Latter-Day Saints are not Gentiles
Posted: October 3rd, 2013, 6:54 pm
I know there's been a few threads on this topic. I've been taught my whole life and have learned through scripture study that people who accept the Gospel are adopted into the House of Israel and are therefore no longer gentiles.
Of this adoption into the house of Israel, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: The Holy Ghost "is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence." (Teachings, pp. 149-150.)
In his presentation to the Romans, Paul—who has been advocating the cause of the Gentiles, showing by reason and revelation that they too are entitled to the gospel—now explains that the gospel blessings come to the Gentiles because they are adopted into the house of Israel; that is, using the common figure that Israel was likened to a tame olive tree, Paul says that the Gentiles, as branches of a wild olive tree, are being grafted into the roots of the tame tree, the roots to whom the promises appertain.
Of this adoption into the house of Israel, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: The Holy Ghost "is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence." (Teachings, pp. 149-150.)
In his presentation to the Romans, Paul—who has been advocating the cause of the Gentiles, showing by reason and revelation that they too are entitled to the gospel—now explains that the gospel blessings come to the Gentiles because they are adopted into the house of Israel; that is, using the common figure that Israel was likened to a tame olive tree, Paul says that the Gentiles, as branches of a wild olive tree, are being grafted into the roots of the tame tree, the roots to whom the promises appertain.
)