Children were regarded as a great gift from God. We sometimes think otherwise in our competitive, consumer-driven society. Our priorities are all askew. We are selfish. We would rather indulge ourselves than provide for our posterity. This likening is somewhat less appreciated in our setting than it was in a setting where the real value of family and children was understood or when children were an asset in the work of providing for the family. However, if we see things as God does, we realize our posterity is among His greatest gifts.
In this verse Nephi is telling us about a promise of great posterity. It is a joyful thing for all future generations to include your descendants. Such a thing is a profound blessing from God, comparable to what He promised Abraham. In turn, having your “name …cut off” before God means losing descendants on earth. Just how serious this is becomes apparent when Malachi’s prophecy is considered: Mal. 4: 5–6:
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
This work is what makes one a Savior on Mount Zion. It is the way to salvation for the living and the dead. Joseph explained:
“But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. And I would to God that this temple was now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and make use of the seals while they are on earth.” (DHC 6:184.)
In Section 128: 18 it says:
“It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.”
The only way for the deceased ancestors to participate in this redemption is through a descendant here on earth performing the necessary vicarious work for them. Without a descendant, the genealogical work is not sought, nor the ordinances performed. This great latter-day work is carried out through the family.
The promise Nephi refers to here foreshadow the blessings which come through families, the Temple and the ordinance work needed to prepare for Christ’s return.
The warning to Nephi’s brothers is they will lose blessings from God, the greatest promises offered to mankind (all obtained through a righteous posterity), unless they repent. That warning fits us, too.
In our day, this promise can also be related to eternal increase. The loss of an eternal posterity means damnation. We risk that loss as we neglect, ignore and disobey the commandments.