MINISTRY AMONG THE LAMANITES
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. 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. 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. 3 Nephi 7:5
The terms "Jew," "Gentile," "House of Israel," and "Remnant,æ are utilized in scripture with diverse application and overlapping meaning. Scriptures listed here can be interpreted and applied on numerous levels.
“Six months after publication of the Book of Mormon, the first missionary assignment was given by revelation. The Lord commanded, "And now behold, I say unto you that thou shall go unto the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them and cause my church to be established among them. And thou shall have revelations…" (September 1830) The purpose of the first missionary work was to announce the fullness of the gospel to the scattered remnants, and the first remnant of Israel to be sent the invitation was the Lamanites. That mission failed to produce any Lamanite converts. Instead, gentile, Campbellite disciples of Sidney Rigdon in Kirtland, Ohio joined by the hundreds. The focus quickly changed from recovering remnants of Israel, to successfully growing a large gentile church. This was not a temporary change. Its lasting effect has skewed the entire gentile effort. While some limited gestures have been made, recovering the remnants of Israel has been secondary. Once the focus left the Lamanites, all subsequent Mormon sects have likewise failed to fulfill the covenant in the Book of Mormon to seek to reclaim the remnants of Israel. They have remained intent on converting gentiles." (Denver Snuffer, Scripture, Prophecy, and Covenant, pg. 2)
CHALLENGES
PROMISES
AWAKENING
TRANSITIONS
FULFILLMENT
REMNANT IN ZION