“I Have Commanded My Sanctified Ones”

Monte S. Nyman

The King James text says “even them” instead of the bolded “is not upon them” (v. 14). The italics in the King James text is showing the word was placed there by the translators to make it read better. The other differences bolded (vv. 4–5) are insignificant. These verses, along with verse 2, have the same basic message as the parable of the wheat and the tares.

24 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. [Matthew 24:24–26]
29 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the wheat into my barn; and the tares are bound in bundles to be burned. (JST, Matthew 13:29; see also D&C 86:1–7]

The messengers who are gathered (2 Nephi 23:3) are to be sent to warn of the coming destruction of Babylon (the tares), and to invite the righteous (the wheat) to gather out. The Book of Mormon retention (v. 3) fits the context of the entire passage better. This gathering includes the forces of heaven (the destroying angels) who will follow the first messengers and will literally destroy the nation of wickedness, spiritual Babylon.

Book of Mormon Commentary: I Nephi Wrote This Record

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