There are 3 New Jerusalems prophesied in The Book of Mormon:
- By Lehi & Mulek’s descendants—at the time of Jesus.
- By Gentiles and Seed of Jacob (Colonists & Indians) pre-publication of Book of Mormon (gov. of USA).
- House of Joseph (of Egypt; another Remnant)—post-America on BoM lands (WNY).
Pertinent prophecies:
1 And now I, Moroni, proceed to finish my record concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing.
2 For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;
4 Behold, Ether saw the DAYS OF CHRIST, and he spake concerning A New Jerusalem upon THIS LAND.
6 And that A New Jerusalem should be built up upon THIS LAND, unto the REMNANT OF THE SEED OF JOSEPH, for which things there has been a type.
8 Wherefore, the REMNANT OF THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH shall be built upon THIS LAND; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall BUILD up A HOLY CITY UNTO THE LORD, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall NO MORE BE CONFOUNDED, UNTIL THE END come when the earth shall pass away. (Ether 13)
And:
22 But if THEY [Gentiles] will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;
23 And THEY [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.
24 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.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then shall the WORK OF THE FATHER COMMENCE at that day (3 Nephi 21)
A closer look reveals these prophecies are not speaking of the same New Jerusalem:
A New Jerusalem -v- The New Jerusalem
Remnant House of Joseph -v- Remnant of Jacob + Gentiles + House Israel
No Longer Confounded -v- Work of the Father (1Ne.14:6-7)
Post-BoM -v- Pre-BoM
The promises of the seed of Joseph (of Egypt) differ from those of Jacob. The part that speaks of Joseph’s descendants on ancient Book of Mormon lands never becoming confounded also states God will intervene on their behalf.
Their turn to build A New Jerusalem on their lands will only come if the former New Jerusalem built by the Gentiles and Seed of Jacob comes to an end (i.e., chooses wickedness).
The only other mention of the House of Joseph is when the Lord confirmed this was their land (tribe of Jacob went north with Hagoth into Canada).
11 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he said unto those twelve whom he had chosen:
12 Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are A REMNANT OF THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH.
13 And behold, this is the LAND OF YOUR INHERITANCE; and the FATHER HATH GIVEN IT UNTO YOU.
14 And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem.
15 Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land. (3 Nephi 15)
Contents
America
The prophecy of a New Jerusalem in America was hijacked by Joseph Smith when he attempted to build it in Independence, Missouri. The prophecy reads:
22 But if they [Gentiles] will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob [Indians], unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;
23 And they [Gentiles] shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob [Indians], and also as many of the house of Israel [Jews] as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem..
24 And then shall they [Gentiles] assist my people [Indians] that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. (3 Nephi 21)
This New Jerusalem would be in place prior to the Book of Mormon coming forth and is easy to identify: the government over the land where the Book of Mormon came forth (United States of America with her inspired Declaration of Independence, Constitution, & Bill of Rights, etc.).
Joseph’s attempt to build that prophesied New Jerusalem failed because:
- The New Jerusalem was already built and in place. (3 Nephi 21:22-26)
- He threatened to have the land in Missouri “by purchase or by blood” which the Missourians resented and responded to by kicking out the Mormons. (D&C 63:29)
Mormons are still waiting to build Joseph’s idea of the prophesied New Jerusalem in Independence, Missouri, which they claim must be done before Jesus returns.
Above
Book of Mormon prophet Ether prophesied that the New Jerusalem from above would descend to the 3rd New Jerusalem built by the “House of Joseph” on Book of Mormon lands:
2 After the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands a chosen land of the Lord wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him which dwelleth upon the face thereof
3 and that it was the place of the New Jerusalem which should come down out of Heaven and the Holy Sanctuary of the Lord (Ether 13)
Mormons who believe that Book of Mormon events took place in Mexico or Guatemala or Malaysia, etc. should expect this heavenly Jerusalem to descend there, and get ready by moving to those places—but they are not, for they are not “choice above all other lands” (i.e., those theories are false).
Book of Mormon Christians, on the other hand, recognize that ancient Book of Mormon lands are where the record came forth—western New York.
Book of Revelation
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down from God OUT OF HEAVEN, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21)
Using the word “city” has proven a stumbling block for Mormons to accept that the New World New Jerusalem is the United States of America and not what Joseph attempted in Independence, Missouri. The heavenly Jerusalem, however, is quite large, measuring 1500 miles square and is also called a “city.”
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