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Scripture Thoughts
Who is Mormon talking about in 3 Nephi?3 Nephi 16:10
10 And
thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day
when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel,
and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and
shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts
above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth,
and shall be filled with all manner of lyings,
and of deceits, and of mischiefs,
and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders,
and priestcrafts, and whoredoms,
and of secret abominations; and if they shall do
all those things, and shall reject
the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I
will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
It is only those that have the fulness, that can then reject it.
Who are the Gentiles?
Remember that the Book of Mormon was written to three groups; "Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile" (Title page of the Book of Mormon). Most of the members of the LDS church are Gentiles. That is also confirmed in D&C 109:60, "Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles."What Gentiles have the "fulness of my gospel?" Again that would be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other churches that come from the organization started by Joseph Smith. They would include the RLDS, Community of Christ, Restoration Branches, etc.
From this scripture we know that these Gentiles will apostatize from the truth.
What does it mean to be a murder?
When Mormon is using the term, he doesn't only mean an action that will kill the mortal body. Notice how Alma was considered to have "murdered many." Yea, and I had murdered
many of his children, or
rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in
fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of
coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with
inexpressible horror. (Alma
36:14)
Notice that this same term is used when talking about those that ignore the light.
For behold, if ye deny the Holy
Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny
it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and
whosoever murdereth against the light and
knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain
forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for
him to obtain a forgiveness. (Alma
39:6)
We see this also echoed in Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear
him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.