In the last General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a prophetic warning. He reminded us that the Book of Mormon was given specifically for the days in which we live, and that its prophets had seen our day. They therefore knew what would be of most value to us.

It was in this context in which Elder Bednar quoted from the book of Helaman, discussing the tremendous wickedness that came upon the Nephites, ‘… in the space of not many years.’ (Helaman 6:32) Interestingly, this phrase is repeated in the book of Helaman another two times (see Helaman 7:6, 11:26).

This pattern is repeated in 3 Nephi, when the Nephites had ‘continual peace’ across their nation in their 28th year (3 Nephi 6:9), only for their entire government to collapse within only two years. (See 3 Nephi 7:1-2). This happened shortly before the apocalyptic destructions that occurred among them prior to the resurrected Christ visiting them.

To be clear, this pattern could be seen among any nation or people today. The world is becoming more and more divided by the day. Anger, a loss of love for others and men’s hearts failing them is increasingly seen across the globe. The warnings of ancient prophets are therefore for each of us to heed, no matter where we live.

It is clear, however, that many Book of Mormon prophecies are specifically for those Gentiles who inhabit the Land of Promise of Lehi’s posterity. At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi sees in vision those Gentiles who will scatter and destroy many of their descendants, and the rise of a mighty Gentile nation upon the Land of Promise. It seems clear that this prophesied nation is the United States of America.¹

It’s important to remember that when Nephi, Mormon, Moroni or Christ give warnings to the ‘Gentiles’ in the Book of Mormon, these warnings are for those who will read the Book of Mormon. In other words they’re for us – mostly members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Too often we read the warnings and apply them to those who have never read the Book of Mormon, and likely never will. These words are for us – not someone else. It’s essential we liken to scriptures to ourselves and ask, ‘Lord, is it I?’ (See 1 Nephi 19:23; Matthew 26:22).

With that in mind, let’s read Nephi’s promise and warning.

‘And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks— And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity…’ (1 Nephi 14:1-2)

Interestingly, we here see that the Gentiles in the Land of Promise who repent will be numbered among the seed of Lehi. How many of the Gentile Americans are currently ‘numbered among the seed’ of Lehi – the Native Americans? This is likely a future event.

This isn’t well-understood by members of the Church, but it is clear in the prophecies of Christ while He was among the Nephites. He declared it would be a ‘remnant of Jacob’ – a phrase directly referencing Lehi’s seed – that would build the New Jerusalem. Others of the House of Israel, and Gentiles who have repented, will be able to assist – but the work will be led by Lehi’s posterity – Native Americans (see 3 Nephi 21:22-24). 

‘And behold, this people (in other words, the descendants of Lehi) will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.’ (3 Nephi 16:22)

As for the Gentiles, well, Christ says the fulness of the gospel will be taken from them – because they rejected it. Only those who repent will then be numbered among the Lord’s people². Here are some more quotes from the Saviour:

‘… if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

‘Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. And I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor. For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it.

‘And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles.’ (3 Nephi 20:15-20)

‘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…

‘…if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel.

‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, thus hath the Father commanded me—that I should give unto this people (the descendants of Lehi) this land for their inheritance.’ (3 Nephi 16:10, 15-16)

‘And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.

‘Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots (horses and chariots refer to military might); And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds; And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy land, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers;

‘Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands; And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities. And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away.’ (3 Nephi 21:12-19)

The Lord is telling us that what is about to happen will truly be catastrophic. None of us can probably see how this is going to happen. But happen it will – for the Lord has prophesied it. And it will begin soon.

In the space of not many years, a people that was once a force for good in the world has descended into an astonishing spiral of self-destruction. (The rest of ‘the West’ will similarly reap destruction, although it may look different.)

The good news is that we can repent and be numbered among the Lord’s people. But this need for repentance is now becoming urgent – desperate almost.

‘But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance; And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem. And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.’ (3 Nephi 21:22-25)

After discussing how quickly the Nephites had turned from righteousness to wickedness, Elder Bednar referenced how the Lamanites turned to God – surely another reference or foreshadowing of these latter days – and then gives this warning. 

‘At the individual level, each of us must “beware of pride, lest [we] become as the Nephites of old.”

‘May I suggest that if you or I believe we are sufficiently strong and stalwart to avoid the arrogance of pride, then perhaps we already are suffering from this deadly spiritual disease. Simply stated, if you or I do not believe we could be afflicted with and by pride, then we are vulnerable and in spiritual danger. In the space of not many days, weeks, months, or years, we might forfeit our spiritual birthright for far less than a mess of pottage.

‘If, however, you or I believe we could be afflicted with and by pride, then we consistently will do the small and simple things that will protect and help us become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us].” “Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.”

‘As we follow President Benson’s counsel and ask ourselves why the Lord inspired Mormon to include in his abridgment of the book of Helaman the accounts, admonitions, and warnings that he did, I promise we will discern the applicability of these teachings to the specific conditions of our individual lives and families today. As we study and ponder this inspired record, we will be blessed with eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to comprehend, and hearts to understand the lessons we should learn to “beware of pride, lest [we should] enter into temptation.”

‘I joyfully witness that God the Eternal Father is our Father. Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten and Beloved Son. He is our Savior. And I testify that as we walk in the meekness of the Lord’s Spirit, we will avoid and overcome pride and have peace in Him.’ (Elder David A Bednar, In the Space of Not Many Years, Oct 2024 General Conference)

As I discussed in a recent post, repentance isn’t a process of whipping ourselves with lashes and making ourselves feel terrible. Rather, it brings us joy and peace and comfort. Let’s, all of us, therefore ask, ‘Is it I?’, seek humility, and repent so that we too can be among those whom the Saviour will visit on His return.

© 2025 Jeffrey Collyer

1. For most of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many Church members and most scholars have believed the geography of the Book of Mormon was in Central America – southern Mexico and the Yucatán peninsula more specifically. Other theories have surfaced in recent years. While the so-called ‘Heartland America’ theory is largely ignored by scholars, I have come to believe this is more likely correct. Not only does it appear to be a better fit with the archeology, it is a much better fit with the internal evidence of the Book of Mormon, not to mention latter-day prophecies and the words of Joseph Smith.
2. For clarity, I don’t think this means the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will fully apostatise. But I do believe that a great many of ‘active’ Latter-day Saints may do so.