Understanding the Point of Gathering Israel

Reading: 3 Nephi 16, 20-21

  

We have been reading and discussing the Savior’s visit to the Nephite people.  Mormon included quite a lot of doctrine that the Savior taught the Nephites, but we are told not everything was recorded.  What was recorded also went through the screening process of Mormon.  So the 22 chapters that we do have must be extremely important!  Of the 22 chapters that span Christ’s visit, seven of those chapters, nearly a third of our record of His visit, are dedicated to the scattering and gathering of Israel and the last days.  We had better figure out why.

First we need to define some terms and do a little review of events and meanings:

There are two main groups of people in the house of Israel that the Savior talks about in regards to their scattering and gathering: the Jews and the Gentiles

The Jews are defined as those having the lineage of Judah and also those who claim to belong to that nationality.  For instance: Lehi is from the lineage of Joseph (one of the ten lost tribes), but he claims himself a Jew because he is from Jerusalem.

The Gentiles are pretty much anybody who is not a Jew, which means a Gentile can be someone from the other 11 tribes.  For instance, Joseph Smith is declared to be from the pure line of Ephraim, but because he belonged to a Gentile nation, is considered a Gentile (and is therefore the prophesied Gentile to bring forth The Book of Mormon).

Throughout our reading today, we will discover that there are believing Gentiles and unbelieving Gentiles.  Those who believe are adopted into the House of Israel, but may still be called Gentiles.

Elder Russell M. Nelson summarized the scattering well

As descendants of Abraham, the tribes of ancient Israel had access to priesthood authority and blessings of the gospel, but eventually the people rebelled. They killed the prophets and were punished by the Lord. Ten tribes were carried captive into Assyria. From there they became lost to the records of mankind. (Obviously, the ten tribes are not lost to the Lord.) Two remaining tribes continued a short time and then, because of their rebellion, were taken captive into Babylon. 5 When they returned, they were favored of the Lord, but again they honored Him not. They rejected and vilified Him. A loving but grieving Father vowed, “I will scatter you among the heathen,” 6 and that He did—into all nations.  “The Gathering of Scattered Israel,”  Oct 2006, Ensign.

Abraham received the covenant personally and then The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, that this same covenant would be offered to his posterity and the offering of such a covenant would gather them together again.

Why was it necessary to make a covenant that a gathering would take place?  If the Lord wanted to gather people, couldn’t he do it without making a covenant to Abraham?

• A covenant is an acknowledgement from God to His people and an acknowledgement of God from people.
• The testimony of holy writ is that whenever the Lord has a people that he acknowledges as his own, that acknowledgement comes in the form of a covenant. “Our Destiny, The Call and Election of the House of Israel,” Millet, Robert L., McConkie, Joseph Fielding, pg 85.
• Covenant comes with education/revelation
• It is a system of worship
• Gives direction and hope
• Education about God
• It is a family affair
• Covenants come because of righteousness
• Evidence that there is a plan for individuals and groups of people
• Provides accountability and responsibility

It is, in fact, the loss of these covenants and their attendant blessings from the Biblical record that caused and continues to cause so much stumbling and misdirection.
Covenants are the plain and precious truths that the Savior restores throughout The Book of Mormon and most definitively in his visit to the New World:

·      He begins his visit with instruction about baptism: the first covenant we make, followed with the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us keep that covenant and more

·      He introduces the sacrament to help people remember their covenants and the author of covenants

·      He sets apart and confers the blessing of the Priesthood, another covenant.

·      It has been theorized that all that he teaches the people during his visit leads up to the temple covenants, though the actual covenants are not recorded

To further emphasize the importance of Jesus Christ and covenants:

·      The title page of The Book of Mormon says its purpose is for “the House of Israel to know the covenants of the Lord; that they are not cast off forever.”

·      Malachi 3:1 called Christ “the messenger of the covenant”

He proclaims Himself THE messenger that Moses prophesied about and indicates what being part of a covenant people means:

According to this passage, what is the opportunity or blessing of being a child of the covenant?

3 Nephi 20:23-26

·      Being a child of the covenant give you a change to turn from your iniquities, by being given directions from the doctrines of the gospel.

