If The Gentiles Repent

This post is related to but not formatted like the other Book of Mormon Study Group posts.

It is directly related to Nephi's act of crying unto the Lord in behalf of his brothers Laman and Lemuel.

We see in Nephi's feelings and attitude what we must become if we are to be invited to participate in building a house to God and be invited to live in a city of peace.

Nephi is not only seeking to forgive but he is also seeking to cover or atone for his brother's failings.

A good sister in our study group is very kind to cut my hair and she blew me away with what she shared with me while cutting my hair.

Part of the blowing me away is due to the fact that it was a major call to repentance for me, which is a good thing.

She shared commentary found in the book Remembering the Covenant Vol. 2 concerning 2 Nephi 30:2.

In the newly completed scriptures it is NC 2 Nephi 12 par. 11

"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.  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."

I will try to stick to the commentary from the book which is found on denversnuffer.com under 2 Nephi 30:2 and in the book Come Let Us Adore Him.

To the extent that gentiles “will repent” they may become part of the Lord’s “covenant people.” They are not the remnant, but they may join in the covenant. If they do, then by virtue of the covenant they become “covenant people.”

What is required for the gentiles to repent?

What covenant must they enter into or receive so they may be numbered among the “covenant people?” Is membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the only thing needed to “repent” and become a “covenant people?” If not, then what else would be required?...

Well, all of this is of no import if the gentiles do not “repent.” Whenever we brush up against that subject we wind up engaged in discussions about justice, mercy, vengeance and restitution. I’ve written about this process in both The Second Comforter and Come, Let Us Adore Him. Briefly, here are some of the most important points:  To be forgiven we must forgive. Not just forgive, but plead for mercy for those who have offended us. The role of accusing is left to “the accuser of the brethren” or Satan. (Rev. 12: 10.) When we accuse others we interfere with their salvation. If we are the one who was offended, and we make no accusation against them, then we become their savior. Satan’s right to accuse is inferior to ours as victims of the offense. We suffer in the flesh the wrongs of others. If we make no claim for justice, surrender those and seek instead for mercy on behalf of others, then Satan’s accusations can have no claim upon them. We mimic Christ, follow His example, and in our own limited way also atone for the sins of others. Joseph Smith was trying to get us to understand this concept when he taught: “If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours—for charity covereth a multitude of sins.” (DHC. 4:445)

What is so important, in my opinion, by what is shared here is that our repentance is tied only and completely to our forgiveness of others and our desire in our own limited way to atone for others who have intentionally or unintentionally offended us in any way.

This is the only way we may be considered "covenant" people as I understand this.

I have explained this at length in what I’ve written in Come, Let Us Adore Him. Christ said this in His ministry repeatedly. He lived it.  He showed by His own example the way to obtain forgiveness for every wrong you have ever done. It is in the same way He went about atoning for sins. It is by suffering offenses and returning good. It is by forgiving those who despitefully use and abuse you. It is through loving those who are your enemies. It is by becoming sons and daughters of God. And it can be done in no other way. (Matt. 5: 38-48.) If you do not forgive others, you cannot be forgiven. (Matt. 6: 14-15.) This is why Christ, in teaching us to pray, told us we are only forgiven as we forgive others.  (Matt. 6: 12.) It is as we forgive that we obtain forgiveness.

The way is strait and narrow, and cannot permit you to pass through while carrying any burden of accusation, desire for revenge or even just complaint about others. When you lay down what you might justly claim against others and seek nothing for their offenses, then you are able to enter in. To be blessed, we must seek peace with those who would make war against us. (Matt. 5: 9.) When we judge all others with mercy, it is with mercy alone we will be judged. (Matt. 7: 2.)

For the most part, the gentiles will not repent. They will hold courts, use their time judging, exact conditions, set limits, and annotate their permanent records with notes showing what discipline a person has undergone. And happily employ control, compulsion and dominion over one another (D&C 121: 37) right up to the time when the trumpet sounds and it is everlastingly too late.  Others will justify this failure to forgive, shout praises to the abuse, and claim all compulsion and dominion is necessary to protect us from the evil. Even though our Master told us not to resist the evil, but forgive it. (Matt. 5: 39.)

For the most part, the gentiles will demand they be judged by a law they cannot satisfy.  Some few, however, will forgive and plead for the weaknesses and failings of others. They will forgive, and thereby be forgiven. They will obtain for themselves a judgment based only on mercy, for they have shown mercy to others. This atoning act of love and intercession will be the hallmark by which the children of God are identified in the Day of Judgment. (Matt. 5: 9.) Only the peacemakers can be trusted to live in peace with one another. All others are unfit for the presence of God.

This is beyond amazing to me.  If I desire to be forgiven of EVERYTHING!!! I have ever done all I must do is give up any and all claim to justice against anyone who may have offended me.

Holy Cow!!!  There are no words. Seriously!! Why wouldn't I do this??!!

The way is too narrow for me to pass if I hold onto even one just complaint against anyone.

If I would desire to live in a city of peace I must be a peacemaker.

This good sister in our group also sent me the following.

Denver referred to his discussion of this principle in Come Let Us Adore Him:

"We are all required to come to peace with our sins and with the offenses we have suffered.  To be fully redeemed, we must leave this life having peace through a clear conscience before God and all mankind.  This can only be obtained by forgiving others their trespasses."  (p. 225)

"There are many things men do that they lack the capacity to make amends.  The price they must pay for their own transgressions are paid by forgiving all others of their offenses."  (p. 226)

That great gulf I cannot bridge is bridged by my dropping of all my just claims upon justice for others.

