I feel My Savior’s Love I Give All My Life for Him Who Are the Lord’s Chosen People? Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephities Ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me. (3 Nephi 15:24) When Jesus Christ appears to the Nephities He refers to Gentiles in the Latter days and the House of Israel. “Blessed are the Gentiles because of their belief in me” (3 Nephi 16:6) “7.…in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them” 8. But wo, saith the Father , unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles….have scattered my people who are of the house of Israel” Here it sounds like House of Israel is the Indians of North America and Gentiles are Americans. The Lord shall stand in the midst of his people-----they who are in the north countries shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence and they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants. They from the north shall fall down and be crowned with glory, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. They shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. This joy is manifest by all in song! This is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. D&C 133:25-35 In patriachical blessings most members of the Church in Western United States are told they are of the lineage of Ephraim, yet in the Book of Mormon we seem to be Gentiles. Mormons in Utah and surrounding area have for generations send out missionaries throught out the world and it is now a world-wide church with missionaries from many nations. Teaching the nations is part of the responsibilities of the seed of Abraham to be the Lord’s covenant people. D&C 121:14 “Many are Called but few are Chosen”. It is ease to see that someone can be called and not chosen but I have learned that one may be chosen without being called. D&C 122 : 9 “fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.” When Jesus appreared to the Nephities he quoted Isaiah 54. It is about a barren woman having more children than a married wife. I finally understood more of this last night when reading the New Living Tranlation of Isiah 54. Jerusalem is the barren woman. And in the end the Lord greatly blesses the Jews, his covenant people and House of Israel and Jerusalem. In 3 Nephi chapter 21 it is confusing to me about who are the Gentiles- do they include members of the church ? Who is the remnant of the house of Jacob—the Indians? Book of Mormon comes forth from the Gentiles to the world. Who is the House of Israel? Gospel Doctrine Manual lesson 40 quotes President Joseph Fielding Smith “Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage, or Abraham’s children though Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R McConkie, 3 vols. (1954-56),3:246. This feels right and explains are the dilemma of who am I and who are you in God’s sight-- We are Cod’s Children. When we are baptized we become God’s covenant people. We make covenants with him each week to remember him, to keep his commandments , and to take his name upon us. Yea, We have the name of Jesus Christ as part of our name. Isaiah 54 is about Jesus Christ loving and protecting and blessing us more than we can know. Isaiah 54 New Living Translation (NLT) Future Glory for Jerusalem 54 “Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the LORD. 2 “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! 3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities. 4 “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. 5 For your Creator will be your husband; the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. 6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief— as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God. 7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. 8 In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. 9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. 10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. 11 “O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli. 12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones. 13 I will teach all your children, The New Living Translation helped me understand that Isaiah 54 & 3 Nephi 22- is about Jerusalem, and the Jews and the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Israel, Jerusalem, and the Church has been as a childless woman, a desolate woman, but the time will come that this woman will have the joy of children. Jerusalem will be filled with Jews, the Church will enlarge her stakes, The church will grow. The Lord, our creator will be like our husband giving his baptized covenant people his everlasting love and compassion. The Lord’s name is The Lord of Heaven’s Armies. For a brief moment He abandoned Jerusalem, the Jews, even the Church had to pass through tribulation of being cast out, jailed and fleeing again and again. The Lord is in charge of the smith that forms all weapons –all bombs—all atomic weapons--- and no weapon that is formed against his covenant people shall prosper. Wow! What a great blessing to be protected and loved by the Lord. His blessing to those keep their covenants with the Lord the mountains may move and the hills disappears but his faithful love for his people will never be broken. He will rebuild the storm=-battered Jerusalem with precious jewels with foundation from lapis lazuli gaates of shining gems, walls of precious stones. This love, protection, beauty, blessings is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. I want to be a covenant keeper. One who may receive these promised blessings.