"Swept Off?" Not Yet. "Destroyed?" Maybe.

“Swept Off?” Not Yet. “Destroyed?” Maybe.

 

Early in the Book of Mormon, like 1^st Nephi early, Lehi says to his wife Sariah, who was mildly grumpy over their present situation, “…But behold, I have obtained a land of promise…”(1Nephi 1:21). Though he has not yet arrived, he has “obtained” it, a land of promise, or received conditional title to it, based on righteousness, from the Lord. Not unlike getting title to your home before moving in – Yes?  

 

As much as 1000 years earlier(1) in answer to the cries of the Brother of Jared, the Lord offered him, his family and friends an opportunity to depart the chaos at the great tower. In doing so he would not just lead them a few miles away from the great tower, “but he, [the Lord] would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.” In doing so, however, the Lord establishes the terms and HOA covenants for residency upon this land of promise. “And he, [the Lord], had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and for ever should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them.”(Ether 1:6-7)

 

It follows then, that the Father’s power was not only used to create and give birth to a land of promise but would be the power by which it would be preserved. The land of promise, from the moment of its birth to its death, according to the terms given the Brother of Jared, is reliant upon God for the continuance of its existence. He makes it clear that without righteousness (He is the righteousness) it would not be preserved and would not stay created or organized. Lack of righteousness, according to the terms God set forth means that it would first be destroyed – uncreated and unorganized – and then without repentance, in His wrath, it would/will be dissolved “swept off” ending its existence. It would/will be uncreated if it lost or loses His preserving power (see Power of God – glossary). Though destruction or destroyed is not specifically mentioned by God, it is in the natural order to first be destroyed and then swept off. 

 

Continuing in Ether, the terms of residency and HOA covenants upon the land of promise are reemphasized twice here to make sure we’re all clear about what is says in the contract. – “And now we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God or they shall be swept off when the fullness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fullness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity. For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands. Wherefore, he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off, for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fullness of iniquity among the children of the land that they are swept off [they’ll be destroyed first]. And this cometh unto you, O ye gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God, that ye may repent and not continue in your iniquities  until the fullness be come, that ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land hath hitherto done.” As if it were not already clear enough, once again – “Behold, this is a choice land; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under Heaven if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who has been manifested by the things which we have written.”

 

 Now, read the following definition of Destroy found in the glossary and ask yourself if we are not destroyed and preparing ourselves to be swept-off: 

 

“In the vernacular of the Book of Mormon, to destroy did not mean annihilation. It merely meant to end the organized existence of a people or to terminate their government, deprive them of a land, and end their cultural dominance.¹ In the Book of Mormon, a people were destroyed when they lost control over their government and land. Their ability to preserve their own values and choose the way they were governed was taken over by others. Most often it was from a different ethnic group, though not always. Once people were destroyed, they were oppressed and suffered. Often they were oppressed with grievous taxes and had religious liberties removed. Then they faced a choice: either repent, in which case they came through the period of oppression with another chance; or if they were angry and rebellious, they would then be “swept away.” Being destroyed is not at all the same as being “swept away.” It is possible for people to have been destroyed and not even realize it. But when they are “swept away,” they face extinction and cannot help but notice it.^2”

 

 

“Swept Off?” Not Yet. “Destroyed?” Maybe

 

Signed

 

John The-Not-So-Beloved

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon p. 117, quoted in Church Educational System (1996, rev. ed.). Book of Mormon Student Manual (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), ch. 6.