This Sunday, Sister Wonsyld taught an informative lesson about The Gathering of the House of Israel and what it specifically means to us as Latter-day Saints.
The beginning of the lesson defined the people who make up the House of Israel. The Scriptures specifically reference Jacob's twelve sons and their families making up the twelve tribes of Israel (See: Genesis 49:28). In addition to this, God's covenant people and converts to the Church are all considered Israelites, either by blood or adoption. As long as His commandments are obeyed, Heavenly Father promised that Israelites would be blessed as His covenant people.
Despite many warnings from the Lord regarding what would happen if the people were wicked, they continued to stray from His teachings, which resulted in the House of Israel being scattered among the earth (See: Deuteronomy 28:64) A couple sisters in the ward commented that the scattering of people was beneficial to God's children because it gives today's covenant people an opportunity for mission work and to spread the message of the gospel all over the world.
Heavenly Father wants His people to be gathered once again spiritually and physically as they prepare for the Savior's return. The Israelites are being gathered spiritually first through missionary work. Spiritually we are gathering as we join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where we make and keep sacred covenants with Heavenly Father. At some point in time, the covenant people will then gather physically in the lands of promise (See: 2 Nephi 9:2). This physical gathering of Israel will not be complete until the Second Coming of the Savior.
Until the physical gathering occurs, the modern prophets have taught Church members to build up the kingdom of God in their own lands. People can have the knowledge of the Lord brought to them without leaving their homelands. Many sisters contributed their views of where they feel Zion is located. One sister thoughtfully reminded us that in its simplest state, Zion starts in the home. On a broader scale, the Church believes that Zion is wherever righteous Saints reside.
Thank you to the sisters who contributed their stories on Sunday of being converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is important as sisters of the Church that we continue to build up one another with spiritual strength as we continue to gather as the House of Israel.
Additional Scriptures:
Genesis 17:1-8 (God's covenant with Abraham)
2 Nephi 30:2; Mosiah 5:10-11 (becoming the Lord's covenant people)
James 1:1 (twelve tribes scattered abroad)
1 Nephi 15:13-18; 3 Nephi 21:26-29 (gathering starts with Restoration of the gospel)
Isaiah 11:11-13 (the Lord will recover his people)
D&C 133: 6-15 (Gentiles to Zion)
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