Have Been and Shall Be

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things.  Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.

"For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.

"And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake" (3 Ne. 23:1-3).

There is an interesting parallel we behold in the scriptures.  The first side of it is that the Lord established his covenant anciently with a group of people who were called the house of Israel.  We are fairly familiar with the covenants he gave to that people.  We are familiar with their history; not that we know all the particulars of that history, but we understand and are taught about the perpetual stiffneckedness among a people that had been promised so much.

Though it is clear to us how the prophecies concerning that people played out, the situation in which they found themselves was not always apparent to those living out those prophecies .  Laman and Lemuel for instance thought that the Jews were a righteous people, even on the eve of their destruction and captivity (1 Ne. 17:22).  Their circumstances blinded them.  Tradition, culture, and everyday concerns blinded them.  Their desire to remain in babylon blinded them.  The people who provided us with the record of the Book of Mormon happened to awake and discover their awful situation, and prevailed upon God for guidance.

The other side of this parallel is that the Lord established his covenant in our day with the Gentiles.  This was all prophesied.  Because in the meridian of time Israel was stiffnecked and rejected Christ, and the Gentiles believed, it was promised that in the last days they would be first, and Israel last (3 Ne. 16:7).

We are fairly familiar with the covenants the Lord gave to us.  We are acquainted with stories from our history.  We don't know all the particulars of our history, but believe that we are chosen.  Our view of ourselves is different than the view we have of those Jews with whom God earlier established his covenant.  We think them foolish, and dismiss the idea that we may be like them.  We view them in a more true light than we view ourselves.  We view ourselves through the same lens the Jews used to view themselves.  We are like them in many ways.

The ancient messengers Mormon, Moroni, Nephi, Isaiah, and Christ viewed these two groups of people - the house of Israel and the Gentiles - as similar.  They were to share similar fates.  They are both extended the same covenants and opportunities, ultimately react to the message of the prophets in the same manner, and reap the same rewards.  They share parallel histories.  In other words, history repeats itself.  "All things that [Isaiah] spake have been and shall be."      

Isaiah's writings contain "all things" concerning the Lord's people.  The first group of people, who are the Lord's covenant people and whom he here identifies as the house of Israel, rejected the gospel, cast out the prophets, and couldn't recognized their Lord.  They were scattered and taken captive by their enemies.  Their cities became desolate.  They were considered harlots because they were not faithful to the Bridegroom, their God.  Despite all this, they considered themselves righteous by keeping up outward appearances.  They despised the message of repentance.  The Lord forsook them, and in his wrath hid his face from them (3 Ne. 22:7-8).

Christ prophesied: "therefore it must needs be that [Isaiah] must speak also to the Gentiles.  And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake." "Therefore," Christ goes on to say, write all this stuff down because "according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles" (3 Ne. 23:4).  In mercy, the Lord has given us the Book of Mormon warning us to pay attention to these things.

Much earlier in the Book of Mormon, after Nephi finished reading the words of Isaiah to his people, and recording them for our benefit, he says this to those who heard his message:

"And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be.  For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish; and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed" (2 Ne. 30:1).

Nephi's hearers were dismayed at the wickedness of the Gentiles.  I'm sure some thought the Gentiles were foolish, and dismissed the idea that they may be like us.  They were tempted to think they were better off than us.  Nephi warned them against that kind of thinking.  He made it clear to them that we're really all on the same awful ground unless we repent.  These groups of people "shall all likewise perish" unless they repent and "keep the commandments of God."  

Though Nephi consoles his contemporary listeners by saying, "don't worry, the Gentiles are not utterly destroyed," it should be no consolation to you.  It's dreadful to me to read.

I would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the house of Israel had been.  As a people we, like ancient Israel, were promised the fulness and to be able to enter into the rest of the Lord, but would not hear (Isa. 28:12; D&C 84:24; D&C 45:28-29).  Who has obtained it? 

Citizens of Clarity

In the small town of Clarity lived a group of people who had perfect vision.  The town was simple, and beautiful.  The townsmen all saw alike.  To them the earth's beauties were abundantly obvious.  They enjoyed the blue sky, and the pink sunsets.  They saw the birds fly between the trees as they heard them sing their songs with joy.  They beheld the green trees, and saw the leaves blown by the rushing wind.  The running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains were all enjoyed by the townsmen.  During the darkness of night they gazed heavenward, wondering at the meaning of the story told there.  They beheld the signs in the heavens and in the earth and under the earth.  It was said among them their God and Father was the very God of nature.  They saw God moving in His majesty and power.

The children of the citizens of the growing town of Clarity were born blind.  Their parents retained their perfect vision, but were relegated to communicating the beauties of the earth to their children orally, and by touch, and smell.  These children were taught of the blue sky, and the pink sunsets.  They heard the birds fly between the trees and sing their songs with joy.  They learned from their parents about the green trees, and how the leaves were blown by the rushing wind.  They tried to envision the running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains that were all enjoyed by their parents.  The darkness of day was as real as the darkness of night to these blind children.  They could not gaze heavenward, whether day or night, and wonder at the meaning of the story told there.  They were taught of the signs in the heavens and in the earth and under the earth, and many believed all these things.  It was said among them their God and Father was the very God of nature.  They believed they saw God moving in His majesty and power.

