This is the fifth of six posts answering a set of questions recommended by President Russell M. Nelson. So far, I have written about what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, and what it fulfills. Today, I will write about what it clarifies.
As I wrote yesterday, the Book of Mormon restores plain and precious truths which have been lost as the Bible was transmitted from one person to another over many centuries. Here are some concepts which are taught in the Bible and which are explained further in the Book of Mormon:
- The Bible tells the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve and connects it with the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Genesis 3, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). The Book of Mormon clarifies that to remain in the Garden of Eden was not a desirable state for Adam and Eve and that their transgression was part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for our happiness. “All things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things” (2 Nephi 2:22-25).
- The Bible explains that, because of Jesus Christ, we will all live after death and that our sins can be forgiven (John 11:23-25, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 5) . The Book of Mormon explains more clearly how the Atonement of Jesus Christ overcomes both physical and spiritual death. It also explains what we must do to receive a remission of our sins (2 Nephi 9:6-26, Alma 42).
- The Bible contains many prophecies about the scattering and gathering of Israel (Leviticus 26, Isaiah 11:12, Isaiah 54:7). The Book of Mormon clarifies what the gathering means and how we can participate in it (1 Nephi 22:7-12, 2 Nephi 30:1-8, 3 Nephi 21).
- The Bible teaches that baptism is essential for salvation and that Jesus Christ implemented the ordinance of the sacrament at the Last Supper (John 3:1-5, Matthew 26:26-29). The Book of Mormon provides further information about how baptisms and the sacrament should be performed (3 Nephi 11:21-26, Moroni 4, Moroni 5).
- The Bible discusses the role of priests, explains that they must be chosen by God, and affirms that they must be worthy to serve (Exodus 28:1-3, Hebrews 5:4, Malachi 3:3). The Book of Mormon teaches that priests were chosen before they were born and that, by magnifying their calling, they can become sanctified and enter the rest of the Lord (Alma 13).
Today, I will be grateful for the enhanced knowledge the Book of Mormon has given me about God’s plan for His children and about how I can appropriately worship Him and contribute to His work.
Paul, question regarding #3: 1 Nephi 22:7 ‘God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.’ Isn’t this referring to the colonization of America which scattered what was thought to be to be a remnant of the seed of Israel, but has since been shown that the the so called descendants of Lehi in the Americas were not of Israel- but of Asiatic descent? Most people in our daily contact are not of Jewish descent and the native Indians are not of Jewish descent- so how can we participate in the gathering of Israel?
Thanks for the question.
According to the Book of Mormon, God is gathering people who are willing to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, as did Jacob (Israel) anciently. If you focus on bloodlines, you’ll miss the main point. “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” wrote Paul (Romans 9:6).
Consider these two passages from the Book of Mormon: “As many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord” (2 Nephi 30:2). “The Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts,… may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 21:6).
President Russell M. Nelson said, “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.” (“Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional • June 3, 2018).
I hope that’s helpful.
Paul
Paul, when you say covenant relationship, It sounds like what you are referring to is temple covenant relationship or temple laws; that ‘we help to gather Israel anytime we do anything to help anyone (whether Jew or Gentile) take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving essential temple ordinances.’ You say according to the Book of Mormon, God is gathering people who are willing to enter into that covenant relationship- though the Book of Mormon says nothing about temple covenants, but that as many as repent are the covenant people of the Lord. Agreed?
But you have taken verse 6 out of context to arrive at this conclusion. The verses following Romans 9:6 explain why ‘they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.’ Go to verse 30 of the same chapter: ‘What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works fo the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.’
The point of Romans 9 is the same as it is throughout all the chapters of Romans-we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. And it is not faith + works. We know that even on our most righteous day, our righteousnesses are as filthy rags to God. God imputes righteousness. Paul makes no secret of it from the very beginning of Romans 1: 16-17. ‘The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.’ And he further states his case in Romans 3:21-22 ‘But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.’
The covenant relationship you speak of is by works of the law and it focuses on our performance instead of the finished work of Christ on the cross. ‘But God’s promise of inclusion is by faith and in fact, not by strapping yourself to a temple law or as Paul put it, ‘attaining to a law of righteousness.’ You have derived the opposite conclusion the Apostle Paul comes to. The Jews ‘going about to establish their own righteousness’ (in our case by temple laws) ‘have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, they being ignorant of God’s righteousness.’
‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. This was the problem the Galatians had and Paul comes down on them hard saying, ‘I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another.’
The new covenant is not something we accomplish, but something God accomplishes in us. That is the regeneration of the Holy Ghost, the anointing or the baptism with the Holy Ghost, and the assurance of our salvation to all those who first trusted in Christ. They are the body of Christ. They are those who attain to righteousness as Paul states in Romans 9:31. You cannot attain to righteousness in the sight of God by any other means. ‘For ye are saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lets any man should boast.’
You cannot bring about eternal life by pretended obedience to ordinance and righteousness in a temple. ‘It is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.’ I just want to bring the point home that you are not expressing biblical truth. You can believe what you want, but the Book of Mormon in no way clarifies the Bible. The Bible is the preserved word of God. But it will never be enough for so called prophets and people who won’t read it and believe it and glibly report ‘aren’t we glad the Book of Mormon clarifies the Bible.’
It sounds like several of my blog posts have caught your attention today and sparked a reaction. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts here and your understanding of the gospel. I am also grateful for your commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and your belief in Him. You and I agree on the following:
1. We are not saved by works. We are saved only by faith in Jesus Christ.
2. It is important for us to submit ourselves to “the righteousness of God” and not to seek to establish our own righteousness.
3. When the Holy Ghost is active in our lives, that gives us an assurance that we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ.
4. The Bible is the word of God, and we ought to really study it.
Surely you and I also disagree on some points. My only caution is this: Be careful attributing beliefs to other people, particularly in terms that they are unlikely to agree with. Show some grace to others, as Jesus has shown grace to all of us.
I hope those thoughts are helpful.