A LATTER DAY ROSE

 

There is a story of faith in the Book of Mormon that touches me to my core. It is the story of Enos whose faith became ‘unshaken’ in the Lord during his lengthy prayer in the forest (Enos 1:2,11). Faith is mentioned seven times in one chapter that constitutes the book of Enos. So unshaken in his faith Enos became that the Lord told him that his desires will be granted (v 12, 15).

And this was the desire of Enos: that the record of his people be preserved and brought unto salvation of the Lamanites at a future date (v 13). The Lord informed him that his predecessors too have ‘required’ this of Him and that their faith will be honoured also and the records therefore preserved (v 18). Think about it. The Lamanites were the enemies of the prophets that prayed for their salvation.

So bound was the Lord  by the faith of these righteous men that he made a covenant with Enos as to the fulfilment of His request (v 16) and confirmed this in our dispensation: “But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose” (D&C 49;24).

“The Lamanites must rise again in dignity and strength to fully join their brethren and sisters of the household of God in carrying forth his work in preparation for that day when the Lord Jesus Christ will return to lead his people, when the Millenium will be ushered in, when the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory and its lands be united and become one land.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Our Paths Have Met Again”, Ensign Dec 1975, pp 5,7)

President Kimball went on to say that ‘the remnant of the house of Joseph’, meaning the Lamanites, will be built upon the land of America which is their inheritance. The Book of Mormon gives us more of an insight into the role they will play in our day.

When the Saviour visited the Americas post resurrection He spoke of the immense pride, lyings, deceits, hypocrisy, murders and priestcrafts, whoredoms and secret abominations of the Gentiles that will exist in the land prior to His return. He made it clear that if they do not repent then ‘the remnant of Joseph’ will rise to clear the land of its wickedness ‘as a lion among the beasts of the forest’ (3 Nephi 16:10; 20:15-17).

The Saviour also stated that after the cleansing of the wicked, the Lamanites will assist in building of the New Jerusalem, following which He would personally supervise their conversion and gathering (3 Nephi 21:23-26; see also “Prophecy and Modern Times” by Clean Skousen p 38 and President Marion G. Romney, BYU Speeches of the Year 1972)

Alma made it clear that “there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them…..and they will be brought to believe in his word….and many will be saved for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name” (Alma 9:16)

I see the Saviour so clearly in the concept of the House of Israel. His mercy and forgiveness is undeniable towards this group of people whom He has chosen as His despite their mortal imperfections and inadequacies. And the promises of gathering of all the tribes from the four quarters of the earth will never cease until He fulfils ‘the covenant which the Father hath made unto all the people of the House of Israel’ (3 Nephi 16:5)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Christ in the Land of Bountiful by Simon Dewey)