This message is to the Gentiles. And since the words in the Book of Mormon were really put together for the latter days, and there weren't people being referred to as "gentiles" in the promised land, these words of counsel and warning were meant for our day.
"Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel." (3 Nephi 30:2)
The thing I think stands out to me is how there are a number of things listed out here to repent of. I mean, "repent of your evil doings" seems to cover it all, but I wonder if it was that way because in our day, people mince words and get so caught up in the little wording details everywhere. There was bound to be people that said "it doesn't specifically SAY to repent of priestcrafts or strifes" if it wasn't included there. I know the Lord likes to be plain and simple.
So he talks about repentance, baptism, being filled with the Holy Ghost. Faith in Christ would be necessary for repentance to even be considered. But with that, you have the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Doing this comes with a promise that would only mean something to the Gentiles, who this is addressed to: that they will "be numbered with...the house of Israel". This is God's chosen people, and we (cause I'm a gentile) will be counted as one of them, even though we weren't born into that family. There are many promised blessings to the house of Israel, and those promises are extended to all who are numbered among that house (on conditions of righteousness). That's a pretty neat promise.
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