"Lord, to whom shall we go?" Charting the Course of the Church from Here to the Second Coming: Part 17

Question on the Brain

I don't know what your first thoughts are when you wake up, but as I sat up on the edge of my bed this morning, yawning and wishing for another hour of sleep, a thought formed in my mind:

"If the Gentiles are to 'assist' the remnant in building Zion, then are the two groups really 'equal?'"

During my shower time I pondered this question. 

I began from the premise that, yes, the two groups will be still be equal in the Vineyard, somehow, since they'll be "one in heart," and since the Lord has revealed the Celestial Law requires equality (see, D&C 78:5-7).

Anyway, this led to me thinking about a related subject: Nursing Fathers.

"Latch On!"

​If you've nursed babies, or have been around someone who has, then you probably know what it means for a baby to "latch on."

I'm talking about the way an infant has to learn how to "latch on" to its mother, or to its bottle filled with formula, in order to receive milk.

I remember sometimes as my wife nursed, our children would latch on and not let go!  (They must have gotten their hearty appetites from their father.)  

And so my wife learned how to gently "unlatch" them.

These images are important in Isaiah.

   But Zion said, The Lord 
   hath forsaken me, 
   and my Lord hath forgotten me.

(Isaiah 49:14)

In response, the Lord asks:

   Can a woman forget
   her sucking child?

(Isaiah 49:15)

Nursing Fathers

The Lord then paints a fascinating picture. 

Imagine a grandmother without any posterity to bless around her table.  She sits on her rocking chair looking out her window and longs for her family, for companionship.

   But she is utterly alone.

Why?  Where did everybody go?  What happened to her children and grandchildren?

   Lift up thine eyes round about,
   and behold: all these gather
   themselves together,
   and come to thee.

(Isaiah 49:18)

Then, in a moment of inexpressible joy, she looks up and sees them all coming to her doorstep!  They're carrying wrapped packages and hot pudding.  They are laughing and singing.  

The grandmother embraces her family, and they just keep coming!  They fill the room, the chairs, the stair steps, and sit on the kitchen counter.  

There's not room for everyone!  Where in the world did they all come from?!  

   For thy waste
   and thy desolate places,
   and the land of thy destruction,
   shall even now be too narrow
   by reason of the inhabitants.

(Isaiah 49:19)

Grandma looks around and realizes that there are faces she doesn't recognize.  Why, her family has brought friends with them to celebrate!  She marvels.

   Then shalt thou say in thine heart,
   Who hath begotten me these,
   seeing I have lost my children,
   and am desolate . . .
   and who hath brought up these?
   
   Behold, I was left alone;
   these, where had they been?
   
(Isaiah 49:21)

Grandma shoos everyone to the backyard where there is space to spread out. 

​She pronounces a blessing on her posterity, and upon their friends whom she regards as her own children.

How Did This Miracle Happen?

​If you're as astounded as I am, as this grandmother is, you're probably wondering, "How in the world did this miracle happen?"

   Thus saith the Lord God,
   Behold, I will lift up mine hand
   to the Gentiles,
   and set up my standard
   to the people:
   and they [the Gentiles] shall bring
   thy sons in their arms,
   and thy daughters shall be carried
   upon their shoulders.

(Isaiah 49:22)

Notice the Gentiles are not blood relatives, but become adopted into the woman's family when they bring her children home to her.

It's the Gentiles (of all people!) who are responsible for this miraculous restoration of the woman's family.

   At last.

   And kings shall be
   thy nursing fathers,
   and their queens
   thy nursing mothers.

(Isaiah 49:23)

Whatever else these words may mean, I wonder if the "kings" and "queens" in this passage are spiritual ones, even the Gentiles who have repented and who are welcomed into the Covenant of Jacob.