"…forgiveness is the means by which the Lord enables men to take advantage of His 'preparations unto the children of men.'  (D&C 19:19)  To forgive is to atone."  (p. 227)

"The Father cannot give men what they ask of Him until they first forgive all offenses among one another."  (p. 227)

This is beyond importance!

If we are crying to the Father asking Him to allow us to build a house unto Him and asking Him to bring Zion, He cannot give these things until all offenses are forgiven among us.

"…All mankind must redeem themselves by permitting others to escape condemnation for the offenses they have committed against them.  In this way men are no longer their brother's accuser; and, the Accuser of Mankind is without means to keep men from redemption.  For justice cannot have hold on those who have claim on mercy.  Mercy comes to those who give mercy, and men are restored to that which they have become.  The merciful are entitled to mercy."  (p. 228)

We have the ability to be more powerful than the Adversary!!

"To enter into the kingdom of heaven, all men must lay down their sins.  But this they cannot do when they claim the right to restitution for any offense from their brother.  All claims must be set aside, the greater and more difficult being the righteous claim against another for their deliberate offense.  Yet, in asking for justice for yourself, you always require justice be answered, in turn, for all of your offenses…"  (pp. 228-229)

"Now I know these things to be true, and the Lord has permitted them to be made known to anyone who will believe so they may repent and forgive one another, and may, in turn, have claims on mercy for themselves.  It is certain Christ is able to heal us of any affliction which this life may visit upon any of us, but only if we will forgive one another and come to Him.  He can teach all how to forgive.  No matter how terrible the offense, He has the knowledge to lead us to peace…

"When men come to the Lord seeking forgiveness, He will prepare the means for each of them to obtain forgiveness.  The way will be opened for them to forgive so they, in turn, may be forgiven.  In this way all may come to know their Lord…

"Do not depart this life while still harboring resentment against any person.  It does not matter how just the claim may be, we must surrender our claims for justice to merit mercy.  Find a way to forgive all those who transgress against you before leaving mortality and, by showing mercy to them, you will find mercy for yourself."  (p. 230)

 "To obtain perfect charity…a man must make intercession for those who offend him…He wants us to go beyond merely forgiving others.  He wants us to become like Him and atone or cover the sins of others.  Through intercession on behalf of our enemies, we not only learn to understand Him, we also learn to be like Him.  This is what Christ did.  This is what Stephen did.  All those who have the hope of Christ within them will do likewise."  (p. 231)

"He admonished mankind to return love for hate.  It is not enough to refrain from retaliation.  He said to purge anger from our hearts.  He required us to forgive people quickly before they even ask to be forgiven.  He said men should not offer anything to God at an altar without first reconciling and forgiving all ill will toward their fellow man…

If the Lord sees fit in His mercy to offer another task for us to complete as a people, working together willingly, would the determination of whether our offered end product is acceptable to Him be judged by Him by looking at whether we have all forgiven all our ill will towards each other and not so much as to whether it is totally correct scripturally? 

"He requires us to be better than we think even possible.  He requires us to be perfect.  No matter how unlikely that may seem, He speaks with such authority about it that it inspires confidence in us to at least try to live His commandments…

"He told us not to judge others.  He told us not to correct others.  He said to be self-critical, remove our own faults, and be tolerant and forgiving of the faults of others."  (p. 271)

What if in all our communications and relationships with each other no one said to another anything that in any way reflected, No you are wrong, The scriptures say such and such and you are wrong and I am right?

What if we began all of our conversations together with the real feelings in our hearts and the statements from our lips, In my opinion, which may or may not be right, or My present understanding, because of such and such, or I believe right now that such and such?

Wouldn't that make us harmless to each other and invite others to share their opinions, understandings, and beliefs in safety; with the understanding that maybe I might be persuaded by what someone else has to say but even if I am not it is totally ok?

My present understanding of the above subject is that the Lord cares INFINITELY more about my ability to forgive, intercede for, and live in peace with others than being scripturally correct on any matter.

God can fix the scripturally correct part for me or anyone if I can live in peace.  This is my belief.

I am guilty of looking at what others presented in the effort assigned to us by God to come up with a Guide and Standard and "correcting" them.

I harbored feelings and isssued statements that, Such and such are not scriptural, Such and such is wrong, They need to be corrected!

My present understanding of the above topic is that IF I desire to repent as a gentile, IF I desire to be a "covenant" person, the only path for me is to forgive all offenses against me real or percieved (The percieved offenses constitute the majority of offenses against me. They are only in my mind they are not real.) and I must seek to intercede or plead for mercy for anyone I might have a just claim against.  I must be at peace with the opinions, beliefs and understandings of all those around me.

I must mimic Christ who I hope to have as my Savior.

Our cries to God for Him to allow us to build Him a house and bring a city of peace will not be answered until we forgive all offenses among one another.

I really am unable to type how powerful an impact what this good sister shared with me had upon me.

She very much blew me away and I thank her for it.

Please, I would invite and plead with everyone to read the blogpost at denversnuffer.com and read the discussions in Come Let Us Adore Him and also in The Second Comforter, Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil.

What is shared here is so inadequate but it reflects my present opinion, understanding and belief.