·      Verses 23-24 are quoted in all of our standard works

·      Through the Nephites, the whole world will be blessed

So, a gathering needs to occur in order for all the people of the earth (ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEIL) to know what the covenants of the Lord are, to make those promises so everyone can have chances to turn from iniquity by using the only mediator who can expiate our wrongs.

Let’s get some information then, about the scattering and gathering to help us know what to look for and do.

The beginning of the scattering of Israel started around 975 B.C.

Is the scattering over?

Sometimes we mistakenly suppose that because the restoration of the gospel formally began with the Church’s organization in 1830, the apostasy ended at the same time.  The first ray of light does not chase away the darkness of night; it simply stands as a harbinger of more light to come.  At the present time many aspects of the apostasy are alive and well.  They hold sway in every sphere of mortal activity that does not enjoy the full influence of gospel light.  So it is with the scattering of Israel: it did not end at the moment that the great labor of the gathering began.  The remnant of Jacob is at this very moment of time still being scattered.

Similarly, the assault on the concept of a covenant people has not ended.  Like all other aspects of the apostasy, it is alive and well.  In various shades of darkness it creeps into the thinking of the Latter-day Saint people.  We need to be reminded that should we as a people lose either our understanding of the covenant God made with our ancient father or our faith in its application and relevance today, then we will lose with it its train of attendants – revelation, prophets, priesthood, and temple blessings. Such is the lesson of history. “Our Destiny, The Call and Election of the House of Israel,” Millet, Robert L., McConkie, Joseph Fielding, pg13.

Who is doing the scattering?  Non-believing Gentiles.  The gentiles have a dual role to play in this plan of scattering and gathering.

3 Ne 16:7-9

·      “their” = believing Gentiles (v7)

·      v 8 talks about unbelieving Gentiles

·      v8 mentions scattering, which refers to physical scattering, but mostly spiritual scattering

·      BUT he causes the scattering for a reason – to make us humble and teachable!

The other role Gentiles play:

3 Ne 21:1-7

·      “you” = Nephites

·      “them” = Gentiles (believing)

·      The Book of Mormon will come forth from the Gentiles that the Lord may “show forth his power unto the Gentiles,” “so that they may repent and be baptized and know the true points of doctrine.”

·      The gentiles are, after all from the House of Israel and have believing blood.

·      The Book of Mormon is used as a tool of gathering and also as a sign of the COMMENCEMENT of gathering

3 Ne 21:9-10 about Joseph Smith.  Remember the Title Page of The Book of Mormon mentioned that it will “come forth in due time by way of the Gentile.”

What does the gathering mean?  Just as the scattering was a physical and spiritual event, the gathering will be a spiritual and physical gathering.  Prophets and apostles today have indicated that we are to gather to the lands we are already in.  Spiritual gathering is happening now.  Let’s read about what that means.

3 Ne 20:11-12  gathering = fulfilling covenant (Abrahamic and individual). You can be gathered and feel gathered even if it’s just you and the Lord.  But there is great strength when there is a group of people with the same belief and goal that you belong to.

The Lord tells us shat happens when covenants are fulfilled:

3 Ne 16:11-12  covenant = Gentiles (unbelievers) shall not overpower you.

            3 Ne 20:27  the Holy Ghost makes them mighty above all.

27 And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel.

At this point the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled

3 Ne 20:40-41

·      Because of the covenants that provide all the things listed on the board, people will say “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.”

o   “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace,” refers to those who spread the Lord’s gospel, but that it more specifically refers to the Savior Himself: “These familiar passages, written first by Isaiah but spoken of and inspired by Jehovah himself, are often applied to anyone—especially missionaries—who bring the good tidings of the gospel and publish peace to the souls of men. There is nothing inappropriate about such an application, but it is important to realize—as the prophet Abinadi did—that in its purest form and original sense, this psalm of appreciation applies specifically to Christ. It is he and only he who ultimately brings the good tidings of salvation. Only through him is true, lasting peace published. To Zion, in both the old and new Jerusalems, it is Christ who declares, ‘Thy God reigneth!’ It is his feet upon the mountain of redemption that are beautiful’ [3 Nephi 20:40]” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 286).

·      

And then we will get to work!  We are to remain clean and share the covenants the Lord has made and will fulfill so that others will receive the hope and direction that is possible for them.