DiscussMormonism.com

Hi Liz.
Thanks for the welcome.
I understand about the rules... I run a message board myself. It feels odd to be on the other end of things, and I certainly see how my post can just look like spam. I tried to add some substance that might be the beginning of a discussion. Still - I figured some would just see it as a sales pitch.

If I were going to start somewhere, in picking a topic, I might start by asking who here thinks they are a Gentile? Or I would ask you what you think the word Gentile means? Are Latter-Day Saints Gentiles who have been spiritually adopted? Or what are they?

Since I am not overly familiar with the viewpoint of the Utah / LDS people, I thought I'd start there.

hopeofzion wrote:If I were going to start somewhere, in picking a topic, I might start by asking who here thinks they are a Gentile? Or I would ask you what you think the word Gentile means? Are Latter-Day Saints Gentiles who have been spiritually adopted? Or what are they?

We don't really use the term of Gentiles in the modern sense. If you are looking at the biblical term of Jews and Gentiles, if you are not of Jewish lineage, then you are a Gentile.

If you are speaking of Gentile in terms of who is considered part of God's covenant people and who is not, then all of those who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would be considered Gentiles. Anyone who joins the Church is, as you stated, "spiritually adopted" into the Church family.

If I were going to start somewhere, in picking a topic, I might start by asking who here thinks they are a Gentile? Or I would ask you what you think the word Gentile means? Are Latter-Day Saints Gentiles who have been spiritually adopted? Or what are they?

I sort of think of myself as both. Gentile being a non-Jew or non-Israelite. Jew as one who has striven with God, and having been grafted in, chosen by God. I guess there can be a literal sense and a symbolic sense. I'm non-LDS, by the way.

liz3564 wrote:If you are speaking of Gentile in terms of who is considered part of God's covenant people and who is not, then all of those who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would be considered Gentiles. Anyone who joins the Church is, as you stated, "spiritually adopted" into the Church family.

Interesting. Well - the one big shock I received in learning about the restoration of the House of Israel, was that I am an Israelite, scattered among the Gentile nations, and then brought back into remembrance of my true identity and brought to a knowledge of the covenants God made with my fathers. That is what Joseph Smith, Jr. was as well... and actual, literal descendant of Joseph, son of Jacob... specifically, descended through the line of Ephraim. And, in fact, I discovered that it was the understanding of many of the elders in the early church that most of the Saints were predominantly Ephraimites, ...as the tribe of Ephraim had come to England and other European nations long ago, intermingling with the Gentiles there.

Therefore, and if this is true, then many of us are not Gentiles "spiritually adopted" into Israel, but a lost tribe being restored again.

But - setting that aside for just a moment, I have another question that will hopeful ignite some further thoughts and questions. You said "all of those who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would be considered Gentiles."

I was just wondering - if Latter Day Saints are predominantly of the tribe of Ephraim, and Ephraim only being one of the 10 lost tribes, then... is it not possible that not everyone else, who is not a member of the Church, is a Gentile? Are there not other tribes out there, Israelites, who are to come and be restored? Does not the Doctrine and Covenants speak of them having their own prophets, and their own writings?

Just something to ponder on. This is the sort of revealing that went on with me for the last few years. Just when I thought I was crazy, God would caused me to run into a total stranger who would share something incredible that confirmed what I was seeing in the Scriptures. This is what I am excited about.

It is the end of the Church Age, and the beginning of the Kingdom Age!