< 1 Nephi 14 >

v. 1: he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks.

  • Acts 15 (Jerusalem Council):The apostles decided Gentile converts did not need to take on the full Mosaic Law (like circumcision), but they were asked to avoid a few “stumbling blocks”:Food sacrificed to idols / Sexual immorality / Meat of strangled animals / BloodThese were practices that caused offense in Jewish communities. Avoiding them promoted unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.
  • 1 Corinthians 8 & Romans 14:Paul expands on the theme. A “stumbling block” means using your freedom in a way that tempts or harms another believer’s conscience. Example: Eating idol-meat may be fine in Christ, but if it causes a weaker brother to fall into sin or confusion, it becomes a stumbling block.
Meaning: For Gentiles, stumbling blocks were:
  • Cultural/religious practices that clashed with Jewish law and could fracture fellowship.
  • Moral pitfalls (idolatry, sexual immorality).
  • Misuse of Christian freedom that led others astray.

What the “stumbling blocks” are
  • False traditions and misunderstandings (doctrines of men, corruptions of scripture — 1 Nephi 13).
  • Contentions and divisions that keep people from the truth.
  • Worldly power, pride, and secret combinations that oppose God’s covenant people.
  • Anything that keeps the Gentiles (and Israel) from clearly seeing Christ and His covenant.

How the Lord removes them in the last days
  1. Restoration of the gospel through the Book of Mormon and modern revelation → clears away doctrinal errors and restores plain and precious truths.
  2. Gathering of Israel → unites scattered covenant people and Gentiles who repent (1 Nephi 14:2).
  3. Judgments on the great and abominable church → worldly powers that oppose God will fall (1 Nephi 14:15–17).
  4. The ministry of the Lamb and His servants → His work will “make bare His arm” so that all nations see His salvation (cf. 1 Nephi 22:10–11).
  5. Millennial reign of Christ → complete removal of deception, oppression, and spiritual blindness.