The city of Clarity now grew rapidly and became more complex, and quite noisy.  When the citizens of the first generation had all died, the blind ran the growing city.  Their children, too, were blind.  The new blind children were taught by their blind parents about the blue sky, and the pink sunsets.  They heard the birds fly between the trees and sing their songs with joy.  They learned of green trees, and how the leaves were blown by the rushing wind.  With the eye of faith, these blind children tried to imagine the wonder of all these things.  They tried to envision the running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains that were told them by their blind parents.

Not having seen these things themselves, the blind parents who were teaching their blind children had varied views.  Some imagined the majestic mountains as they really were, and others not.  Some pictured the running rivers well, having visited the rivers, and though not having seen, had heard, and smelled, and touched them.  Others, who had neither climbed a mountain, nor visited a river, attempted a faithful telling of all these things to their children with less success than those who experienced them to some degree.  Some of the blind children believed, while others found their parents' stories and descriptions unbelievable.  There began to be contentions among them.  

Life continued for many generations in the great city of Clarity.  There were in the city all manner of citizens.  Some who believed, and some who did not.  Some who thought they understood well, and others who did not.  These blind citizens continued in a tradition that had been handed them.  They spoke of the sky, and sunsets.  They spoke of the trees, the leaves, the birds, the rivers, lakes, and mountains.  They contemplated the stars and wondered about the signs in the heavens.  Many forgot they were blind, and presumed to understand all these things as well as those who saw and knew them. Because they forgot they were blind, they were content.  

One day, a young man from another city moved to the great city of Clarity.  He listened to the people describe the sky, and sunsets.  They taught him of the trees, the leaves, the birds, the rivers, lakes, and mountains.  He studied the stars and wondered about the signs in the heavens.  He knew these things were true because he had been blessed with the gift of sight.  He decided to stay with the people.

The man who could see taught the other citizens that he had seen God moving in His majesty and power.  He said that their God and Father was the very God of nature.  He told the people about the signs in the heavens and in the earth and under the earth.  He, like those of the first generation, had gazed heavenward, wondering at the meaning of the story told there.  He visited and saw the running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains, even Mount Zion, and he had joy therein.  He beheld the green trees, and saw the leaves blown by the rushing wind.  He watched with delight the birds fly between the trees, as the sun was setting in the blue-turned-pink sky.  He desired all to receive the sight he was given.  

The man who could see grew older.  He taught the blind citizens of Clarity that their God and Father was able to cure their blindness.  If they would believe, and wash in living waters, they would begin to see.  A few believed and began to see.  

Many citizens of Clarity despised this man, however.  They believed he was lying.  Though he was able to see clearly, they eventually attacked him and cast him out.  The blind withdrew fellowship from a man who could see. 

The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

It wasn’t generally evident the Jews were blind until they began fighting against God’s prophets.  Until then, many presumed the situation was not all that dire.  Surely, even some of the very elect almost could not perceive the condition of darkness in which the people stirred.  It took hearing the message of repentance from true prophets to begin opening their eyes, and unstopping their deaf ears (JST Isa. 42:19).  It was that message that began to cause the anger.  


Once the people fought against God’s prophets, it became clear to those who were paying attention that they had been drawing nigh unto God with their mouths, and honoring him with their lips, but their hearts were far from him (Matt. 15:8-9).  They had been “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (ibid.).

The leaders, whom the people followed, and in whom the people had placed their faith, by and large rejected and cast out those God had sent among them with an authentic message.  They led many souls to “the ditch” (Matt. 15:14).  Those who presided were fearful of what was perceived as opposition to their high and honored standing.  Because they weren’t teaching an authentic message, received via an authentic experience, they necessarily took offense when prophets claimed to speak with and for God (Matt. 15:12; 26:33).  These leaders wondered at where these prophets had received their authority (Mark 11:27-33).

Because of honesty and open hearts, some believed the message sent by God (Acts 28:24).  Because of humility, some of those chose to repent and work righteousness.  Because of pride, many cursed God, and the servants God had sent, and damned themselves. 

God even sent his Son among them.  They despised and rejected Him (Isa. 53:3). They esteemed Him not, and hid their faces from Him, as was prophesied (Ibid.).  They were offended because of Him.  They were angry at His message and slew their Lord. 

God’s children in all generations, and in every dispensation, have had a difficult time recognizing true prophets when they are sent.  Joseph Smith taught us that:

“The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets, and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true prophets, and these had to hide themselves ‘in deserts and dens, and caves of the earth,’ and though the most honorable men of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds, whilst they cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites, impostors, and the basest of men” ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 206).

Why didn’t God make it as easy for all those previous dispensations as he has for us?  Is He not the same yesterday, today, and forever (Morm. 9:9)?