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Dear Bro. Gorton, I have had a number of people ask me the question "What is the House of Esau", and they are wondering if there is any special relevance this statement might have to missionary work other than we are to take it to the world? I would appreciate your opinion, if you have time to give it. Thanks so much, Karilin Robb P.S. This reference is from lesson 33. |
Dear Karilin,
As you know, although Esau was the older brother, Jacob received the blessing of
the first born, and became heir to the blessings of Abraham through his father,
Isaac. Esau married two Hittite women, "which were a grief of mind unto
Isaac and to Rebekah." (Gen. 26:35.) Because of the disobedience of Esau
his name was changed to Edom and his descendants are known as Edomites. The
Arabic nations have descended from Edom and the Jewish nations from Jacob and
Judah. Dire predictions against the Edomites were made by the Lord's prophets.
Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD,
and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up
against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou
art greatly despised. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that
dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that saith in
his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt [thyself] as
the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring
thee down, saith the LORD (Obadiah 1:1-4). And the house of Jacob shall be a
fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and
they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be [any]
remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken [it]. (Obadiah 1:18).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie has written that "through the lineage of Jacob, God
sent those valiant spirits, those noble and great ones, who in his infinite
wisdom and foreknowledge he knew would be inclined to serve him. Through Esau
came those spirits of lesser valiance and devotion. Hence, in the very nature of
things, many of Jacob's seed were righteous in this life, and many of Esau's
were wicked, causing Malachi to say in the Lord's name, some fifteen hundred
years later, that God loved the house of Jacob and hated the house of Esau"
(Mal. 1:2-3.). (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol.2,
p.277).
According to Brigham Young, the House of Esau comprises the gentile nations (Discourses
of Brigham Young 6:344). The promise has been that in our day the gospel is
first taken to the gentiles and then to the Jews. So the House of Jacob,
manifested principally through the House of Ephraim, are acting as saviors on
Mt. Zion to the descendants of Esau. President Young further stated that
"We are called to be Saints, to be the chosen people of the Lord Almighty,
to be the saviors of the children of men, to gather the house of Israel, and
save the house of Esau" (Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, p.118),
Gramps