Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Forty

The Covenant of the Father and the Pivotal Year 1820

By the power of the Father – One of the primary purposes of the Book of Mormon is to teach the house of Israel “the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever” (Book of Mormon, Title Page).  The gathering of the house of Israel in the latter days is the primary topic of Jesus’ sermon recorded in 3 Nephi 20-21.  In one verse Jesus gives us a great insight on the latter days:

“For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 21:4).

By the power of the Father a free people was established in the United States so that the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored and the Book of Mormon come forth.  In this way, the Father would begin to fulfill His covenant to gather Israel.  There was the inspired preparatory work of the Reformers and of the Founders, but the real start began with the First Vision.

The First Vision  -  Gary Kapp

The First Vision brought a flood of light, knowledge, and blessings – I believe the most important event in the history of this world, save only the birth, life, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, took place in upstate New York in the spring of 1820 when the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith in what is referred to as the First Vision.  (See Joseph Smith – History 1:11-20)

The First Vision is such a pivotal event because it is ushered in a worldwide flood of light, knowledge, and blessings all to prepare the earth for the second coming of the Lord.  In addition to the restoration of the gospel this flood includes great increases economic wealth, religious and political freedom, and great advances medicine, communications, transportation, computer, and many other technologies.  This is evidenced by the following examples: 

  • Great increase in the standard of living – “The Millennium – Poor Until 1820” was the title of a Wall Street Journal article on November 1, 1999.  In this article a noted scholar observed that the last millennium can be broken into three periods – from 1000 to 1500, from 1500 to 1820, and from 1820 to today.  There was practically no economic or population growth during the first two periods.  However, beginning in 1820 both economic and population growth multiplied many times over.  The fruit of this economic and population growth produced by the First Vision also gave great strength to the roots of freedom.
  • A worldwide interest in genealogical research exploded immediately after 1820 – Genealogical organization sprung up in the United States and in Europe.  In recent times computer technology, where enormous amounts of information is stored and used, has exponentially increased the opportunity and ability to do family history and temple work. 
  • Medical technology has brought a great increase in general health and longevity worldwide. This gives people an opportunity to devote more of their retirement years to service.
  • Communication and transportation advances, makes it possible for the gospel to be taught and administered on a worldwide basis.

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (D&C 3:1) – Religious freedom is the first freedom and it was established in this land by the power of the Father so that the gospel could be restored.  The light, knowledge, and blessings that we enjoy are byproducts of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This restoration was possible because there was religious freedom.

Now religious freedom is under attack by an increasingly secular society and government, and we must be vigilant and anxiously engaged in its defense.  The United States was “set up as a free people by the power of the Father” (3 Nephi 21:4), and as He raised up founding patriots to establish the Constitution, He will raise up other patriots, like Abraham Lincoln, by whom He will maintain the Constitution. (See D&C 101:77-80).  We should do all we can to be counted among those patriots who commit their lives to preserving religious freedom. 

We can be sure that “the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (D&C 3:1), and that the Father will certainly fulfill His covenant to gather Israel in the latter days.