In Every Nation

In general conference on Sunday, President Oaks made this statement: “Book of Mormon teachings contradict the erroneous assertion that the grace of God saves only a chosen few. The Book of Mormon teaches that our Savior inviteth ‘all to come unto him … ; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.’ His grace is for all. Similarly, the Book of Mormon tells us that the children of God in ‘every nation’ have His promise that He ‘manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost.’” Both of these passages are from Nephi, and other statements by the first writer in the Book of Mormon indeed highlight that the grace of God does not just only save a few people. Nephi wrote in the same chapter as the above two citations: “[The Lord God] doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.” He laid down His life for all, not just a chosen few. Nephi then asked a series of questions about the universality of the Savior’s reach, each with the same answer. The first was this: “Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.” He inviteth all the ends of the earth to come unto Him. Nephi’s second question was similar: “Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.” He wants all to come to His house of worship to learn of Him. Nephi then asked, “Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.” His salvation is for all and there is none who He commands to not partake of it. Nephi’s final question was this: “Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden” (2 Nephi 26:24-28). These passages emphatically affirm, as President Oaks said, that the grace of God does not just save only a few.

            As Nephi finished his record, he expressed his earnest desire for salvation for all of God’s children. He wrote, “And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ.” He expressed this wish: “And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day” (2 Nephi 33:10, 12). He knew that all the end of the earth could come unto the Savior, and he hoped for all to be saved through Christ. His desire was similar to that of the sons of Mosiah. Mormon described them this way: “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble” (Mosiah 28:3). Salvation is not just for a few; it is for “every creature” on earth if they will but come unto Him. Alma expressed a similar desire in these words, “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption” (Alma 29:1-2). He knew that salvation was for every people and every soul. Alma later taught his son in these words: “Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds” (Alma 42:27). All can come unto the Savior for salvation if they desire it. The Book of Mormon declares again and again that the grace of God is just not for a chosen few,.