The Fulness of the Gospel
P A R T - II:
Rejecting the Fulness
by Joseph Warren Grammer
P A R T - II:
Rejecting the Fulness
by Joseph Warren Grammer
As stated previously, the fulness of the gospel is that great and precious promise whereby we can partake of the divine nature of Christ by seeking His face and being in His presence. (2 Pet. 1:4; D&C 93:1.) It is that privilege and promise whereby the veil will be rent so we can see and know Him. (D&C 67:10.) It is to enter into His rest and partake of the fulness of His glory. (D&C 84:24.) And we have the command to “Seek the face of the Lord always.” (D&C 101:38.) The fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is nothing more nor less than the fullness of the presence of Jesus Christ and that of the Father.
Beware of False Philosophies
There are those that would try to say that it isn’t necessary to receive the fulness of the Lord in this life because it can be achieved in the next.
We know what happened to the children of Israel because they hardened their hearts and wouldn’t repent. (D&C 84:23-24.) They were basically saying to Moses, “You go speak to God and come back and tell us what He says. We have you, a prophet, and that is good enough for us. We don’t need to see the Lord and talk to Him face to face, so we don’t need to be too serious about sanctifying ourselves at this time. Besides, we have a lot going for us now and we can’t afford to encourage criticism from those whom we love, work and associate. God certainly understands.”
This philosophy is a false philosophy. It is simply a lie. This lie tries to encourage us not to take seriously the immediate necessity of wholehearted repentance. Consequently, today, many are not truly trying to repent but are taking the same stance the children of Israel took, that of not attempting to sanctify themselves. That is one reasons many of them want people to believe that the great “privilege, and a promise” is only for the next life and not for this one. Of course they might concede it is possible for a true prophet or a real apostle to have the promise, but not the rest of them. Why, if it was for everyone, they might have to make some changes, and that would be very inconvenient. And in the light of many comments made of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the issue of the current General Authorities having received the Fullness of the Gospel is questionable.
Now I realize I might sound a little cynical here, but it appears to me that some might feel it’s more comfortable if they believe in having a Moses come down from the mountain and give them the word instead of their struggling to climb that mountain and personally obtaining the word for themselves—something that is not only their privilege, responsibility and commission—but a commandment.
No one else can save us but ourselves, although someone may be sent with priesthood to teach and point the way. The Church and priesthood leaders are here to teach us about Christ. They are to point the way to Him without replacing His fulness or standing in the way of our receiving that fulness. To believe otherwise is to place the power of man before God’s power to save. That is not the gospel of Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote about this false philosophy and warned that no one was to change the teachings of the gospel or they would be cursed. To the Galatians he wrote: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preach unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8-9.) As we study the subject of the fulness, we can readily see why those who preach a false concept about it will be accursed. It will condemn their own souls.
There is a name for holding back the truth, it is called “purloining.” In a letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul said, “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus 2:10.) The original Greek word for purloining is nosphizomai, (nos-fid’-zom-ahee). It means clandestinely, to sequestrate for oneself, embezzle, or keep back.
Why would anyone want to hold back the truth; are they ashamed of the fulness of the gospel? Many of us know what Paul said to the Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth ...” (Rom. 1:16.) If any are ashamed of the doctrine of the fulness, then it would appears they could be ashamed of Christ, and must feel embarrassed to be called a Christian.
We could ask ourselves, “Am I ashamed of the gospel, or am I fearless in my faith?” As the Sadducees tried to silence Peter and John from testifying of the risen Christ we learn that,
13. ... when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
18. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:13-20.)
We know that Paul was not ashamed or timid, but boldly proclaimed to the Thessalonians, “But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated ... we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God ...” (1 Thes. 2:2.)
The false and sometimes cowardly idea that this privilege and a promise is only for the next life, and not this one, is very plainly mentioned in D&C 76. There we learn who is to inherit the celestial kingdom and who will receive a terrestrial world. Upon reading verse 51 we learn that those who receive the testimony of Jesus will be heirs of the Celestial Kingdom. From verse 71 we also learn that they are those who have received the fulness of the Father. Let’s read a few verses in this section and learn who will inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom. We will find that some of them are those who do not receive His Fulness.
71. And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.
72. Behold, these are they who died without law;
73. And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
74. Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.
77. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.
78. Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.
79. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.
80. And now is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit. (D&C 76:71-80.)
We find that verse 76 teaches that it’s possible to receive of the glory of Christ, but not of His fulness. Without this fulness we will only be an heir of the terrestrial world.
Verse 74 tells us that if we believe we don’t have to receive a testimony of Jesus in this life, but wait until the next to receive it, we will not receive the Celestial Kingdom.
It is explained in verse 79 that those who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus will not be worthy of the celestial but will only receive the glory of the terrestrial. From this we learn that we must receive a testimony of Jesus. And not only that, we must be valiant in expressing that testimony if we expect to receive the glory of the celestial world.
The Son is revealed by way of the Holy Ghost, and the Father is revealed by way of the Son. Therefore, if we are not born again by fire and the Holy Ghost, we will not receive the fulness of the Son. And if we do not receive the fulness of the Son, we will never behold the Father’s fulness.
Apparently, according to verse 77, it is possible to receive the Son and reject the Father. It states that those “who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father” will inherit a terrestrial world. Consequently, without the fulness of the Father and the Son, we will only be worthy of a terrestrial glory at best.
