And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea nearly

unto ripeness.

And I know not, but they are at this day about to be destroyed, for I know that the day

must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only who shall be led away into

captivity.

First Nephi chapter 17 verse 43.

Hey listeners, this is Nick from Book of Mormon Central, and today's podcast addresses the

question, why did the Lord allow Jerusalem to be destroyed?

The history of Israel and Judah, as recorded in the books of first and second kings,

culminates in the destruction of both kingdoms and their respective capital cities, Samaria in 2nd Kings Chapter 17, and Jerusalem, 2nd Kings 25.

In the final years before Jerusalem's fall, prophets such as Jeremiah, Lehi, and Ezekiel,

warned of the impending calamities, but were not

heated by the people. Today, the words of these three prophets can be used to clarify why,

from a theological point of view, Jerusalem was destroyed. According to Lehi's son Nephi,

people are ripe for destruction when the Spirit ceaseth to

strive with them, 2 Nephi, 26, verse 11, and 1 Nephi, Chapter 17, verse 43.

Bruce K. Satterfield, a religion professor at B.Y.U. Idaho, reasoned that in this instance,

the Spirit refers to the Lord's influence upon all mankind, more commonly referred

to today as the Light of Christ.

Satterfield studied the teachings of Jeremiah, Lehi, and Ezekiel to understand the divine

justification for Jerusalem's destruction.

Satterfield identified six features that characterized those who have placed themselves in the position of losing

...