The Loss of God Given Land: Reading Between the Lines

I’ve noticed a common theme in the traditions I’ve been studying. Many explain how the different First Nations people were created on this land with the help of some greater being, or led here, again by some wise or supernatural being. I think the message is clear, these people are here because God put them here. In other words God gave this land to them. The Book of Mormon agrees with this, “there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.” (2 Nephi 1, paragraph1) But if I look more closely at these traditions, I see another pattern that brings light to this continent’s current state. Prior to this people being given this land, there is also the tradition of previous peoples who, in the words of a few native authors’:

“…did not continue to give each other the respect needed to keep the Sacred Hoop of marriage strong. Families began quarreling with each other. Finally villages began arguing back and forth. People began to fight over hunting grounds. Brother turned against brother and began killing each other.” The Mishomis Book, Edward Benton-Banai

“…fell into dispute and wars among themselves, which were pursued through a long period, until they had utterly destroyed each other, and so reduced their numbers that the lands were again over-run with wild beasts.” Legends, Traditions, and laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians, Elias Johnson

“…could not be happy in such sinful days, for there was murder, suicide, and every other wicked thing that made the days darker and darker.” Truth of a Hopi, Edward Nequatewa

“…did not behave themselves.” http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8816

It is known in these traditions that this land was provided by a divine being after the failure of a previous people to live in a way that is harmonious to the Creator’s purpose in creating mankind. It makes sense that, the same Creator that did this, also gave this land contingent on mankind’s “righteousness.”

I think, that leads to an obvious question: Why then, have the First Nations people, who God put in this land, been scattered from most of their land, and lost so much of their previous liberty under the hand of a usurping race?

I think the answers can be found through the pattern of a previous people similarly displaced and captive.

The ancient Israelites had the actual blood of a lamb as a symbol of their deliverance from Egypt, representing their repentant and purified status before God, a status that allows God to claim a people as His own.

Here are some examples of God's promise to them in regards to their promised land:

The Lord’s words to Moses:

But as for you, stand here by me and I will speak unto you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. You shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. Deuteronomy 2:12

Joshua:

And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass unto you, and not one thing has failed thereof. Therefore, it shall come to pass that as all good things have come upon you which the Lord your God promised you, so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them, then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which he has given unto you. Joshua 5:2

Even though, ancient Israel was also one of God’s peoples, they too were only blessed on the land given to them according to their obedience to God.

This theme is repeated in the Book of Mormon with the Nephites:

And now it came to pass after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching my brethren, our father Lehi also spake many things unto them and rehearsed unto them how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem. And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions upon the waters, and the mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed up in the sea. And he also spake unto them concerning the land of promise which they had obtained, how merciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should flee out of the land of Jerusalem. For behold, said he, I have seen a vision in the which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem, we should also have perished. But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands, a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath consecrated this land unto me and to my children for ever, and also all they who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them. Wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity. For if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed for ever. And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun this land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. 2 Nephi 1, paragraph 1

And now behold, I say unto you that if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression, that it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them. For behold, the promises of the Lord are extended to the Lamanites, but they are not unto you if ye transgress; for has not the Lord expressly promised and firmly decreed that if ye will rebel against him, that ye shall utterly be destroyed from off the face of the earth? Alma 7, paragraph 5

This latest scripture specifies that a people who possess “light and knowledge” (which the subjects of this verse, the Nephites, did) suffer a worse fate than those who do not possess “light and knowledge” (which the Lamanites did not), if they rebel against God’s ways. Scripturally, the loss of a promised land isn’t a fate given to those who never had the truth. It’s reserved for those who had it, who knew God, who were washed in the blood of the Lamb, and who willfully lost it.

These examples, both biblical and from the Book of Mormon, concur that if a people who God placed in a land neglect to follow God’s way, they lose their promise and blessing on the land. They no longer are promised liberty.

If a people has a surviving tradition that tells them God gave them a particular land, yet they have lost some or all of that land and their previous liberty… what is a logical conclusion that can be made about why it happened from a spiritual understanding?

Angry sentiments like the one below made by the now deceased Lakota chief, Mathew King are commonplace and understandable.

“You have taken everything and given us nothing, but worst of all you have never thanked us!” “You’ve got to change your ways. I don’t have to change. You’re the ones who have to change! I live by God’s power and I do what He wants me to do. We Indians lived a good life, a happy life until you came here and made it miserable. Who gave you the right to do that? You killed our people. You killed our chiefs. You stole our land. But God gave us this land. You can’t take it away!” Wisdomkeepers, by Steve Wall, and Harvey Arden, p. 34

While I agree that blame and an unmet responsibility lies on the light skinned race. I also see that there is neglected responsibility that the oral traditions imply on the part of indigenous peoples. The white race never could have done all that, if the First Nations people hadn’t lost something beforehand.
The European colonization was the result of what was lost, not the cause, or in other terms…

It was only a symptom of the underlying disease.

The scriptures and patterns of the oral traditions declare this could not have happened to a people who were true to the Creator’s ways.

It’s easy to cast the blame for all our problems on something or someone outside ourselves. However as Christians know, Jesus taught you must “first cast the beam out of your own eyes; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the speck, out of your brother’s eye.” If we do as Jesus said and first cast the beam out of our own eyes, what is the pattern telling us about our own awful state? What will return God’s promise to the First Nations people?

