Gospel Essentials Class Notes January 14, 2001

Notes on 4th Nephi Mormon and Ether

 Historical Discussion

3rd Nephi Chapter 13

This chapter ends with wo pronounced upon those who deny the power of God, his gifts and revelations.

 

3 Nephi 13:59 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say, The Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost;

 

Much of the 7th-13th chapters are Christ’s words discussing

                1:  Jews who are lost

                2:  Remnant of Joseph who Jesus is currently with

                3:  Remnant of Joseph about the Gentiles of the Last Days.

 

However, the next chapter contains a message directly to the Gentiles….

 

3rd Nephi Chapter 14

14th chapter is now a direct message to the Gentiles.  It’s as if he’s had his back to us all these many chapters, now turns and faces us, squaring off with us (like he KNOWS we are reading  over his shoulder while he writes…) and announces:

3 Nephi 14:1 Hearken, O, ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying,

3 Nephi 14:2 Turn all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways, and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations,

3 Nephi 14:3 And come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people, who are of the house of Israel.

There, that’s it, the entire chapter, entire message to the Gentiles.  And what is summed up in so few words?

 We Gentiles must:

·         Turn from sin

·         Come to faith in Jesus

·         Being Baptized in Water and

·         Receive a Remission of sin, so to

·         Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, in order to

·         Be numbered among the covenant known as the people of the House of Israel

 

Remember, all who repent, are the covenant people of the Lord:

2 Nephi 12:77 For behold, I say unto you, That as many of the Gentiles as will repent, are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent, shall be cast off;

2 Nephi 12:78 For the Lord covenanteth with none, save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.

And, as a reminder, that covenant comes by repentance and necessarily baptism:

Alma 5:27 Yea, come and go forth, and shew unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins, and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day, by going into the waters of baptism;              

Interesting, but the phrase ‘ye gentiles’ appears 7 times in the Book of Mormon, seemingly as if the writer is present, directing full force to us, or at least knowing that we will read the words written… 

2 Nephi 12:50 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people?

Much written about the we Gentiles is learned by ‘eavesdropping’ on scripture written to other people about us.  Now, can we get the message straight?  Turn from sin, enter into a covenant, and don’t break it by living a life of sin.

 

4th Book of Nephi:

Chapter begins on the rise to prosperity in Christ…

  1. All who were repentant were baptized and received the Holy Ghost (4 Nephi 1:2)
  2. EVERYONE IN THE LAND was converted to Christ.  (4 Nephi 1:3)
  3. All things were common (4 Nephi 1:4)
  4. The gifts of the spirit were present, especially by the disciples:  healings, miracles, etc, (4 Nephi 1:6)
  5. The principles of the Gospel of Christ have replaced the Law of Moses now (4 Nephi 1:13)
  6. Church of Christ met together often for fasting, prayer, and discussing the welfare of their souls.
  7. Total social, spiritual, mental, physical prosperity described.

 

100 years later, (100 AD and beyond) Prosperity continues…

 

  1. All the diciples had gone to their reward, except the three to tarry (4 Nephi 1:15)
  2. According to the pattern in other scripture (Acts 1, and others), other disciples were ordained in their stead (4 Nephi 1:16)
  3. There were no envyings, strifes, murders, or social evils of any kind (4 Nephi 1:18)
  4. According to the writer, there could not be a happier people among the children of men.  The society was ONE.  There were no separation of classes, even the name of Lamanites (genetic heritage for some) was gone from among them.  They were one in Christ (4 Nephi 1:20)

 

But then, the first generation dies out.  These were the first-hand witnesses of Christ in the midst of the people, now gone.  And what begins to happen…?

 

  1. A small band of people revolt AGAINST THE CHURCH (4 Nephi 1:23)
  2. But prosperity in Christ is the huge experience of the majority (4 Nephi 1:26)

 

200 years from Christ’s birth, it’s because of this prosperity, that:

 

  1. People started wearing costly apparel (4 Nephi 1:27)
  2. Goods were not in common anymore; (4 Nephi 1:28)
  3. Many different churches started now, instead of the one and only true church, most denying the majority of the gospel; (4 Nephi 1:29)
  4. That holy communion was now being shared with those who had not be described as ‘worthy,’ or according to 3 Nephi 8:60-62, had not made their covenant through repentance and baptism. (See handout on Christ’s Church for more details); and it even describes how this church multiplied, by Satan’s power. ()
  5. Now the beloved disciples of Jesus were now persecuted by those ‘professing’ to be of the church (4 Nephi 1:32)
  6. THE PEOPLE OF JESUS WERE SMITTEN BY THE UNBELIEVERS (FORMER BRETHERN) BUT DID NOT SMITE BACK! (4 Nephi 1:37)
  7. True believers are called Nephites (and a few other names); those rejecting Gospel are called Lamanites, etc. (4 Nephi 1:40)
  8. Those rejecting the gospel DID IT OPENLY AND WILLFULLY. (4 Nephi 1:42)

 

And 240 years later….

 

  1. The wicked outnumber the good, known as the true believers. (4 Nephi 1:47)
  2. Not withstanding, churches of unbelievers are still adorned with precious materials. (4 Nephi 1:48)
  3. Secret oaths and societies are built up again. (4 Nephi 1:50)
  4. Even the believers are now falling away. (4 Nephi 1:51)
  5. The tarrying disciples begin to sorrow for the world. (4 Nephi 1:52)

 

And 300 Years later…

  1. Both the Nephites and the Lamanites were wicked, one like the other. (4 Nephi 1:53)
  2. None were righteous, except the disciples of Jesus. (4 Nephi 1:52)
  3. Ammoron, constrained by the Holy Ghost, hid all the records up to God. (4 Nephi 1:57)
  4. Hidden to come forth to a remnant of this native people (of Joseph) (4 Nephi 1:59).

