The Words of Christ That Are Yet to Come Forth

Principle among scriptures still to come forth are Jesus’ words to the Nephites, when he “did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory—yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapped together as a scroll” (3 Nephi 26:3).

Says Mormon, “Behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken” (3 Nephi 26:8).

In other words, the full account of Jesus’ words to the Nephites that are on the Large Plates of Nephi do not appear in the Book of Mormon, which is taken from the Small Plates of Nephi. It is waiting for us to “believe” Jesus’ current words in the Book of Mormon—including specific prophecies of Isaiah—and apply them to ourselves in order to receive the full account:

“And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation” (3 Nephi 26:9–10).

Here appears the dichotomy that characterizes the end-time Gentiles—the Latter-day Saints who have the Book of Mormon. When discoursing on the words of Isaiah, Jesus cites their unbelief in two stages: (1) when they don’t believe the true nature of the great and marvelous work as the restoration of the house of Israel; and (2) at the time his servant brings forth his words:

“In that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them. But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them” (3 Nephi 21:9–10);

“Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant” (3 Nephi 21:11).

The “true points of my doctrine” to which Jesus refers thus have to do with the Lord’s great and marvelous work of restoring the house of Israel in fulfillment of the Father’s covenant with them (3 Nephi 21:6–7)—not with the restoration of the gospel and priesthood through the prophet Joseph Smith, which the scriptures define as its foundation, beginning, or commencement.

Suffice to say that the Gentiles’ or church members’ unbelief leads to their both not receiving the “greater things” or “full account” of Jesus’ words to the Nephites and being “cut off from among my people who are of the covenant”—while those who believe serve as the Gentiles’ spiritual kings and queens who restore the house of Israel (3 Nephi 21:8; cf. Isaiah 49:22–23; 52:15).