Second Gathering of the Individual
Looking further in the Israelites' progression (as paralleled in Lehite history), we find great hope. Even though they apostatized anciently, when the time comes that they repent, they will be gathered again to their lands of promise, and the covenants made to their fathers will all be fulfilled. (Deut. 30:1-6.) The Lord declared, "...Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel." (1 Ne. 21:15 = Isa. 49:15.) Similarly, though individuals may fall away, the Lord will not forget them, and when they turn their hearts back to him, he will be merciful and lead them to the greatest of blessings. The most fundamental theme of scriptural history and prophecy is restoration--just as repentance is the underlying principle of individual salvation. (D&C 6:9.) Furthermore, the process involved in redeeming nations seems to correspond closely to steps that an individual needs to take for personal redemption.
A Mighty Change of
Heart
So far we have considered the spiritual applications of the history in First Nephi through Omni. In the books of Jarom and Omni was the account of the Nephites' decline that seemed to parallel the apostasy of the House of Israel. Proceeding into the book of Mosiah, we see the likeness of a reawakening. Several events apparently contain important personal applications: the rebirth of the people through the instrumentality of king Benjamin, the coming forth of the Jaredite records, Alma's establishment of the church of God, the persecutions of the saints, and the missionary fervor recorded toward the end of the book of Mosiah and the beginning of the book of Alma. Each of these seems to apply particularly to that period in an individual's life when he experiences a mighty change of heart--or "conversion."
Reflecting back on the great spiritual transformation that took place among the Nephite people during this period, Alma the younger said, "Behold, He [the Lord] changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word...." (Alma 5:7.) Thus they were saved from the bands of death and hell. (5:9.) So it is with individuals as well. If they are to be saved, they "must repent and be born again," experiencing "this mighty change in [their] hearts." (Alma 5:49,14; John 3:5.) This change need not be an event. It can be, and usually is a transition.
We are better able to understand this metamorphosis by considering what happened in Book of Mormon history. When the Nephite people experienced "a mighty change" in their hearts, they had "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2.) (Having a desire to do good does not mean being perfect.) They were "willing to enter into a covenant with...God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he [should] command..., all the remainder of [their] days...." (5:5.) Individuals as well, during this period of rebirth, besides renewing their baptismal covenants, can enter into additional covenants of obedience with God by going to the temple.(1)
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Endnotes:
1. At this time in Nephite history the people were given a "name, that thereby they [would] be distinguished above all the people which the Lord hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem...." (Msh. 1:11.) They were instructed: "...Remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that...ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you. (5:12.)
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