I
want, now, to say a few words with regard to a term that is frequently used in
our midst. I refer to the term "Gentile." I have explained this a
great many times to the Elders both in public and in private, and I was
surprised at the use made of the term this afternoon. "Gentile," or
"gentilism," applies only to those who reject the gospel, and will
not submit to and receive the plan of salvation. Will you remember this? It
does not apply to any only those who are opposed to God and His Kingdom. When
the Jews, as a nation, were in their glory, they called the nations around them
Gentiles. Why? Because they were opposed to the laws and precepts that the
Lord, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses, had revealed for the guidance of
Israel But it does not apply to this or any other nation, simply because they
are not of our faith; and in fact, in these days, on account of their conduct,
the term could be more properly applied to the Jews than to any other people;
but it does not apply to them for they are of the chosen seed. Among the
nations of the earth there is a great mixture, but there are many millions that
we shall yet gather into this Church.
Remember
this, O, ye Elders of Israel, and do not apply the term "Gentile" to
a man because he is not baptized. There are some of pure gentile blood will
come into this Church. There are a few already, but very few. When a person of
real gentile blood, through honesty of heart, submits to the gospel and is
baptized and receives the laying on of hands from a man duly authorized, you
might naturally suppose, from the contortions of the muscles, that such a
person had a fit, for the power of the Holy Ghost falls upon and renovates that
rebellious blood and stirs it up, and perhaps the person thus administered to
falls prostrate on the floor. I have seen this, and it is in consequence of the
power of the Holy Ghost operating upon the power of the enemy within the
individual. Whoever has been in our Councils would never make the application
of "Gentile" to a man or woman, simply because he or she was not
baptized, for that has nothing to do with it either one way or the other. I
want the brethren to learn this, and everything that is useful. (Brigham Young,
August 16, 1868 | JOD 12:270-71)
Further Reading:
John A. Tvedtnes, Who
are the “Gentiles”?
