The Children of Lehi and the New Jerusalem

One of the interesting aspects of the Savior’s teaching to the Nephites is the focus He placed on the building of the New Jerusalem.  This city, as we understand it, is yet to be built and will be a great place of refuge for the Saints in the latter days to be set up in the land of Zion (i.e. Missouri).  As Joseph Smith put it, we believe that “that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent” (Article of Faith 10).  The Savior told these Nephites, “And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel. And behold, this people 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 20:21-22).  He then said again that the Gentiles “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” (3 Nephi 21:23-24).  This was an event more than two millennia away—and still yet in our own future—that obviously would have no direct impact on the people He was speaking to (except for perhaps the three Nephites who would remain).  But in some way it must have been important for them. 

                I believe that the Savior was teaching about this because the descendants of the Lamanites and Nephites would be among those who would populate the New Jerusalem.  A few verses before His first reference to New Jerusalem, He told them, “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.”  So He was clearly including them (or their descendants) as part of the house of Israel, before saying, “And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel. And behold, this people 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 20:15-16, 21-22).  The use of the word you here seems to suggest that He was indeed talking about them (i.e. their posterity) and that His presence in a far distant future date in the New Jerusalem would be among the Nephites and Lamanites.  In the next chapter He said that people who were “scattered upon all the face of the land” would be gathered to the New Jerusalem. Here again I believe He was referring to the descendants of the children of Lehi because earlier in the same discussion He spoke of “this people” as those who would “be scattered” by the Gentiles (3 Nephi 21:2, 24).  These modern-day Nephites and Lamanites will be a part of the great city New Jerusalem.

                So where are they now?  There are approximately 5 million American Indians, but if they are the main group of children of Lehi then they have yet to receive the restored gospel in any large numbers—perhaps that day is yet future.  Or going further south, there are well over 1.4 million Latter-day Saints in Mexico who undoubtedly have the blood of Israel through Lehi in them.  Next door to their country are over 275,000 Latter-day Saints in Guatemala.  Many of these too likely have the blood of Israel through Lehi, and it may be that when that time comes a large group of these Saints will come north to the New Jerusalem.  They will perhaps even be led by the prophesied “mighty” descendant of Joseph (son of Lehi) who will bring “to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 3:24).  Wherever these children of Lehi are, we do know where we want to be at that day—in the safety of the New Jerusalem.