Thousands of years ago, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, promising great blessings to his posterity, who included his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, also known as Israel. Over time, Israel’s posterity was scattered, but the Lord promised He would someday gather them and remember His covenant with them. “When we speak of the gathering,” President Russell M. Nelson declared, “we are simply saying this fundamental truth: every one of our Heavenly Father’s children, on both sides of the veil, deserves to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They decide for themselves if they want to know more.”
By Study
The tenth Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares: “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” (The Pearl of Great Price, The Articles of Faith 1:10.)
Assignment
Study the following chapter from the Church manual Gospel Principles, which is available free online in electronic form or in hard copy for members at the Church’s online store and for anyone else here (the chapters listed below all have links to the online version):
Chapter 42: The Gathering of the House of Israel
By Faith
President Nelson has said, “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”
Assignment
Ask yourself, “What do I need to do to help myself, my living family members, and my deceased ancestors to receive essential baptismal and temple ordinances and to keep the covenants made in these ordinances?” Write down the impressions that come to you. Then take one step this week.
Credit for the image at top of the page: Image of Abraham taken from Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri), “Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishmael,” public domain, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham#/media/File:Guercino_Abramo_ripudia_Agar_(cropped).jpg.