The Devil Cheateth Souls
We will read something many of us have often read. Although the whole chapter is extremely important, we will only quote those verses which are to be emphasize:
8. And there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his word, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
14. ... they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
21. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
24. Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
26. Yea, WO be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
30. For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they will learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
31. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See 2 Ne. 28.)
The reason we bother to review so much of 2 Nephi 28 is because I want to emphasize certain points. There are many people who believe that this chapter is speaking only to nonmembers of the LDS Church in these last days. That is not so. The chapter has reference to members of the LDS Church and their “little” sins.
There may be times we feel these little sins are okay because they are not the “big” ones like murder, adultery, bank robbery, and so forth. However, when we do believe this way, we cheat ourselves by denying the Lord’s privilege and a promise, which He so freely offers to those who truly seek Him. It is imperative that we get rid of these sins, even the smallest, so that we can receive the great endowment of His presence.
President Joseph Fielding Smith made an interesting statement on this subject. In a Melchizedek Priesthood manual, he says, “We have a great many members of this Church who have never reached a manifestation through the Holy Ghost. Why? Because they have not made their lives conform to the truth.” (Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guide 2, p. 57; Church News, 4 November 1961, p. 14.)
This is an interesting thing for an apostle to say. Why did he say that “many members of this Church ... have never [had] a manifestation through the Holy Ghost”? Because they would not “conform to the truth.” About this conformity, his father, President Joseph F. Smith, once taught,
“Obedience is a requirement of heaven, and is therefore a principle of the gospel. Are all required to be obedient? Yes, all. What, against their will? Oh, no, not by any means. There is no power given to man, nor means lawful, to be used to compel men to obey the will of God, against their wish, except persuasion and good advice, but there is a penalty attached to disobedience, which all must suffer who will not obey the obvious truths or laws of heaven...
“Is it a difficult task to obey the gospel? No. It is an easy matter to those who possess the spirit of it.... To such as are untrue to their covenants it may be said, by and by, ‘Depart from me!’ In vain will they plead their former good works and faith. Why? Because the race is not to the swift nor the battle always to the strong, but to him that endures faithful to the end ... It is a continual labor, but the strength of the righteous will be sufficient for their day.” (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 105-106.)
Condemnation of the Church In the Last Days
According to President Ezra Taft Benson, revered as prophet of God by Latter-day Saints, the Church is still under condemnation. (General Conference, October 1988.) He quoted part of D&C 84 and emphasized the reason for this condemnation: “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.” The verses in reference are as follows:
54. And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
55. Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—
58. That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. (D&C 84:54-58.)
The lack of remembering the Book of Mormon is NOT the only reason for the Church to be under condemnation, however. We are not only to “remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon,” but we are to also “remember ... the former commandments.” It seems obvious that, to help the Church get out from under His condemnation, we must remember the Book of Mormon. But, is that enough? No, it is not. We must also remember the former commandments.
Now, what are the former commandments that we are not remembering? If we do not know them, can we remember them and help the Church get out from under this condemnation? Not really. Therefore, a determination must be made as to what those former commandments are.
Why Condemnation?
Earlier we quoted Alma, who said, “Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.” (Alma 12:13.) Why is there a condemnation? Because of hearts that are hardened.
When we consider ancient Israel, we see that they rejected God in favor of following a man. God wanted Moses to prepare, or sanctify, the people that they might behold the Lord’s face and receive the “fulness of his glory.” The people rejected that offer, preferring to continue where they were more comfortable. They wanted to follow the arm of flesh which was Moses himself. We learned that they were cursed with a lesser gospel, which was the preparatory gospel, as Section 84 so aptly points out.
Salvation is a very personal thing because our relationship with the Lord IS very personal. It is something that only we are responsible for. We are taught that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel (D&C 20:9; 27:5; 42:12; JSH 1:34), that is, seeking the face of the Lord and receiving of His fulness. The Book of Mormon, consequently, also contains the former commandments. Treating the Book of Mormon lightly is part of the condemnation, as President Benson so aptly pointed out. By giving only a little thought to the matter, we can easily see what part of the Book of Mormon we have treated lightly.
Of course, there are two other “former commandments” we have not considered in this study, and they are the first and second greatest commandments, which are: loving the Lord God with all our hearts, souls, strength and minds, and our neighbors as ourselves. (Matt. 22:36-39; Luke 10:27.) These commandments are covered in my books, “Come Unto Me”, and Even As I Am, so they will not be discussed here except for the following.
Section 59, of the Doctrine and Covenants, was also given to the saints before condemnation was pronounced in September 1832. It was given on August 7, 1831, the year before condemnation was announced. In that section we read:
5. Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
6. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
7. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
8. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. (D&C 59:5-8.)
The Lord did not just leave it to the Bible to command the saints in the last days to live the first and second of the greatest commandments, He reiterated them in modern revelation. Not only that, but He added to those commandments. We are not only to love God with all we have, but we are to serve Him in the name of Jesus Christ. We are not only to love others as ourselves, but we are not to hurt or take advantage of them in any way. We are further commanded to “thank” the Lord in ALL things, and we are to offer God a righteous sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Did the early saints of this dispensation live up to these commandments and others, or did they neglect them as a whole? With a little study in Church history we can learn that it was the latter. And so it still is today according to President Benson, which statement no succeeding President of the Church has rescinded. The Book of Mormon taught these things also. It should be obvious that if we are not living the first and second of the greatest commandments, we will not be worthy to seek the fulness of His presence. And in not seeking that fulness, we are neglecting that commandment also.
There is a simple way to tell if we have neglected the commandment to seek the Lord’s fulness. Recall Enos who had his guilt swept away and was made whole through his faith in Christ. After that experience Enos said, “I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren.” (See Enos 1-12.) Likewise with Jacob, that after he had “obtained a hope in Christ” (Jacob 2:19) his heart went out to his people. Down through history, such prophets as Enoch, Moses, Lehi, Alma, Moroni, and Peter all, after they tasted of the goodness of God’s fulness and glory, desired others to receive the same. They went out and preached that fullness, and gave their lives to that task.
We can know that the fulness of the gospel is not with us today simply because the members of the church are not being taught how to receive it. If our church leaders are what they allow church members to continue believing about them, that they have received that fullness, then their joy would be so great that they would be trying to teach all members how to receive the same.
Oh, there are those who make excuses for this discrepancy, saying that such an experience is too sacred of a thing to be talked about. But that’s a bunch of hogwash. It wasn’t too sacred for Nephi, James, John, Paul, or Joseph Smith and the like. It wasn’t too sacred for them, why is it all of a sudden too sacred now? It isn’t! It’s just that they have not experienced the fullness, therefore, they cannot teach others how to receive that great blessing.
Concerning this, I will share a story that a Seminary and Institute Director (one not given to making up stories) shared with me not too many years ago. I will not mention all the names for reasons that should be obvious to the reader, but that does not lesson the truthfulness of his remarks which give a valid indication of where we are today in the church concerning this subject.
This Institute Director friend, and my good wife and I, were discussing the subject of one having his “calling and election made sure,” which calling and election indicates that the recipient has also experienced the fullness. During our discussion, my friend mentioned that his Supervisor, told him that during a telephone conversation with President Hinckley, that Hinckley asked his Supervisor what he knew about the “calling and election make sure.”
My friend said that his Supervisor told President Hinckley: “Only what I read about it.”
Whereupon, President Hinckley told my friend’s Supervisor that, “That’s all I know about it too.”
Now what does this tell us. It tells us that if all President Hinckley knows about the calling and election is from what he reads, then it ought to be an indication that he has NOT received that great promise, which includes the fullness. And if he has not received the true fullness of the gospel, then no wonder it isn’t being preached and taught to the members as it was in ancient times, or even during the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Brethren of the church cannot preach it, simply because they have neglected it.
This knowledge helps explain a much overlooked scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants. According to D&C 112:24-26, when the Lord sends His judgments down to cleanse the earth before His coming in glory, He said His judgments will start with His House: “And upon my house shall it begin ... saith the Lord” (v. 25). Not only that, but it will start in His house AMONG those who PROFESS to know Him, but DO NOT: “FIRST among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me ...” (v. 26).
Perhaps all of this helps us glean an understanding from the words of Isaiah, and the other prophets, which the Lord has commanded us to search diligently (3 Ne. 23:1-3, 5). Speaking prophetically to latter-day Ephraim, of which we are, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel said to us: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider” (Isa. 1:3); “O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (3:12); “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! ... they have cast away the law of the Lord of host, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (5:20-24); “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim ... they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment” [drunk with wine and strong drink = absorbed with the prosperity and praise of Babylon.] (28:1-8); “The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me” (Jer. 2:8); “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets ... they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.... in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. ... I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. ... Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD” (Ch. 23); “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD.... Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?” (Ezek. 13); “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things ... And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter [telling untruths], seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken” (Ch. 22).
By going back in Church history, and through the earlier sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, we find that the Lord gave modern Israel the same opportunity He gave ancient Israel, that is, to repent, sanctify themselves, redeem Zion, and receive the fulness and the glory of His presence. But did the early saints do this? Did they sanctify themselves? Did they redeem Zion? Did they love God with all they had, and their neighbor as themselves? And have they all received a fulness of His glory, entering into His rest? No, they have not! Hence, there is still a condemnation as in ancient times. When the cleansing comes, and things are set in order, it will start with the “drunkards of Ephraim,” those fallen and prideful shepherds who should have been leading the sheep on the Lord’s path, but were found wanting.
The Gentiles of the Book of Mormon
The fulness of the gospel was to come to the gentiles (1 Ne. 15:13) through the Prophet Joseph Smith (D&C 35:17). But if the gentiles reject the fulness, it will be taken from them. (3 Ne. 16:10; D&C 14:10.) Let’s touch on this aspect of the fullness as it pertains to the gentiles.
Who was it that brought forth the Book of Mormon which contains the fulness of the gospel? It came through the Prophet Joseph Smith, a gentile that had the blood of Israel running through his veins. There were eleven witnesses that could attest to the divinity of the work and, eventually, most of the membership of the Church could and would bear witness to the divinity of that work. For the most part, these members are of a gentile culture, a culture carried over from the old Roman Empire.
The gentiles, as they are mentioned in the Book of Mormon are, in reality, the latter-day members of the Church of Jesus Christ. They have the blood of Israel and have, for many generations, been taught and reared in a gentile society and nurtured in a gentile culture. The title page of the Book of Mormon points out the fact that the Book of Mormon was to come by way of the gentile. It says that the Book of Mormon was, “To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.” (Title page of the Book of Mormon.)
