“The Last That They May Be First”

Brant Gardner

This verse is perhaps the least clear in the allegory, for it assumes our understanding of the “first” and the last.” Although the natural branches in the nethermost regions have been the most recent focus, this verse commands the enlarged force of servants and is not related to the allegory’s previous contexts. Here, the “last” and “first” refer to the grafting attempts. The last attempt was grafting the wild branches to the main tree (preaching the gospel to the Gentiles). The first was planting the natural branches in the nethermost parts (preaching the gospel to the “lost” Israelites, including but not limited to the Lamanites).

The gospel will therefore come to the world through the Gentiles, and the gathering will bring Israel into the church, whose members will be Jew and Gentile together.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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