This is a
summary of certain passages in the Book of Mormon, talking about the covenant
God has made with Israel, how this will be restored in the latter days and the
role of the Gentiles. Primarily, this is presented by the Savior himself when
he visits the Nephites.
I have
always found these chapters a bit difficult to follow, but it was a great help
for me to summarize them like I did below. Here we see that there are certain
key events that are presented and repeated. In chapter 16, Christ is talking about
this subject right after having talked about “his sheep” in chapter 15. After a
lot of other events, he returns to this topic in chapter 20. In verse 11 he
basically says: “Remember what I told you about Isaiah’s words being
fulfilled?” with a clear reference to chapter 16, verse 17. Then he goes on to repeat
some of the events described in that chapter.
Then, in
chapter 21, he talks about how the coming forth of the Book of Mormon will be a
sign that the restoration of Israel is about to happen and repeats all the
events discussed in chapter 16. They are color coded for easier identification.
They are not necessarily in order (neither here nor in the Book of Mormon)
since they are not necessarily discrete events and may overlap or occur on
multiple occasions.
When we
read these chapters, we note how Old Testament scriptures, in particular
Isaiah, is dispersed into the text in these chapters, especially at the end, to
demonstrate that this is what Isaiah was really talking about.
Note also
how Mormon, who abridged the words of the Savior among the Nephites, thinks
this part of his words were important to include and how he repeats several of
these key issues in Mormon 5.
3rd
Nephi 16
Gentiles
will populate the Americas and scatter the remnant of the House of Israel there
(v.8)
The fulness of the gospel shall
come to the Gentiles (v.6-7)
Still, many Gentiles will sin and reject the gospel (v.10)
God will fulfill his covenant with
the House of Israel (v.11)
The gospel will be brought to the House of Israel (from the Gentiles) (v.11)
Israel will be gathered (v.5)
The Gentiles who repent will be
numbered among the House of Israel (v.13)
Gentiles who do not repent will be “trodden under foot” by the House of
Israel (v.15)
“This people” will have the Americas for an inheritance (v.16)
Isaiah
52:8-10 will be fulfilled (v.17-20)
3rd
Nephi 20
Jesus
reminds the people what he said in Chapter 16, that Isaiah 52:8-10 will be
fulfilled (v.11)
God will fulfill his covenant with
the House of Israel (v.12)
The gospel will be brought to the House of Israel (from the Gentiles)
(v.13)
Israel will be gathered (v.13)
Gentiles who do not repent will be “trodden down” by the House of Israel
(v.16)
“This people” will have the Americas for an inheritance (v.14)
Isaiah
52:8-10 will be fulfilled (v.32-25 paraphrasing Isaiah 52:8-10 again before
moving on to quote other Isaiah passages)
3rd
Nephi 21
Gentiles
will populate the Americas and scatter the remnant of the House of Israel there
(v.2, 4)
The fulness of the gospel shall
come to the Gentiles (v.6)
Still, many Gentiles will sin and reject the gospel (v.14-21)
God will fulfill his covenant with
the House of Israel (v.4, 7)
The gospel will be brought to the House of Israel (from the Gentiles) (v.5,
7)
Israel will be gathered (v.1, 24,
28)
The Gentiles who repent will be
numbered among the House of Israel (v.6, 22)
Gentiles who do not repent will be “trodden down” by the House of Israel
(v.12)
A remnant of Jacob will have the Americas for an inheritance (v.22,28)
Quoting
Isaiah 52:12 (v.29) and Isaiah 54 (Chapter 22)
Mormon 5
Gentiles
will populate the Americas and scatter the remnant of the House of Israel there
(v.19-20)
God will fulfill his covenant with
the House of Israel (v.20)
Gentiles who do not repent will be “trodden under foot” by the House of Israel
(v.24)