1 Nephi 13 |
1 Nephi 13:10-13; 15-20 10 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren. 11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren. 12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. 13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters. 15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain. 16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them. 17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. 18 And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. 19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. 20 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them. |
This historical account of Columbus, and the Pilgrims coming to the Americas, exists in the scriptural description of Babylon as a connecting history. This unites the Jewish, and Israelite records of the old world with the records and the seed of Joseph in the new world, and does it by way of the Gentile nations seeking to flee the "church of the devil." The inspiration of Columbus, sets the stage for, not only the discovery of the New World, but also opens the door for the beginning of the restoration of the gospel and the return of the "plain and precious things" that had been taken out of the book that "proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew". The restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and those plain and precious truths, will eventually cause the fall of Babylon. These historical elements in the scriptures are contained here, for that very reason.
The Gentiles will become a great and "mighty nation" upon the face of this land. This great nation will become the only nation upon the earth, in which the gospel could be restored, with laws protecting religious freedom. This nation was populated and settled because of the power that the church of the devil had in the old world. When the government was framed and founded in this chosen land, it was upon the principles of protection from the great and abominable church of the devil (see Ether 8:18-26). This land was to protect the "woman and her child" as they come out of the wilderness, and restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 5:14; 109:73-74). The land of promise guarantees that any man may have the religious freedom to worship how, who, and what they may, with a government set up to protect that right and freedom for every citizen. For this reason the Lord prepared this land, and kept it from those nations who were under the control of the great and abominable church. Inspired Gentiles looking for religious freedom, founded a nation based upon those principles that would not give control of the government to the church of the devil. However, this Gentile nation is under strict command to preserve and protect these rights, and not elect wicked men to be their leaders, who are in the control of Babylon (Ether 2:7-12).
The prophet Lehi speaks of this land of promise, and those the Lord will lead to it, claiming that it is a land "consecrated unto him whom he shall bring" as long as they serve the Lord according the commandments.
3 And he also spake unto them concerning the land of promise, which they had obtained--how merciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should flee out of the land of Jerusalem.
4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished.
5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.
6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.
7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.
9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.
10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord--having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise--behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.
11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten.