In his letter to the saints of Galatia, Paul wrote that “they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). Despite their worries that they might not receive the same blessings because they weren’t literal blood descendents of Abraham, Paul’s teachings indicate that all those who accept Christ and His gospel “are…Abraham’s seeds, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29)
Jesus Christ’s own teachings to the Nephites affirm that truth: “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold…and ye [also] are my sheep” (3 Nephi 15:17, 24). Malawian artist Joseph Lajabu Banda illustrates this point in his piece “And Behold, They Saw a Man Descending Out of Heaven” as Christ appears in a scene referencing an African landscape. In a global church, where both ancient and modern revelation assert that all are God’s children and are invited to partake in His covenants, it is imperative that all are welcomed into the fold by its members. May we, one by one, build bridges of connection and understanding, as we unite as children of Heavenly Parents.
-Lucy Lacanienta, Research Assistanthttp://book-of-mormon-art.local/catalog/and-behold-they-saw-a-man-descending-out-of-heaven/