The Gentiles and the Holy Ghost

For someone who has grown up in a modern Western culture, it may be difficult to understand God's different dealings with different people throughout history. For instance, when Abraham receives special promises concerning his seed, does that favor one nation above other nations unfairly? Personally, I have no problems with this because I simply observe that life favors us all differently anyway, and that is apparently part of the plan. What is important, is what each of us do, individually, in our unique circumstances and with the possibilities that we have been given. "Unto whom much is given, much is required" etc. 

But I also can't help but think that there is wisdom in God's dealing with his children throughout history, also where different nations have been treated differently.

37 And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.

38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes. (1 Nephi 17)

One can argue that we are saved individually and as families, but I have never heard anyone teach that we are saved as nations. But there must be a reason for this focus on nations, even though we don't always fully understand His purposes. For instance, we find a lot of separation between Israel and the Gentiles in the scriptures. Jesus himself said

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)

Still, only a short time later, Peter received the revelation that the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles. Why was it first wrong and then right to preach to the Gentiles? We don't really know but obviously timing is of essence here.

Because of the Abrahamic covenant, Israel became God's chosen people. As such, they even had God dwelling among them. This was the idea with the tabernacle and later the temple. It was a place where God could dwell in their midst. Even though God's covenant people were not always true and faithful, God eventually became flesh and dwelled among them in plain sight. Meanwhile, the Gentiles were ungodly and disfavored. Still, there had been prophecies like this one in Nephi's vision:

And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. (1 Nephi 13:42)

The time was not there yet but it would come and it would happen according to a certain pattern, the first (Jews) being the last and the last (Gentiles) being the first. There also seems to be a certain pattern as to how God would manifest himself unto the different nations. As mentioned, God would manifest himself directly to the Jews who had the temple. He did the same for other scattered parts of Israel. In 3 Nephi 15, he told them:

21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.

23 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.

These words were spoken at the temple in Bountiful to a branch of the house of Israel. Jesus was there in their midst. This was right around the time when the gospel started being preached to the Gentiles in the Old World. But they would not hear his voice like the Jews and the Nephites had. To the Gentiles, Jesus would only manifest himself by the Holy Ghost. This is consistent with the prophecy in 1 Nephi 10:11

And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.

Not only is the Holy Ghost the means to make God manifest among the Gentiles, it is also a source of strength leading to the scattering of the House of Israel

And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel. (3 Nephi 20:27)

What we observe is "the first" (the House of Israel) having the privilege of God dwelling among them, both in the tabernacle/temple and in an earthly tabernacle. But they reject him. Instead, God manifests himself to "the last" (the Gentiles). But he does not show himself to them and they don't build a temple. Instead, God manifests himself to them through the Holy Ghost. After the day of Pentecost, right before Peter received the revelation to also preach the gospel to the Gentiles, the Holy Ghost plays a more dominant role. In the Old Testament, at least, his role is quite obscure.

Why does God not dwell among the Gentiles? Why is he "replaced" by the Holy Ghost? I am not able to answer that, but again I think there might be hidden wisdom and a pattern that is part of a greater plan. In the latter days, the roles are reversed. The Gentiles, who have the Holy Ghost shall be the instrument to bring back the scattered house of Israel to the fold.

And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed (1 Nephi 15:13)

This is the fulfillment of the first becoming last and the last becoming first. But there is another important element to this grand narrative:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel. (2 Nephi 10:16)

When the Gentiles are numbered among the house of Israel in the latter days, both the power of the Holy Ghost and the privilege of having God in their midst is now offered to the new, united Israel. In 1836, after the gospel had been restored again to the Gentiles, they became like Israel of old with a temple among them where God could dwell. At the temple invocation in Kirtland:

For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people. (D&C 109:5)

We see the same sentiment in the next chapter where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery have a glorious vision in that temple

7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.
8 Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

For those who are willing to enter into covenants today and become part of the fold, there is no real division between Gentile and the House of Israel any longer. We have temples among us where God can dwell, like Israel of old, and the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, like Gentiles of old. At some point in the future, Jesus will also dwell among us in plain sight, just like he did among the Jews. There will be one fold and one shepherd in the New Jerusalem.