Sanctification
of the Saints

A great irony behind all of this is the House of Israel's association with the beast. Adding to the irony, after Christ prophesied about the House of Israel treading down the Gentiles, he said: "...Behold, I am he who doeth it." (3 Ne. 20:19.) Why would the Lord, who "[holds] the destinies of all the armies of the nations of the earth" allow such a thing to happen? (D&C 117:6) Indeed, in that day when the Lord "will bring evil from the north"--when "the destroyer of the Gentiles" shall "make [our] land desolate, and [our] cities...laid waste"--many might feel to exclaim: "Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people..., saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul." (Jer. 4:,6,7,10.)

Turning to the Book of Mormon, we find some important insights regarding this paradox. It declares that whenever "the sins of [the] people [are] caused by the iniquities of their kings..., their iniquities are also answered upon the heads of their kings." (Mosiah 29:31.) The blasphemous element of the tyrant, according to Isaiah, refers to the leadership, not those oppressed. (Isa. 52:5.) The parallels to Lehite history further illuminate this matter. The Lamanites (who seem to correspond to the latter-day House of Israel) were not held nearly as accountable for their wickedness as the Nephites (symbolic of the Gentiles). "...It [was] because of the traditions of their [the Lamanites'] fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance...." (Alma 9:16,17.) Furthermore, the Lord declared that if the Nephites would rebel against him, the antagonistic Lamanites would "be a scourge unto [them], to stir them up in the ways of remembrance." (1 Ne. 2:24.) This rings familiar with what Habakkuk said regarding the Chaldeans (a likely symbol for the Soviets) who will be sent upon the Gentiles. He said, "O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction." (Hab. 1:12.)

We know that the Lord "doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world...." (2 Ne. 26:24.) The great Lamanite prophet, Samuel, explained: "...The people of Nephi hath [the Lord] 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.) Might the coming catastrophes serve to chasten an iniquitous people, whom the Lord has loved? Significantly, above statement in 2 Nephi 26 comes just after Nephi spoke of secret combinations to come in our day and how Satan leads men by the neck with a flaxen cord until he binds them with his strong cords. (26:22.)

The Lord explained that before Zion can be established (D&C 101:9-16), the Saints "must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham...." (101:4.) Abraham's trial was not complete until he was lowering his knife to sacrifice his son. (Gen. 22:10-12.) The angel of the Lord did not intercede until the trial was complete and intervention was necessary to stay destruction. In the days to come, the saints "shall hardly escape." (D&C 63:34.) At the same time, "although she is chastened for a little season..., Zion shall be redeemed" (D&C 100:13). Paul explained that the purpose of the chastening hand of the Lord is "that we might be partakers of his holiness." (Heb. 12:10.)

The book of Helaman tells of a time when the humble followers of Christ began to "suffer great persecutions...." (Hel. 3:34.) "Nevertheless," the record continues, "they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts...." (3:35.) During the great tribulations to come in our day, not only will their hearts be consoled, but the Lord's people will be "armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory." (1 Ne. 14:14.)

Notwithstanding the trying war that shall be waged against the saints of God, "the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off." (1 Ne. 22:19.) Moroni declared: "...The Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by [secret combinations], shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not." (Ether 8:22; D&C 87:7.)

When the wars and famine had taken their toll among the Nephites, "the people...repented and did humble themselves in sackcloth...." (Hel. 11:9.) The wording here is noteworthy, for Jeremiah similarly admonished the inhabitants of latter-day Zion, saying: "gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back...." (Jer. 4:8; Joel 1:6,14.) He said this in the context of talking about the "lion [coming] up from his thicket...: the destroyer of the Gentiles," whose "horses are swifter than eagles." (Jer. 4:7,13.)

Anciently, the Lord promised: "If this people [the Nephites] repent I will spare them...." (Hel. 11:14.) As a result of their wars and the great famine that came upon them, they did repent, and accordingly "the Lord did turn away his anger from the people...." (11:17.) Likewise has he promised us in the latter days that if we (the Gentiles) repent, we "shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and...shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; [and] shall be no more brought down into captivity...." (1 Ne. 14:2.)