THE FULFILLMENT OF THE MOSAIC LAW--"OTHER SHEEP HAVE I"--THE TEN
TRIBES--THE EVENTS OF THE LATTER DAYS.
(III. NEPHI CHAP. 15 AND 16.)
When Jesus had reached a certain point in his teachings wherein he
told the people that old things had passed away and that all things
had become new he perceived that some of his hearers were wondering
what were his intentions regarding the law of Moses. Therefore he next
instructed them on this point. He said:
Marvel not that I said unto you, that old things had passed away, and
that all things had become new.
Behold I say unto you, that the law is fulfilled that was given unto
Moses.
Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my
people Israel: therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come
to fulfill the law; therefore it hath an end.
Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been
fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.
And because I said unto you, that old things hath passed away, I do not
destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.
For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all
fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.
Behold, I am the law, and the light; look unto me, and endure to the
end, and ye shall live, for unto him that endureth to the end, will I
give eternal life.
Behold, I have given unto you the commandments, therefore keep my
commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly
testified of me.
How simple yet how grand, how plain yet how comprehensive are these
teachings, both with regard to himself and to the law which he had
given to the forefathers of the Jews and the Nephites! If men would but
receive these instructions in the plainness in which they are given,
how much controversy would have an end, how much dissension would never
have had an existence!
After giving these explanations to the multitude, Jesus again turned to
the twelve chosen disciples and told them the meaning of his words when
he said unto the Jews: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold;
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd.
These other sheep of which he spake, Jesus said, were the Nephites
themselves, who had been separated from the Jews because of the
latter's iniquity; and because of their continued evil doing and
lack of faith the knowledge of the existence of Lehi's family on
the American continent had been withheld from them. But still more.
Jesus had yet other sheep, which were neither of the Jews nor of the
Nephites, nor of the lands in which they dwelt. They were a people whom
he had not yet visited and who had not yet heard his voice; but he had
received a commandment from his Father to visit them, to show himself
unto them, and teach them, and then they all would be of the one fold
and he would be the one shepherd to them all.
These other sheep, neither Jew nor Nephite, we understand to be the ten
tribes of Israel who were carried into captivity, but who, unlike the
house of Judah, never returned to their homes in the Promised Land. We
are told that they were led away by the power of the Lord to a land of
which no one knows anything, only that which God has revealed.
Jesus then told his disciples many things relating to the age in which
we live. He explained to them how the Gentiles living on this continent
would have the truth presented to them, how they would grow haughty,
proud and exceedingly wicked, and how they would oppress the remnants
of the house of Israel who dwelt on this broad land. Then how these
remnants would have the fullness of the gospel brought to them, and how
eventually the house of Israel would be used to punish the disobedient
of the Gentiles, who should become as salt that had lost its savor,
good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.