Remnant of Jacob & the Destruction of the Gentile nations

K. Douglas Bassett

3 Ne. 21:12-21; JST Matt. 21:47-56; refer in this text to 3 Ne.16:10-16

“When the Lord is speaking of his covenants, he is not confining them to the descendants of Lehi, but applies them to all the house of Israel… . [3 Ne. 20:15-16.] Are we justified in applying this merely to the Lamanites and saying that they are to go forth as a young lion pouring out vengeance upon the gentiles? Also does the phrase, ‘Ye who are a remnant of the house of Jacob,’ in verse 16, have reference just to the Lamanites? The verses which follow indicate that it has reference to the remnants of Israel, which had been scattered in all lands. To apply it to the Lamanites in face of the entire theme of this discourse, in my judgment, narrows it too greatly. Then again, this prophecy was also given to Micah and has reference to ‘many people,’ not merely to the gentiles on this land.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:249-250)
“If the gentiles on this land reject the word of God and conspire to overthrow liberty and the Constitution, then their doom is fixed, and they ‘shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.’ (1 Nephi 14:6; 3 Nephi 21:11; 14,21; D&C 84:114-115, 117).” (Ezra Taft Benson, God - Family - Country, p. 345)

Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon

References