephi offers no hope for the Gentiles unless they reconcile themselves to Christ (2 Ne. 28:32; 2 Ne. 33:9).

When the Gentiles reject his words, the Lord cuts them off from his people (2 Ne. 21:11, 20).  He removes the fulness of his gospel from among the wicked, giving it to those who receive it (3 Ne. 16:10; 20:28-31).  With the wicked Gentiles’ apostasy and its aftermath, the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (D&C 45:28-33).

The wicked Gentiles bring down the fulness of God’s wrath, just as the Jaredites and Nephites did (compare Eth. 2:11).  The Lord visits the Gentiles “with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire” (2 Ne. 27:2; compare Isa. 29:6).  The sword of Justice falls on the wicked Gentiles (3 Ne. 20:20; Eth. 8:23).

 

Lehi’s descendants, whom God empowers, marshal themselves and vex the wicked Gentiles (D&C 87:5).  They go among the Gentiles like a lion among the beasts, treading down and tearing to pieces (3 Ne. 20:16; 21:12; Morm. 5:24; compare Micah 5:8).  Lehi’s descendants, who are of the house of Israel, inherit the Gentiles’ lands and cities (3 Ne. 22:3; compare Isa. 54:3).

Some Gentiles will, however, turn from their evil ways and will repent and be numbered among the house of Israel (3 Ne. 16:6; 21:22).

The gospel goes first to the Gentiles and then to the house of Israel (1 Ne. 10:14; D&C 19:27).  The Gentiles take the gospel to Lehi’s descendants (1 Ne. 15:13, 17; 3 Ne. 21:5) and also to the Jews (3 Ne. 16:4; D&C 14:10).  The Twelve, the Seventy and other Latter-day Saints assist in carrying the gospel to the Jews (D&C 107:33-35; 133:8).

The house of Israel receives the Book of Mormon through the fulness of the Gentiles (3 Ne. 16:4; 21:5).  That involves the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and “other books” (2 Ne. 27:21-23; Eth. 4:407, 13-15; 1 Ne. 13:39-41).

The Lord softens many Gentiles’ hearts toward Lehi’s descendants (2 Ne. 10:18).  Many care for the house of Israel and sorrow for their destruction (Morm. 5:10-11).  They nurse the house of Israel and serve as fathers and mothers to them (1 Ne. 22:6, 8; 2 Ne. 10:9, 18).  They minister the gospel’s fullness to Lehi’s descendants (1 Ne. 15:13-14). 

When the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, the Jews again gather to Jerusalem (D&C 45:24-25).  The righteous Gentiles assist the house of Israel in gathering them from dispersion; they carry the house of Israel to the lands of their inheritance (2 Ne. 10:8).  They assist Lehi’s descendants to gather to the New Jerusalem (3 Ne. 21:24).  They help Lehi’s descendants to build the city (3 Ne. 21:23).  The Lord blesses the righteous Gentiles by numbering them with the house of Israel (2 Ne. 10:18; 3 Ne. 16:13).  The righteous Gentiles are also the covenant people of the Lord (2 Ne. 30:2; 3 Ne. 21:22).