The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us that the Book of Mormon “contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.” (D&C 20:9). From Third Nephi we read:
1. And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place—that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion;
2. And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;
5. Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;
6. For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel. (3 Ne. 21:1-2, 5-6.)
Here again we find that the Book of Mormon was to come forth from the gentiles unto the seed of the ancient inhabitants of this, the promised land. Being considered some of the gentiles, we are among those who are to take the Book of Mormon to the seed of Joseph, the native American Indians, or the Lamanites as Latter-day Saints call them. Verse 6 notes that we gentiles may be numbered among the House of Israel if we repent and are baptized. God has included the believing gentiles along with that of the believing Jews, and both groups share equally in the blessings of Israel when they accept and obey the ordinances of the Gospel of Christ.
Considering 3 Nephi 21:2, it will be noted that the Lord said, “... for verily I say unto you that when these thing which I declare unto you, and which I SHALL DECLARE UNTO YOU HEREAFTER of MYSELF ...” He was saying He will AGAIN, personally, declare the gospel unto them in the future—not through one of His servants. If so, He could just as easily have said so as He has done at other times. (D&C 1:38, 43:25; Moses 6:30.) Though there was a slight attempt to convert the American Indian during the time of Joseph Smith, they still have not received the fulness. And it is the Lord Himself that will declare it unto them AGAIN, as He said in this verse.
Condemnation Upon the Gentiles
If we, the gentiles, reject the fulness of the gospel, even the fulness of the Lord Jesus Christ, what shall be the consequence? The Lord lets us know what WILL happen, for He said,
10. And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day WHEN the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
11. And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
12. And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.
13. But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.
14. And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father. (3 Ne. 16:10-14.)
We often assume that the gentiles mentioned in 3 Nephi 16:10, those who sin against the gospel, are those who reject the message delivered by LDS missionaries. But how can one sin against the “fulness” if he doesn’t have it in the first place? Only those that have the fulness can sin against it. This seems to be what happened to the Church of Christ after the Savior established it among the Nephites. We read in 4 Nephi 1:27, “... yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel ... ” It happened then among the Nephites, and it was to happen in the future among the gentiles. In verse ten the Savior said “WHEN the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel,” not IF they shall sin against His gospel—the word “when” being prophetic. The respected Hugh Nibley clearly taught that the LDS people do not have the Fullness of the Gospel any more. Commenting on 3 Nephi 16, he said,
“At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel [when they go bad, after receiving it; notice they’ve received the gospel now, but if they sin against it, here’s the description of the Gentiles today] and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations [we’re talking about one nation, those of the Promised Land, of course] and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and secret abominations [all these things, then] ‘I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.’ Does that mean we don't have the gospel anymore? No. NOTICE THE EMPHASIS HERE IS ON THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL. DO WE HAVE THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL NOW? NO, WE DON'T. WE ONLY HAVE PARTS OF IT.” (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 3, pp. 348-49.)
In reference to the last days, verse ten of 3 Nephi 16 says, “... At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel ... behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.” Also, what did the Lord say in D&C 45: “And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a LIGHT shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the FULNESS of my gospel; But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (D&C 45:28-30.)
The times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled when the Lord brings the fulness of the gospel from among them. We are the Gentiles, and we, as a people, have rejected the light. We know that light to be Jesus the Christ. He is the light of every man that cometh into the world, and that shineth in a dark place, but the light was comprehended not, nor was it received by His own. (See John 1:1-11.) That Light is Jesus Christ. That Light is the fulness. But we, as a people, comprehend it not, nor do we received it. The early Saints rejected the light, and it appears that the Latter-day Saints have also.
Let’s read what the resurrected Lord had to say about us in the twentieth and twenty-first chapters of 3 Nephi:
15. And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—
16. Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (3 Ne. 20:15-16.)
11. Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.
12. And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (3 Ne. 21:11-12.)
It is easy to learn from these scriptures that if the gentiles sin against the gospel and reject the fulness of it, the Father will take that fulness from them. It appears that, according to many of these verses, if the gentiles do not repent, then Jacob (the Lamanites) will go through them and tread them down. There are further warnings to the gentiles, as can be found in 3 Nephi 29 and 30, and in Mormon 5 and 8. From such references, it appears that the Lord will allow many Latter-day saints to be smitten because of their rebellion against the fulness of the gospel.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, as an apostle, and before he was president of the Church, made a very startling statement in the Church News many years ago. In The Deseret News, dated Saturday, October 17, 1936, President Smith preceded the statement by first quoting from Isaiah 24:3-6, which reads as follows:
3. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.
4. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
5. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isa. 24:3-6.)
After quoting from these verses, President Smith wrote the following statement:
“Are we not too much inclined to blame the generations that are past for the breaking of the new and everlasting covenant, and to think it is because of the great apostasy which followed the ministry of the Apostles in primitive times, that these troubles are coming upon the earth? Perhaps we should wake up to the realization that it is because of the breaking of the covenants, especially the new and everlasting covenant, which is the fulness of the Gospel as it has been revealed, that the world is to be consumed by fire and few men left. Since this punishment is to come at the time of the cleansing of the earth when Christ comes again, should not Latter-day Saints take heed unto themselves? WE have been given the new and everlasting covenant, and many among us have broken it, and many are now breaking it; therefore all who are guilty of the offense will aid in bringing to pass this destruction in which they will find themselves swept from the earth when the great and dreadful day of the Lord shall come.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Deseret News, Saturday, October 17, 1936, page 7.)
After considering the above, is there any wonder that God will perform His “strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act,” and have to send the “One Mighty and Strong,” the “One Like Unto Moses,” the “Davidic Servant,” and who know who else, to set things in order? (D&C 85:7; Isa. 28:1-21.) However, If the gentiles repent and accept the fulness, they will be numbered with the house of Israel.
