The Chastenings of
the Lord
In the book of Helaman, the Nephites fell into great transgressions despite the great knowledge and the bountiful blessings they had received. (Hel. 7:24.) As a result, the Lord sent scourging destructions upon them. Samuel explained why the Lord did this. He said, "The people of Nephi...hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them." (Hel. 15:3; 2 Ne. 26:24.) Likewise, when an individual who has been greatly blessed by the Lord goes too far amiss, he warrants divine reproach. For "God dealeth with you as with sons," Paul said. (Heb. 12:7.) And "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." (12:6.)
The latter-day parallel for this Book of Mormon period, as discussed previously, is with the great tribulations that are shortly to come upon the earth. Besides destroying the wicked, these afflictions will serve to refine the saints. The Lord said it is necessary that Zion be "chastened for a little season" before she is redeemed. (D&C 100:13.) The unfathomable blessings that Zion will provide will make the sanctifying trials worth while.
On the individual basis as well, the Lord chastens us "for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." (Heb. 12:10.) This is because such chastening experiences yield "the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (12:11; compare Hel. 3:35.) At the same time, having a trial is not sufficient in and of itself; we must "endure it well...." (D&C 121:8; D&C 101:5; compare Alma 62:41.) Then "God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." (D&C 121:8.)
Turning now to Third Nephi, we come to the account of events that just preceded Jesus Christ's appearance to the Nephites and the marvelous era of peace that followed. The account states that the Nephites and Lamanites had to gather into one body to protect themselves from the ravaging Gadianton robbers. Then a little later, only a few remained stalwart as most others reverted to iniquity. Finally, the wicked were destroyed from among the righteous as the cataclysmic destructions came. Each of these precursory conditions (along with their latter-day counterparts) seem to bear application to the individual as he approaches the final and apparently most trying stage of his progression towards exaltation.
A statement of Alma's pertaining to the individual seems to illuminate the symbolic significance underlying the literal gathering of nations. "All you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things," he said. (Alma 5:57.) This seems to have to do with being in the world but not of the world. Might the literal gathering of nations on the temporal level reflect that period when an individual actually becomes successful in completely shunning the influences of the world?
Another important lesson we can derive from the Lehite history is the importance of drawing upon the Lord's power through prayer in order to triumph over our trials. A Nephite leader told the endangered Nephites and Lamanites, "As the Lord liveth, except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in no wise be delivered...." (3 Ne. 3:15.)
The principles of sacrifice and consecration are also exemplified in the Nephite-Lamanite gathering. They had to leave their homes and lands and assemble in another locale, apparently pledging their material resources to a common, worthy cause. (3 Ne. 3:22.) The following statement by Joseph Smith suggests an application of this principle to the individual. He remarked, "...A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation."(1)
The words of the prophet Zenos, from the part of his allegory that refers to the end of the world,(2) also seem applicable to this phase of the individual's progression. It teaches us that we do not have to "clear away the bad...all at once," but we should "clear away the bad according as the good shall grow...." (Jacob 5:65,66.) The Lord does not expect us to throw off all worldly influences overnight. Overcoming the world is usually a gradual process that takes time and great care. As we assimilate the good, we may eliminate the bad, beginning with those influences that are "most bitter," and eventually "the good shall overcome the bad...." (5:57,66.) "He that overcometh," the Lord declared, "shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Rev 21:7,8.)(3)
The closer the time approaches for the coming of Jesus Christ, apparently the more intense the trials will be. This is as true for nations as it is for individuals. In Book of Mormon history, the closer the people were to the time of the appearing of Jesus Christ, the more difficult it became to remain righteous, and the greater the sifting that occurred. Eventually, the church even began to be broken up "save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and a.steadfast, and b.immovable, c.willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord." (3 Ne. 6:14.) Likewise, our personal aim is to become "a.steadfast and b.immovable, c.always abounding in good works" so that the Savior will seal us as his and we may be assured everlasting salvation and eternal life. (Mosiah 5:15.)
One of the last things to happen in Book of Mormon history before Christ appeared to the people was that all of the wicked were destroyed "by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them...." (3 Ne. 10:14.) The same will be true in the latter days; great cataclysmic destructions of the wicked will precede Christ's appearance to the world in glory, and "every corruptible thing...shall be consumed." (D&C 101:24.)
Similarly, in order for the individual to "stand spotless" before the Lord, he must "be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost...." (3 Ne. 27:20.) "His garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of [Christ]...." (Alma 5:21.) Once a person has been sanctified, then he can "behold the face of God." (D&C 84:23.) "And this," said Jesus, "is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." (John 17:3.)
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Endnotes:
1. N.B. Lundwal, Lectures on Faith, Salt Lake City, Utah, p. 58.
2. We might note the plausible symbolic significance of this common phrase, "the end of the world." Directly, it apparently refers to that time when all corruptible things will be consumed and a reign of righteousness ushered in. Indirectly, it could reflect that time in the individual's life when he overcomes all worldly influences: "the end of the world."
3. This concept seems to be the theme of the book of Revelation, and is repeated throughout.
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