Unabridged Instructor's Class Notes:  10-08-2000

Nephites sin and reject the fullness of the Gospel—pattern of God’s people through time.

Intro to Alma Chapter’s 20, 21

 Moroni good man.  Alma couldn’t rest. 

 Nephites basically good people

 Now comes the hitch.  Before Alma departs, he takes Helaman aside, and shares something unique.  Asks if he believes in Christ.  Now, prophesies of Nephites, who at this time are basically good and on a roll.

Says that about 400 years after Christ should manifest himself to them, these Nephites would fall away and become utterly wiped out. (Current time is about 74 BC, so add 74 to Christ’s birth, plus 34 years to Christ’s manifestation, plus 400 years would be about 510 years.  By comparison, We’re talking roughly at the time of Columbus, a prophet aboard the Nina says that in 510 years, in the year 2002, the church that the people of the country he was arriving at would turn from away from God and worship their own flesh, disregard the worth of unborn children, and make the teaching of  morals by state education a punishable crime.)

Alma 21:9 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief;

Can Count on God for a pattern.  Has this ever happened before?

DC 52:4b And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations;

God does nothing save it is revealed first to the prophets.

2 Nephi 11:16 And never hath any of them been destroyed, save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, until he revealeth the secret unto his servants the prophets.

Parallels

Gospel would come to the Jews First, Gentiles second, Gentiles again, and Jews last.  Each had their own prophecy.

What was prophecy to Jews first (i.e. the first time they received the Gospel)?

Deuteronomy 31:29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

Jews:  Deut 31:29 (and previous).  Evil in last days to befall them.  Had a taste of that with presentation of Daniel.  Why because they broke the covenant.  What was the covenant?    JESUS CHRIST THE MESSIAH.  Look at how many times the Rock (capital “R”) is used in ensuing chapters.

What was the prophecy to Gentiles next (i.e. those to receive the truth after Jews broke the covenant, through crucifying Christ)

But to Gentiles after, same fate:  II Thessalonians 2:9 Yea, the Lord, even Jesus, whose coming is not until after there cometh a falling away, by the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders,

Matthew 21:43 They say unto him, He will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Matthew 21:55 And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

II Thessalonians 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all men have not faith.

Hard to  Always know which group of Gentiles are being referred to, but context always gives the answer.

To Gentiles after yet, same fate (3N7).

It is only when the original covenant people (i.e. the seed of Abraham) come to a knowledge of the truth, that the covenant made to Abraham is fulfilled.  All other notions that it is by and for the adopted Gentiles is just notions of men.

Joseph Smith also spoke of this.  DC 45,  Luke 21.

Not to say that the church will be restored to earth again, for that will not happen, but the establishment of Zion will not come as we have convinced ourselves for decades past.

 Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

Numbers 24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people; come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

(to be continued)