3 Nephi 16:13 states that if we, the gentiles, will repent and “return” unto Him, we shall be numbered among His people. Our responsibility, then, is to repent and receive the fulness of the gospel so we may be numbered among the house of Israel. By so doing, we will help the Church come out from under its condemnation.
The fulness of the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph. Will we seek the fulness of the gospel, or expect it to seek us?
Beware of False Philosophies
There are those that would try to say that it isn’t necessary to receive the fulness of the Lord in this life because it can be achieved in the next.
We know what happened to the children of Israel because they hardened their hearts and wouldn’t repent. (D&C 84:23-24.) They were basically saying to Moses, “You go speak to God and come back and tell us what He says. We have you, a prophet, and that is good enough for us. We don’t need to see the Lord and talk to Him face to face, so we don’t need to be too serious about sanctifying ourselves at this time. Besides, we have a lot going for us now and we can’t afford to encourage criticism from those whom we love, work and associate. God certainly understands.”
This philosophy is a false philosophy. It is simply a lie. This lie tries to encourage us not to take seriously the immediate necessity of wholehearted repentance. Consequently, today, many are not truly trying to repent but are taking the same stance the children of Israel took, that of not attempting to sanctify themselves. That is one reasons many of them want people to believe that the great “privilege, and a promise” is only for the next life and not for this one. Of course they might concede it is possible for a true prophet or a real apostle to have the promise, but not the rest of them. Why, if it was for everyone, they might have to make some changes, and that would be very inconvenient. And in the light of many comments made of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the issue of the current General Authorities having received the Fullness of the Gospel is questionable.
Now I realize I might sound a little cynical here, but it appears to me that some might feel it’s more comfortable if they believe in having a Moses come down from the mountain and give them the word instead of their struggling to climb that mountain and personally obtaining the word for themselves—something that is not only their privilege, responsibility and commission—but a commandment.
No one else can save us but ourselves, although someone may be sent with priesthood to teach and point the way. The Church and priesthood leaders are here to teach us about Christ. They are to point the way to Him without replacing His fulness or standing in the way of our receiving that fulness. To believe otherwise is to place the power of man before God’s power to save. That is not the gospel of Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote about this false philosophy and warned that no one was to change the teachings of the gospel or they would be cursed. To the Galatians he wrote: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preach unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8-9.) As we study the subject of the fulness, we can readily see why those who preach a false concept about it will be accursed. It will condemn their own souls.
There is a name for holding back the truth, it is called “purloining.” In a letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul said, “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus 2:10.) The original Greek word for purloining is nosphizomai, (nos-fid’-zom-ahee). It means clandestinely, to sequestrate for oneself, embezzle, or keep back.
Why would anyone want to hold back the truth; are they ashamed of the fulness of the gospel? Many of us know what Paul said to the Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth ...” (Rom. 1:16.) If any are ashamed of the doctrine of the fulness, then it would appears they could be ashamed of Christ, and must feel embarrassed to be called a Christian.
We could ask ourselves, “Am I ashamed of the gospel, or am I fearless in my faith?” As the Sadducees tried to silence Peter and John from testifying of the risen Christ we learn that,
13. ... when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
18. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:13-20.)
We know that Paul was not ashamed or timid, but boldly proclaimed to the Thessalonians, “But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated ... we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God ...” (1 Thes. 2:2.)
The false and sometimes cowardly idea that this privilege and a promise is only for the next life, and not this one, is very plainly mentioned in D&C 76. There we learn who is to inherit the celestial kingdom and who will receive a terrestrial world. Upon reading verse 51 we learn that those who receive the testimony of Jesus will be heirs of the Celestial Kingdom. From verse 71 we also learn that they are those who have received the fulness of the Father. Let’s read a few verses in this section and learn who will inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom. We will find that some of them are those who do not receive His Fulness.
71. And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.
72. Behold, these are they who died without law;
73. And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
74. Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.
77. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.
78. Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.
79. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.
80. And now is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit. (D&C 76:71-80.)
We find that verse 76 teaches that it’s possible to receive of the glory of Christ, but not of His fulness. Without this fulness we will only be an heir of the terrestrial world.
Verse 74 tells us that if we believe we don’t have to receive a testimony of Jesus in this life, but wait until the next to receive it, we will not receive the Celestial Kingdom.
It is explained in verse 79 that those who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus will not be worthy of the celestial but will only receive the glory of the terrestrial. From this we learn that we must receive a testimony of Jesus. And not only that, we must be valiant in expressing that testimony if we expect to receive the glory of the celestial world.
The Son is revealed by way of the Holy Ghost, and the Father is revealed by way of the Son. Therefore, if we are not born again by fire and the Holy Ghost, we will not receive the fulness of the Son. And if we do not receive the fulness of the Son, we will never behold the Father’s fulness.
Apparently, according to verse 77, it is possible to receive the Son and reject the Father. It states that those “who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father” will inherit a terrestrial world. Consequently, without the fulness of the Father and the Son, we will only be worthy of a terrestrial glory at best.
The Devil Cheateth Souls
We will read something many of us have often read. Although the whole chapter is extremely important, we will only quote those verses which are to be emphasize:
8. And there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his word, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
14. ... they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
21. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
24. Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
26. Yea, WO be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
30. For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they will learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
31. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See 2 Ne. 28.)
The reason we bother to review so much of 2 Nephi 28 is because I want to emphasize certain points. There are many people who believe that this chapter is speaking only to nonmembers of the LDS Church in these last days. That is not so. The chapter has reference to members of the LDS Church and their “little” sins.
