Every Nation

Every Nation

Is it possible that gospel of the kingdom has been preached in all the world?

First off, we see that the whore of all the earth had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

1 Nephi 14:11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

So we see that an earthly power had the comprehensive dominion over everything. Did the whore reach every tribe of the jungles? No. So "all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people" doesn't mean what is commonly understood.

Kings an governments are nothing in the face of the all powerful God. They are "as the blossoms of a thistle, which, when it is fully ripe, if the wind bloweth, it is driven forth upon the face of the land" (Mosiah 12:12). They are nothing. If they don't let the Christian message reach their people, God works with that. He created a nation on the promised land where he drew all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people which became a nation of immigrants.

2 Nephi 1

5. ....[W]e have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.
6. Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.
7. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them;

We see here that people are brought here to the American continent where they are exposed to the commandments. They are all exposed to the Christian message. They see churches on every corner. They go to museums and see Gospel events painted and sculpted. They read the classics that all refer to Christian principles. They see the birth and death of Christ celebrated. If nothing else, the hear the name of Christ used as curses. They are all exposed to Jesus.

Again, are there Arab Christians? Chinese Christians? Christians from all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people? Yes, there are.

Lets say the Gospel is what Paul says it is.

1 Corinthians 15

1. MOREOVER, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5. And that he was seen...

This is well known to pagans, heathens, atheists and faithful.

Now, go to the streets of any nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Ask them:

Have you ever heard the song "Joy to the World?

What is Christmas all about?

What is Easter all about?

What are the Ten Commandments?

What is the meaning of the cross on yonder church?

Can you name one of the Ten commandments?

Can you tell me one teaching of Jesus?

Can you list a few characteristics of God?

Did you see the movie, "Passion of Christ"? "The Ten Commandments"?

How does one pray? What is prayer for?

Where do you go to learn God's teachings?

You will get answers that indicate that they have been exposed to the Gospel. I think a survey conducted like this anywhere will yield answers more or less accurate. Some will be ignorant and some intelligent. Some will believe and some will reject. But everyone, it will be discovered, has some knowledge of the Gospel.

All who have exposure to the Gospel will be held accountable.

Mosiah 3

20. And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
21. And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent.
22. And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee.

Every word of the Book of Mormon, even single letter words, are important. Notice that the citation does not say “the knowledge of THE Savior shall spread”. it says “the knowledge of A Savior shall spread”. This indicates that what is spread may not be accurate or complete. But all will know about a Savior.

Nobody starts with a complete knowledge. We learn line upon line, precept upon precept. The first “line” may be viewing “The Last Supper” while visiting Milan (who is not familiar with that work?). The first precept might be seeing a gorgeous sunset over the ocean and the spirit whispering “a wonderful God did that”. However He chooses,

Alma 5:33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

You cite often the parable of the Sower. Well, you see that the seeds are spread universally. The parable tells of no ground that didn’t receive seeds.

I believe that all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people have been reached.

Breathing

How does this work? I think John Wesley hit the nail on the head. He taught that God manifests Himself onto all by what he calls a breath. This voice of the Good Shepherd

…necessarily implies the continual inspiration of God's Holy Spirit; God's breathing into the soul, and the soul's breathing back what it first receives from God; a continual action of God upon the soul, and a re-action of the soul upon God; an unceasing presence of God, the loving, pardoning God, manifested to the heart, and perceived by faith; and an unceasing return of love, praise, and prayer, offering up all the thoughts of our hearts, all the words of our tongues, all the works of our hands, all our body, soul, and spirit, to be a holy sacrifice, acceptable unto God in Christ Jesus.

[This will] infer the absolute necessity of this re-action of the soul, (whatever it be called,) in order to the continuance of the divine life therein. For it plainly appears, God does not continue to act upon the soul, unless the soul re-acts upon God. He prevents us indeed with the blessings of his goodness. He first loves us, and manifests himself unto us. While we are yet afar off, he calls us to himself, and shines upon our hearts. But if we do not then love him who first loved us; if we will not hearken to his voice; if we turn our eye away from him, and will not attend to the light which he pours upon us; his Spirit will not always strive: He will gradually withdraw, and leave us to the darkness of our own hearts. He will not continue to breathe into our soul, unless our soul breathes toward him again; unless our love, and prayer, and thanksgiving return to him, a sacrifice wherewith he is well pleased.

God can “breath” on us by putting a desire in our hearts to believe (Alma 32:27). He can frighten you at the funeral of a friend. He can inspire you to do a good thing so that you experience the joy of well-doing.

Moroni 7:13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

We start down the path that leads to God as we respond to that invitation. Wesley referred to these initial whispers as “preventing grace”, that is, grace that comes before saving grace that we will eventually come to as we respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Not Blameless

Mosiah 3

This can only be true if He, indeed, has manifested and invited all to come unto him.

