Thanks, Adam, for continuing the BOMblogging campaign (two parentheticals– 1. how great is it to see Adam back in action? 2. Also, don’t you think BOMblogging gets on the list of fantastic, tongue-soothing names invented by Bells? Think Blogscars, BLODTD and Intellecxhibitionist. These guys are sooooo good! We also write jingles.) (Ahem– and they currently have won only 2 of 62 votes at THIS POLL. Ahem).
So can I pile on with my own Book of Mormon thoughts?
I was shocked to read the verses in the title, and I’ll tell you why. I’ve always struggled with the concept of chosen peoples. I won’t get into it too much, because I think it’s a common concern– what does God gain from grouping people together, making covenants with a people, rather than individuals? What sense does it make to treat a descendant of Ruben differently from a descendant of Gad? My guess is most of us have had these questions at one point, and found varying levels of satisfaction in resolving them.
Enter Nephi. Speaking to his brothers about the post-Exodus Israelites and those they displaced:
And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.
Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh as one; he that is righteous is favored of God.
I don’t know why I’d missed that scripture before, but it does a lot to make God’s behavior as to various groups and races more understandable. And it’s really cool that Nephi makes this slight right turn in the course of his sermon to explain what’s going on for us. Just remember: regardless of whether you’re Israelite, Chinese or Aleut– and despite inferences you might rightly draw from scripture– God favors you based on your righteousness, and nothing else. That feels good.
And here’s a bonus big picture lesson: Every time God does something that looks unjust or unfair or inexplicable, ALWAYS accept that he’s being just and fair and righteous, even though it doesn’t look that way. There are just too many times when we’ve questioned his actions only to learn later that it’s perfectly clear why he did something. See also here.
Of course, all of this just raises more questions: Then why work in groups at all? What is the meaning and purpose of a covenant that runs down generational lines? Was every people destroyed or dispersed by Israel simply more wicked than them? Did the Lord covenant with Israel simply because he knew they were going to generally be more righteous than all the other groups?
Please discuss your own questions related to this topic, or raise other interesting points from your own reading.