There may be times we feel these little sins are okay because they are not the “big” ones like murder, adultery, bank robbery, and so forth. However, when we do believe this way, we cheat ourselves by denying the Lord’s privilege and a promise, which He so freely offers to those who truly seek Him. It is imperative that we get rid of these sins, even the smallest, so that we can receive the great endowment of His presence.
President Joseph Fielding Smith made an interesting statement on this subject. In a Melchizedek Priesthood manual, he says, “We have a great many members of this Church who have never reached a manifestation through the Holy Ghost. Why? Because they have not made their lives conform to the truth.” (Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guide 2, p. 57; Church News, 4 November 1961, p. 14.)
This is an interesting thing for an apostle to say. Why did he say that “many members of this Church ... have never [had] a manifestation through the Holy Ghost”? Because they would not “conform to the truth.” About this conformity, his father, President Joseph F. Smith, once taught,
“Obedience is a requirement of heaven, and is therefore a principle of the gospel. Are all required to be obedient? Yes, all. What, against their will? Oh, no, not by any means. There is no power given to man, nor means lawful, to be used to compel men to obey the will of God, against their wish, except persuasion and good advice, but there is a penalty attached to disobedience, which all must suffer who will not obey the obvious truths or laws of heaven...
“Is it a difficult task to obey the gospel? No. It is an easy matter to those who possess the spirit of it.... To such as are untrue to their covenants it may be said, by and by, ‘Depart from me!’ In vain will they plead their former good works and faith. Why? Because the race is not to the swift nor the battle always to the strong, but to him that endures faithful to the end ... It is a continual labor, but the strength of the righteous will be sufficient for their day.” (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 105-106.)
Condemnation of the Church In the Last Days
According to President Ezra Taft Benson, revered as prophet of God by Latter-day Saints, the Church is still under condemnation. (General Conference, October 1988.) He quoted part of D&C 84 and emphasized the reason for this condemnation: “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.” The verses in reference are as follows:
54. And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
55. Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—
58. That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. (D&C 84:54-58.)
The lack of remembering the Book of Mormon is NOT the only reason for the Church to be under condemnation, however. We are not only to “remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon,” but we are to also “remember ... the former commandments.” It seems obvious that, to help the Church get out from under His condemnation, we must remember the Book of Mormon. But, is that enough? No, it is not. We must also remember the former commandments.
Now, what are the former commandments that we are not remembering? If we do not know them, can we remember them and help the Church get out from under this condemnation? Not really. Therefore, a determination must be made as to what those former commandments are.
Why Condemnation?
Earlier we quoted Alma, who said, “Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.” (Alma 12:13.) Why is there a condemnation? Because of hearts that are hardened.
When we consider ancient Israel, we see that they rejected God in favor of following a man. God wanted Moses to prepare, or sanctify, the people that they might behold the Lord’s face and receive the “fulness of his glory.” The people rejected that offer, preferring to continue where they were more comfortable. They wanted to follow the arm of flesh which was Moses himself. We learned that they were cursed with a lesser gospel, which was the preparatory gospel, as Section 84 so aptly points out.
Salvation is a very personal thing because our relationship with the Lord IS very personal. It is something that only we are responsible for. We are taught that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel (D&C 20:9; 27:5; 42:12; JSH 1:34), that is, seeking the face of the Lord and receiving of His fulness. The Book of Mormon, consequently, also contains the former commandments. Treating the Book of Mormon lightly is part of the condemnation, as President Benson so aptly pointed out. By giving only a little thought to the matter, we can easily see what part of the Book of Mormon we have treated lightly.
Of course, there are two other “former commandments” we have not considered in this study, and they are the first and second greatest commandments, which are: loving the Lord God with all our hearts, souls, strength and minds, and our neighbors as ourselves. (Matt. 22:36-39; Luke 10:27.) These commandments are covered in my books, “Come Unto Me”, and Even As I Am, so they will not be discussed here except for the following.
Section 59, of the Doctrine and Covenants, was also given to the saints before condemnation was pronounced in September 1832. It was given on August 7, 1831, the year before condemnation was announced. In that section we read:
5. Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
6. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
7. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
8. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. (D&C 59:5-8.)
The Lord did not just leave it to the Bible to command the saints in the last days to live the first and second of the greatest commandments, He reiterated them in modern revelation. Not only that, but He added to those commandments. We are not only to love God with all we have, but we are to serve Him in the name of Jesus Christ. We are not only to love others as ourselves, but we are not to hurt or take advantage of them in any way. We are further commanded to “thank” the Lord in ALL things, and we are to offer God a righteous sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Did the early saints of this dispensation live up to these commandments and others, or did they neglect them as a whole? With a little study in Church history we can learn that it was the latter. And so it still is today according to President Benson, which statement no succeeding President of the Church has rescinded. The Book of Mormon taught these things also. It should be obvious that if we are not living the first and second of the greatest commandments, we will not be worthy to seek the fulness of His presence. And in not seeking that fulness, we are neglecting that commandment also.
There is a simple way to tell if we have neglected the commandment to seek the Lord’s fulness. Recall Enos who had his guilt swept away and was made whole through his faith in Christ. After that experience Enos said, “I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren.” (See Enos 1-12.) Likewise with Jacob, that after he had “obtained a hope in Christ” (Jacob 2:19) his heart went out to his people. Down through history, such prophets as Enoch, Moses, Lehi, Alma, Moroni, and Peter all, after they tasted of the goodness of God’s fulness and glory, desired others to receive the same. They went out and preached that fullness, and gave their lives to that task.