It is well known to First Nations people that they have lost valuable knowledge, much of it at the hands of the United States. There is a prophecy from the Anishinabe that also talks about their lost knowledge:

The Seventh Prophet that came to the people long ago was said to be different from the other prophets. This prophet was described as "young and had a strange light in his eyes" and said:

“In the time of the Seventh Fire New People will emerge. They will retrace their steps to find what was left by the trail. Their steps will take them to the Elders who they will ask to guide them on their journey. But many of the Elders will have fallen asleep. They will awaken to this new time with nothing to offer. Some of the Elders will be silent because no one will ask anything of them. The New People will have to be careful in how they approach the Elders. The task of the New People will not be easy.

“If the New People will remain strong in their quest the Water Drum of the Midewiwin Lodge will again sound its voice. There will be a rebirth of the Anishinabe Nation and a rekindling of old flames. The Sacred Fire will again be lit.

“It is this time that the light skinned race will be given a choice between two roads. If they choose the right road, then the Seventh Fire will light the Eighth and final Fire, an eternal fire of peace, love, brotherhood and sisterhood. If the light skinned race makes the wrong choice of the roads, then the destruction which they brought with them in coming to this country will come back at them and cause much suffering and death to all the Earth's people.”

If the most valuable knowledge (as the pattern would imply) was lost before the colonization of America, how is something lost that long ago to be retraced and recovered? If this is the case, it makes sense why the elders in this prophecy will awaken to this time with nothing to offer. But there obviously is a way, or this prophecy and the Book of Mormon would not agree that it will happen.

I think it is undeniable that the First Nations still possess knowledge and wisdom of things that are necessary in order for people to live in harmony with all of creation. The “children of the earth” have a lot to offer in that regard. This is something the world can see we have lost as a whole. We live in a destructive way that lacks necessary respect and responsibility for all our fellow creations. It is not sustainable. I’m sure there are other valuable things they offer that I am not yet aware of that mankind also needs to learn. I hope to learn those things.

I think, both races have lost important things. I think, we both have something to offer each other.

But, as for the missing things that are too far back along the path to reclaim, it seems that is what the Book of Mormon was preserved for. In it, the path to enter back into the presence of the Creator is described from those who did so, starting with the Doctrine of Christ that has also been forgotten by the “light-skinned” race (or as they are known in the Book of Mormon: gentiles). It includes God’s promise with native people to give them this land, their loss of it, and the prophecies of how they will receive it again, along with covenants God made with ancient “fathers” that were for the benefit of the world. It also describes Jesus’ personal ministry to them in this land after His resurrection. The light-skinned race (gentiles) may have been the ones with custody of it these last almost 200 years, but I believe its teachings have been largely rejected, misunderstood, or misused by them (although, there are some few of us that value and believe it). It was always meant to be given to those who were scattered by the gentiles, along with anyone else who would believe it. How ironic, that a valuable thing the gentiles have to offer in return for what the First Nations offer, comes from ancestors of some or all of the First Nations.

And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place, that I shall gather in from their long dispersion my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion. And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign: for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you — and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself and by the power of the holy ghost, which shall be given unto you of the Father — shall be made known unto the gentiles, that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them, verily, verily I say unto you, when these things shall be made known unto them of the Father and shall come forth of the Father from them unto you — 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 — therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the gentiles unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity — for thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the gentiles for this cause, that the gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel — and when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel. And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass that kings shall shut their mouths, for that which had not been told them shall they see, and that which they had not heard shall they consider. 3 Nephi 9, paragraph 11

But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance. And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city which shall be called the New Jerusalem. And then shall they assist my people, that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. And then shall the Powers of Heaven come down among them, and I also will be in the midst. And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. Yea, and then shall the work commence with the Father among all nations, in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. And they shall go out from all nations, and they shall not go out in haste nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. 3 Nephi 10, paragraph 1

And behold, this people will I establish in this land unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob, and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the Powers of Heaven shall be in the midst of this people, yea, even I will be in the midst of you. 3 Nephi 9, paragraph 8

If you are reading this, whether you are a full-blooded Native American, merely a small fraction, or even a believing gentile, I hope you consider whether this truly is the Creator’s words to you in this day. I truly believe that the Creator can and will verify that directly to you, if you sincerely desire to know.

If you have read and considered the Doctrine of Christ, and the Lord's instructions on how baptism is to be administered in the preceding paragraph, then I suggest also examining the covenant God has extended for the people on this land today, and determining whether this is something meant for you: Answer to Prayer for Covenant.

I believe these fulfill some of the "new knowledge and articles" that are to be joined with the knowledge of the native peoples prophesied about in the fourth fire:

“You will know the future of our people by the face the light skinned race wears. If they come wearing the face of brotherhood then there will come a time of wonderful change for generations to come. They will bring new knowledge and articles that can be joined with the knowledge of this country. In this way, two nations will join to make a mighty nation. This new nation will be joined by two more so that four will form the mightiest nation of all. You will know the face of the brotherhood if the light skinned race comes carrying no weapons, if they come bearing only their knowledge and a handshake.”

*The Seven Fires Prophecies can be found in The Mishomis Book, by Edward Benton-Banai, or in a slightly varied form on Wikipedia: Wikipedia