 

What do the scriptures say about a people that was once enlightened but then fell away?

 

Alma 14:58 And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things.

 

2 Nephi 13:18 But behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying, After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this, should deny me, it would have been better for you, that ye had not known me.

 

II Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

The Book (Chapters) of Mormon, Chapter 1

History

  1. Mormon identifies himself and how that at the age of 10, he is instructed by the last keeper of the records, where to find them when he is 24. (Mormon 1:2)
  2. In Mormon’s youth, the land of Zarahemla was covered with buildings, people as numerous as the sands of the sea.  (Mormon 1:7) (These are just being discovered today—Joseph Smith had no knowledge—huge temple complex this last year).
  3. Wars occur. Wickedness so great that God chooses to remove the beloved disciples from the people. (Mormon 1:14)
  4. The Holy Ghost and gifts from it did not come upon any people. (Mormon 1:15)
  5. Even Mormon, at age of 17, is forbidden to preach, citing ‘his mouth was shut.’ These acts of God removing his disciples, forbidding the preaching is only because of WILLFULL REBELLION on the part of God’s covenant people. (Mormon 1:17) (Otherwise, his arm is extended all the day long…2 Nephi 12:41)
  6. Sorceries, witchcraft, magic abundant; power of the evil one every where:  words of Helaman, Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite fulfilled. (Alma 21:9 ,Helaman 5:22-50, Helaman 5:6, Helaman 5:11)

 

Willful rebellion brings loss of what?  

Helaman 5:10 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they repent I will take away my word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them, and I will suffer them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them;  (Loss of God’s Spirit, loss of God’s Word)

Open rebellion by God’s people against Him causes:

·         God’s servants to be removed;

·         God’s word to be removed;

·         God’s Spirit is removed;

·         Preaching by even those with the desire to preach, to be forbidden;

·         Loss of temporal wealth;

·         Loss of spiritual blessings and prosperity.

 

What does Mormon learn from the wicked Nephites about Sorrow?

Two kinds of ‘Sorrow:’

·         First, sorrow of repentance—being truly sorry for sin;

·         Second, sorrow of ‘the damned’—lamenation of those who have brought about their own wickedness.

 Paul says:

II Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing;

II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

What Kind of sorrow do we most find ourselves experiencing? Is it sorrow for our sins against God, or sorrow for the results of the sin against God?

 

·         These rebellious Nephites, church members, would literally curse God and wish to die (Mormon 1:38)

·         Mormon even sees that the ‘day of grace’ temporally and spiritually, had passed for these wicked Nephites (fallen believers).  They were literally hewn down in open rebellion against God. (Mormon 1:40) 

·         In this state, people are literally left unto their own strength. (Mormon 1:56)

·         After many years, God initiates a call to repentance again.  He calls to ‘build up my church again,’ but it is in vain (Mormon 1:65, Mormon 1:66)

·         The people harden their hearts against the word of God. (Mormon 1:67)

·         Military success causes boasting, and Nephites swear vengeance against their enemies, an act strictly forbidden for God’s people (“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Mormon 1:80, Mormon 4:25, Romans 12:19)

·         At this time, Mormon utterly refuses to be their military leader. (Mormon 1:76, Mormon 1:80, Mormon 1:81)

 

End of Chapter 1:  Mormon prophesies to many people:

Switching gears now, Mormon digresses from the current plight of the Nephites.  He says, because of the wickedness he’s witnessed among the Nephites, he wants us to know that we, also, will be judged by our works. (Mormon 1:86, Mormon 1:87)

And specifically, to the Gentiles and House of Israel, he writes:

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND PROOFS THAT JOSEPH SMITH WAS A PROPHET AND THE BOOK OF MORMON IT TRUE! 

Reason:  when ‘the work’ commenced among the Gentiles, that signified the fullness of the Gospel being restored to the Gentiles.  

They bring this fullness to the Jews and scattered house of Israel.  But the proof of authenticity is this:  Mormon writes that when this work starts among the Gentiles (gospel restored), Israel will be close to the return to the land of their inheritance.  

What happened just after one generation of the restoration of the Gospel?  In 1948, Jews begin returning to their homeland!  The scripture is exactly fulfilled!  How could anyone have guessed this, when the Jews had no homeland for 2000 years prior?

Think of that. The timing of the return of Israel to their homeland was pinpointed and coupled with an event to happen among the gentiles (us), in a future day. Did Joseph Smith just guess at this future event? In 1830, when the fullness of the Gospel was restored and the Book of Mormon translated, the Jews had known no homeland for almost 2000 years. Further, the whole of the House of Israel had been scattered for almost 2700 years.

But what happened in the generation following the restoration of the Gospel to the Gentiles? In 1948, Israel was declared a nation for the first time in nearly as many years, and the House of Israel, indeed, began their return! How could these words be fulfilled, save they were prophecy? Could anyone have known in the 1800 hundreds what was in store for Israel in the next generation? Obviously, no.

The simple conclusion: The Book of Mormon is true. (For further study, read how Daniel prophesied these events would come to pass with the abomination of Desolation)