We can know that the fulness of the gospel is not with us today simply because the members of the church are not being taught how to receive it. If our church leaders are what they allow church members to continue believing about them, that they have received that fullness, then their joy would be so great that they would be trying to teach all members how to receive the same.
Oh, there are those who make excuses for this discrepancy, saying that such an experience is too sacred of a thing to be talked about. But that’s a bunch of hogwash. It wasn’t too sacred for Nephi, James, John, Paul, or Joseph Smith and the like. It wasn’t too sacred for them, why is it all of a sudden too sacred now? It isn’t! It’s just that they have not experienced the fullness, therefore, they cannot teach others how to receive that great blessing.
Concerning this, I will share a story that a Seminary and Institute Director (one not given to making up stories) shared with me not too many years ago. I will not mention all the names for reasons that should be obvious to the reader, but that does not lesson the truthfulness of his remarks which give a valid indication of where we are today in the church concerning this subject.
This Institute Director friend, and my good wife and I, were discussing the subject of one having his “calling and election made sure,” which calling and election indicates that the recipient has also experienced the fullness. During our discussion, my friend mentioned that his Supervisor, told him that during a telephone conversation with President Hinckley, that Hinckley asked his Supervisor what he knew about the “calling and election make sure.”
My friend said that his Supervisor told President Hinckley: “Only what I read about it.”
Whereupon, President Hinckley told my friend’s Supervisor that, “That’s all I know about it too.”
Now what does this tell us. It tells us that if all President Hinckley knows about the calling and election is from what he reads, then it ought to be an indication that he has NOT received that great promise, which includes the fullness. And if he has not received the true fullness of the gospel, then no wonder it isn’t being preached and taught to the members as it was in ancient times, or even during the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Brethren of the church cannot preach it, simply because they have neglected it.
This knowledge helps explain a much overlooked scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants. According to D&C 112:24-26, when the Lord sends His judgments down to cleanse the earth before His coming in glory, He said His judgments will start with His House: “And upon my house shall it begin ... saith the Lord” (v. 25). Not only that, but it will start in His house AMONG those who PROFESS to know Him, but DO NOT: “FIRST among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me ...” (v. 26).
Perhaps all of this helps us glean an understanding from the words of Isaiah, and the other prophets, which the Lord has commanded us to search diligently (3 Ne. 23:1-3, 5). Speaking prophetically to latter-day Ephraim, of which we are, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel said to us: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider” (Isa. 1:3); “O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (3:12); “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! ... they have cast away the law of the Lord of host, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (5:20-24); “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim ... they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment” [drunk with wine and strong drink = absorbed with the prosperity and praise of Babylon.] (28:1-8); “The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me” (Jer. 2:8); “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets ... they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.... in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. ... I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. ... Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD” (Ch. 23); “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD.... Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?” (Ezek. 13); “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things ... And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter [telling untruths], seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken” (Ch. 22).
By going back in Church history, and through the earlier sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, we find that the Lord gave modern Israel the same opportunity He gave ancient Israel, that is, to repent, sanctify themselves, redeem Zion, and receive the fulness and the glory of His presence. But did the early saints do this? Did they sanctify themselves? Did they redeem Zion? Did they love God with all they had, and their neighbor as themselves? And have they all received a fulness of His glory, entering into His rest? No, they have not! Hence, there is still a condemnation as in ancient times. When the cleansing comes, and things are set in order, it will start with the “drunkards of Ephraim,” those fallen and prideful shepherds who should have been leading the sheep on the Lord’s path, but were found wanting.
The Gentiles of the Book of Mormon
The fulness of the gospel was to come to the gentiles (1 Ne. 15:13) through the Prophet Joseph Smith (D&C 35:17). But if the gentiles reject the fulness, it will be taken from them. (3 Ne. 16:10; D&C 14:10.) Let’s touch on this aspect of the fullness as it pertains to the gentiles.
Who was it that brought forth the Book of Mormon which contains the fulness of the gospel? It came through the Prophet Joseph Smith, a gentile that had the blood of Israel running through his veins. There were eleven witnesses that could attest to the divinity of the work and, eventually, most of the membership of the Church could and would bear witness to the divinity of that work. For the most part, these members are of a gentile culture, a culture carried over from the old Roman Empire.
The gentiles, as they are mentioned in the Book of Mormon are, in reality, the latter-day members of the Church of Jesus Christ. They have the blood of Israel and have, for many generations, been taught and reared in a gentile society and nurtured in a gentile culture. The title page of the Book of Mormon points out the fact that the Book of Mormon was to come by way of the gentile. It says that the Book of Mormon was, “To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.” (Title page of the Book of Mormon.)
The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us that the Book of Mormon “contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.” (D&C 20:9). From Third Nephi we read:
1. And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place—that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion;
2. And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;
5. Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;
6. For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel. (3 Ne. 21:1-2, 5-6.)
Here again we find that the Book of Mormon was to come forth from the gentiles unto the seed of the ancient inhabitants of this, the promised land. Being considered some of the gentiles, we are among those who are to take the Book of Mormon to the seed of Joseph, the native American Indians, or the Lamanites as Latter-day Saints call them. Verse 6 notes that we gentiles may be numbered among the House of Israel if we repent and are baptized. God has included the believing gentiles along with that of the believing Jews, and both groups share equally in the blessings of Israel when they accept and obey the ordinances of the Gospel of Christ.