Michael Hickenbotham

It seems to me you skipped the part where I said “that Arab countries and much of China hasn’t heard the gospel of the kingdom”. Can you prove to me that everyone in these countries has heard the gospel of Jesus. One could argue that the restored gospel, as opposed to the apostate Catholic and protestant gospels, has not been preached there for sure. Most American don’t even know a Latter-day Saint. How can you expect people in remote China and Arab countries where Christianity is banned to hear the gospel?

I believe that Mosiah 3:20–21 will be fulfilled one day, but not today or tomorrow.

SAYS YOU: "Can you prove to me that everyone in these countries has heard the gospel of Jesus."

ME: I don’t think it means that every person among every nation, kindred, tongue, and people has to have heard. That is not what it says. It never says "every person among every nation, kindred, tongue, and people". It certainly is talking about group identity or the expression is but an idiom.

It certainly doesn't say that that every person has to hear your view of the Gospel. I believe God will have given everyone at least a start toward knowing Him, His Son, and what His Son has wrought.

Yet, there are many only in the state of preparation to hear the Gospel whether in this life or the next.

Moroni 7:32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof...

Alma 16:16 ...the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming--

So these people referred to haven't heard the Gospel, but their experience here is a preparation to hear it.

Those who respond to the Spirit's work of preparation may be considered babes, infants of the youngest sort, not having all the lines or precepts upon which to build.

Mosiah 3:18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy….

Paul covers this teaching completely and clearly.

Romans 2:11-15

For there is no respect of persons with God.

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

The Lord is working with those who, for whatever reason, are denied knowledge of the full Law of God. The righteous will respond to that work by obeying their conscience, the Law God has written in their hearts. As they choose correctly as their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing them, they will be blessed for the choice they made in accordance with the Light of Christ that they have.

2 Nephi 26:33 …he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him….and he remembereth the heathen

My former treatment regarding who is responsible for the knowledge which they have or could have had must not be forgotten. Unlike yours, this is not a universalist or semi-universalist theology where everyone, except a few (not worth mentioning), are glorified.

2 Nephi 25:22 Wherefore, these things [Book of Mormon concepts] shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written.

Will all people, every person, receive the Fullness of the Gospel on earth? Maybe, maybe not. But the Lord works and distributes truth according to His wisdom. Perhaps "the Lord shall see fit, in his wisdom, that these sayings shall come unto" whomever he chooses to receive it (3 Nephi 29:1). Surprising, perhaps, in his wisdom, He will make sure they DON'T receive it. We quote Moroni's Promise at the drop of a hat, but have we ever considered the IF in the following:

Moroni 10:3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them...

You expect that every person among every nation, kindred, tongue, and people will receive your precept ("hearken ye unto my precept" (2 Nephi 28:6)), but obviously you are mistaken. You discount the wisdom of God in the preparation and the sometimes minimal distribution of truth. Again, as cited above “they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God”.

Read the following carefully:

Alma 5:41 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him...

That applies to those who have the fullness of his gospel and those who don't.

When an aborigine in a remote jungle sacrifices his preferences, comforts, goals, time, energy, safety and resources to his family and neighbors, he is hearkening to the voice of the Good Shepherd and will be rewarded accordingly for it at the judgement. Where little knowledge is given, little will be required. They did and learned what they were sent forth to do and learn. They obeyed the voice of the Good Shepherd. They passed their test. When they hear the Gospel in this life or beyond, it will be as a familiar spirit. Their hearts were prepared by the Spirit. They are covered by the Atonement.

Mosiah 3:11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

Incidentally, these people without the Law are not under condemnation of a broken law which they never heard, will not need baptism.

Moroni 8:22-25 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and ALSO ALL THEY THAT ARE WITHOUT THE LAW. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing--

But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.

Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.

And the first fruits of repentance is baptism...

In the resurrection, will they need to be taught the details of God's plan? Nope.

2 Nephi 9: 13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous;….they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

The Book of Mormon has an example of this.

Jacob 3:5-7

Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father--that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.

And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.

Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?

While the Nephites were a-whoring with multiple wives, these "ignorant" Lamanites were obeying according to their knowledge, the Law written in their hearts. No wonder Christians abhor polygamy for it’s practice is repugnant to the Law written in their hearts.

Anyway, such will not be sitting in a spirit prison getting flip-chart/flannel board lessons. All knowledge that they may lack due to their circumstances the Lord can and will be able to give them all of that knowledge in an instant to such a pure mind and spirit. "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people" (Hebrews 8:10).

Again, this must be understood in connection with the otherwise responsible as explained in above comment.

Now that is the most loving plan ever conceived by the mind of the human and divine. Unlike your plan, this one does not rob justice. Those who resist the spirit (blaspheme against the Holy Ghost), the light of Christ, commit the unpardonable sin.

A Thief

Finally, if you think that every person has to hear your precept before Jesus comes back to you "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" (2 Peter 3:10), sooner than you are expecting. I have tried to enlighten so you won't be surprised by an early arrival.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.