Did the Canaanites Reject the Gospel?

DID THE CANAANITES REJECT THE GOSPEL? BY M. W. MANSFIELD, TEASDALE, UTAH.

But little history has come down to the present age, of na- tions immediately connected with the seed of Abraham, anti- dating 1500 B. C, Israel was led out of Egypt at about that time, and forty years later overran Palestine, and took possession of most of that country, destroying most of the inhabitants, under the command of Jehovah. Many people have doubted that the Canaan- ites were destroyed by literal command of God, holding that Deity had no immediate part in the conquest of that land. The reign of law is supreme, and nations go down under transgression, just as surely as individuals do. Abraham was told that the ini- quity of the Amorite was not full in his day, but would be later, and that his seed should inherit that land. Melchizedek, the great high priest, lived in that land in the days of Abraham, and did a mighty work in his day.* The people were, no doubt, assisted by him and others, by which much repentance was brought about among them. I do not think any people have been or will be de- stroyed fully and completely, until they have been presented with the gospel and rejected it. The question may be asked, "Did these Canaanites have the word of God given to them?" The presence of Melchizedek there, and his life labors, answer, "Yes." Alma says: "But Melchizedek

•  *    the high priest *        *     did preach repentance unto his peo-
  

ple. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days. * * Now, there were many be-

Book of Mormon, p. 74.

fore him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater.*" He was not of Ham's seed, but of Shem's, because he was entitled to, and did hold, the priesthood, from whom Abra- ham received it. The Lord says: "Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through 'the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah." That his preaching extended to more than his own people, it would be easy to believe. Those spoken of as being after him, in all probability presented the gospel to that people also. A long time passed, after the days of Abraham and Melchizedek, before those nations were fully ripe for destruction and the Israelites were led into the land of Palestine. Nephi said: "But, behold, this people [the Canaanites] had re- jected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction; and he did bless it unto our fathers, unto their obtaining power over it."t Here is undisputable evidence that the word of God was taught them, and that they rejected it wholly, and were ripened for destruction. God is not a respecter of persons, nor of nations, but the righteous are favored of him. Moses went to Jethro, the Priest of Midian, to get the priest- hood which had come down to him from the days of Esaiaa who had lived contemporary with Abraham. Did he not also preach to the people? Whether or not Balaam, the prophet, who could not curse Israel, but bless them, was a true prophet, and held some of the priesthood, may be a question we cannot decide fully to the satisfation of the skeptical, from the written word; but this, at least, points to the fact that they had been blessed with prophets, and understood what their office was, in some respects. Nephi's statement reveals a condition of rejection of the gospel which was preached unto Abraham, as Paul says, and also to them, after their rejection of God's word, even every word or part of the gospel, and they were ripened in iniquity; then his chosen people were led in

• Book of Mormon, Alma 13: 18, 19. Doc. and Gov., 84. t Book of Mormon, I Nephi 17: 35.