Considering 3 Nephi 21:2, it will be noted that the Lord said, “... for verily I say unto you that when these thing which I declare unto you, and which I SHALL DECLARE UNTO YOU HEREAFTER of MYSELF ...” He was saying He will AGAIN, personally, declare the gospel unto them in the future—not through one of His servants. If so, He could just as easily have said so as He has done at other times. (D&C 1:38, 43:25; Moses 6:30.) Though there was a slight attempt to convert the American Indian during the time of Joseph Smith, they still have not received the fulness. And it is the Lord Himself that will declare it unto them AGAIN, as He said in this verse.
Condemnation Upon the Gentiles
If we, the gentiles, reject the fulness of the gospel, even the fulness of the Lord Jesus Christ, what shall be the consequence? The Lord lets us know what WILL happen, for He said,
10. And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day WHEN the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
11. And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
12. And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.
13. But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.
14. And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father. (3 Ne. 16:10-14.)
We often assume that the gentiles mentioned in 3 Nephi 16:10, those who sin against the gospel, are those who reject the message delivered by LDS missionaries. But how can one sin against the “fulness” if he doesn’t have it in the first place? Only those that have the fulness can sin against it. This seems to be what happened to the Church of Christ after the Savior established it among the Nephites. We read in 4 Nephi 1:27, “... yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel ... ” It happened then among the Nephites, and it was to happen in the future among the gentiles. In verse ten the Savior said “WHEN the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel,” not IF they shall sin against His gospel—the word “when” being prophetic. The respected Hugh Nibley clearly taught that the LDS people do not have the Fullness of the Gospel any more. Commenting on 3 Nephi 16, he said,
“At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel [when they go bad, after receiving it; notice they’ve received the gospel now, but if they sin against it, here’s the description of the Gentiles today] and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations [we’re talking about one nation, those of the Promised Land, of course] and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and secret abominations [all these things, then] ‘I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.’ Does that mean we don't have the gospel anymore? No. NOTICE THE EMPHASIS HERE IS ON THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL. DO WE HAVE THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL NOW? NO, WE DON'T. WE ONLY HAVE PARTS OF IT.” (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 3, pp. 348-49.)
In reference to the last days, verse ten of 3 Nephi 16 says, “... At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel ... behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.” Also, what did the Lord say in D&C 45: “And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a LIGHT shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the FULNESS of my gospel; But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (D&C 45:28-30.)
The times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled when the Lord brings the fulness of the gospel from among them. We are the Gentiles, and we, as a people, have rejected the light. We know that light to be Jesus the Christ. He is the light of every man that cometh into the world, and that shineth in a dark place, but the light was comprehended not, nor was it received by His own. (See John 1:1-11.) That Light is Jesus Christ. That Light is the fulness. But we, as a people, comprehend it not, nor do we received it. The early Saints rejected the light, and it appears that the Latter-day Saints have also.
Let’s read what the resurrected Lord had to say about us in the twentieth and twenty-first chapters of 3 Nephi:
15. And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—
16. Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (3 Ne. 20:15-16.)
11. Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.
12. And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (3 Ne. 21:11-12.)
It is easy to learn from these scriptures that if the gentiles sin against the gospel and reject the fulness of it, the Father will take that fulness from them. It appears that, according to many of these verses, if the gentiles do not repent, then Jacob (the Lamanites) will go through them and tread them down. There are further warnings to the gentiles, as can be found in 3 Nephi 29 and 30, and in Mormon 5 and 8. From such references, it appears that the Lord will allow many Latter-day saints to be smitten because of their rebellion against the fulness of the gospel.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, as an apostle, and before he was president of the Church, made a very startling statement in the Church News many years ago. In The Deseret News, dated Saturday, October 17, 1936, President Smith preceded the statement by first quoting from Isaiah 24:3-6, which reads as follows:
3. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.
4. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
5. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isa. 24:3-6.)
After quoting from these verses, President Smith wrote the following statement:
“Are we not too much inclined to blame the generations that are past for the breaking of the new and everlasting covenant, and to think it is because of the great apostasy which followed the ministry of the Apostles in primitive times, that these troubles are coming upon the earth? Perhaps we should wake up to the realization that it is because of the breaking of the covenants, especially the new and everlasting covenant, which is the fulness of the Gospel as it has been revealed, that the world is to be consumed by fire and few men left. Since this punishment is to come at the time of the cleansing of the earth when Christ comes again, should not Latter-day Saints take heed unto themselves? WE have been given the new and everlasting covenant, and many among us have broken it, and many are now breaking it; therefore all who are guilty of the offense will aid in bringing to pass this destruction in which they will find themselves swept from the earth when the great and dreadful day of the Lord shall come.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Deseret News, Saturday, October 17, 1936, page 7.)
After considering the above, is there any wonder that God will perform His “strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act,” and have to send the “One Mighty and Strong,” the “One Like Unto Moses,” the “Davidic Servant,” and who know who else, to set things in order? (D&C 85:7; Isa. 28:1-21.) However, If the gentiles repent and accept the fulness, they will be numbered with the house of Israel.
3 Nephi 16:13 states that if we, the gentiles, will repent and “return” unto Him, we shall be numbered among His people. Our responsibility, then, is to repent and receive the fulness of the gospel so we may be numbered among the house of Israel. By so doing, we will help the Church come out from under its condemnation.
The fulness of the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph. Will we seek the fulness of the gospel, or expect it to seek us?
