Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/2 Nephi/Chapter 10
Jacob explains the Lord’s covenants...
(compare 2 Nephi, chapter 10)
The next day, Jacob continued speaking:
My brothers and sisters, today I will speak to you again about this righteous branch of Israel. The covenants the Lord made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are temporal, being fulfilled in the flesh.
I have seen a vision wherein I know that many of our offspring will die because of their unbelief. But in His mercy, God will bring His gospel to them again. Our offspring, in the latter days, will again be favored by accepting the gospel, which will give them a true knowledge of their Redeemer.
It is necessary for Christ to come among the Jews--those who are the more wicked part of the world, for no other nation on earth would. crucify their God. If mighty miracles were done among other nations, they would repent, knowing He is their God.
But because of priestcraft and wickedness in Jerusalem, the Jews will turn against and crucify Him.
For doing this, all types of destruction, famine, disease and bloodshed will come upon the house of Israel, and those not destroyed will be scattered among all nations.
The Lord God has said,
- "After the house of Israel believes in me—that I am Christ, then they will be restored to the lands of their inheritance.
- This is one of the conditions of the covenant that I made with their ancient forefathers. The house of Israel will be gathered from all over the earth after their long separation, and the Gentile nations will be great in my eyes, for they will help bring the Jews to their lands of their inheritance.”
Even Gentile kings and queens will nurture them. Because of this, the Lord's promises to the Gentiles are great! For God has promised,
“This land will be for your inheritance, and the Gentiles will also be blessed upon it. This will be a land of liberty to the Gentiles. They will not have kings to rule over them, for I, the Lord, will protect this land from all other nations. All who fight Zion will perish.
Those who raise up a king against me will perish, because I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be the Gentiles’ king, and a light to them forever, if they hear my words.
Because my covenants must be fulfilled--covenants that are fulfilled in the flesh, I must destroy the secret works of darkness, murder and wicked acts.
Because I must do this, all who fight Zion, whether they be Jews or Gentile, in bondage or free, men or women, will perish. Those who fight Zion are the most corrupt in all the earth, for those who are not with me are against me.
I will fulfill the promises I made to Israel's descendants while they yet live in the flesh.
To fulfill my covenants, I will afflict your descendants (Native Americans) at the hands of the Gentiles. But I will soften the Gentiles’ hearts, who will come to love and be like a father to them.
Then the Gentiles will be blessed and become part of the house of Israel.
I will consecrate this land as an inheritance to your descendants forever, and also to the righteous Gentiles, who will be counted with them."
God told me, Jacob, that this land is choice above all others, and that He will have all people who live upon this land worship Him.
And now, my brothers and sisters, God has been merciful to us by giving us this great knowledge of the future. So let's remember Him and put away our sins. Let's hold up our heads, for we're not far from God's love.
Our fathers were driven out of Jerusalem, the land of our inheritance, but we've been led to a better land across the sea.
The Lord's promises are great to those upon all continents.
Since Isaiah speaks of continents (isles), there must be more lands other than this inhabited by our brethren. This is true, because at different times the Lord has led away other tribes of Israel according to His desire.
The Lord remembers all whom He has led away, including us. So cheer up your hearts, and remember that you're free to act for yourselves. You may choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.
I advise each of you to give up your heart to God's will, not to the devil's will, nor your own.
Remember, after you've given up your heart to God, you must continue in His grace. If you do this until the end of your life, then through His grace you'll be saved.
May God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection. May He also raise you from spiritual death by the power of the atonement, that you may be received into His eternal kingdom and praise Him through divine grace. Amen.