“The People of His Church”

Brant Gardner

Historical: Israel is invaded by the Romans in 66 AD, culminating with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Israel is brought into complete subjugation by the Romans. Nephi gives the short fact of the destruction, and lays the blame on those who "fight against God and the people of his church."

It should be remembered in this context that Nephi's use of the term "church" has a wider symbolic meaning rather than a narrow one. This "church" is best seen in the context of the other occasion where Nephi speaks of a "church" - the "Great and Abominable church." Just as that use of "church" was for a category of people opposed to God's plan, so here this "church" is the representation of the believers more than the organization. This is evident in that it is those who fight against this church" who are blamed for the destruction of Jerusalem. The incipient Christian church was to small, and to far from the attention of the Romans to have been a proximate cause of the invasion. Nevertheless, the ultimate cause is still those who were unable to follow the Lord. The late historical blaming of the Jews for the murder of Jesus is not really in evidence here. Nephi does not display any sign of condemning Israel for anything more than what Isaiah does - not properly following God.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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