While reading D&C 45 recently, I came across verse 17 where the Lord is telling the early Saints, just as he taught His disciples in the flesh, he would show them "how the day of redemption shall come, and also the restoration of the scattered Israel".
This scripture hit me hard and as I spent the day pondering the connection between the redemption and restoration of scattered Israel and the reality of the "ongoing restoration" as President Nelson testifies is still underway, I understood how so very important this doctrine is for us.
What is this restoration?
1 Nephi 10:12-14
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again
One of the promises given to Abraham was that his posterity would be gathered to their lands of inheritances.
There are many scriptures which help us understand this promise, yet it has been my experience that in church it's hardly mentioned, so let's take a look into this.... (see Genesis 26:1-4, 28, 35:9-13, 48:3-4, John 8:33,39, Acts 3:25, 1Nephi 17:40, 2 Nephi 29:14, Jacob 5, Ether 13:7-8, D&C 52:2)
Elder Russel M Nelson in 2006
"Israel Became Scattered
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. 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,” and that He did—into all nations."
"Israel to Be Gathered
God’s promise for the gathering of scattered Israel was equally emphatic. Isaiah, for example, foresaw that in the latter days the Lord would send “swift messengers” to these people who were so “scattered and peeled.” This promise of the gathering, woven all through the fabric of the scriptures, will be fulfilled just as surely as were the prophecies of the scattering of Israel."
"Moses appeared “and committed … the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north."
Footnote 28 states that "it is appropriate that Moses, who first led God's children to the land of their inheritance, would be the one to commit the keys of the gathering of Israel to the restored church." (The Gathering of Scattered Israel, Nelson, Oct 2006)
There are three main elements to this restoration:
1. The tribe of Judah scattered and gathered physically and spiritually
2. The lost ten tribes gathered physically and spiritually
3. The tribe of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) scattered and gathered physically and spiritually
We are most familiar that the Jews lost their freedoms A.D. 70 and were scattered throughout the world, but we might not be familiar with the fact that they have been gradually being gathered back to Israel.
It was May 1948 when Israel became an independent nation and declared Jerusalem as the capital. However, it was 1917, when Israel was freed from Turkish rule, Great Britain by proclamation declared that Israel would be a refuge for the Jews. And 1967 after the Six day War when Israel conquered the West Bank and for the first time since A.D. 70, Jerusalem became completely under the control of a Jewish Government.
This is noteworthy, because in the New Testament we find a prophecy the Lord gave to his Apostles stating that the generation which shall see Jerusalem freed from the Gentiles will be the generation which shall see the Second coming (Luke 21:24, 32 JST and D&C 45:24-30).
23...Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
24Now these things he spake unto them concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. And then his disciples asked him, saying, Master, tell us concerning thy coming.
32Verily, I say unto you, This generation, the generation when the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.
As you can see this prophecy being fulfilled is very meaningful as we understand that the generation where Jerusalem would no longer be trodden down by the Gentiles (the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled) would be the generation who would see the Second Coming.
In General Conference in 1966, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, Joseph Fielding Smith announced this prophecy was about to be fulfilled, and the very next year the Jews became free(In Conference Report, Apr. 1966, p.13). Thus we know that the Saviour will return to the generation born between 1917 and 1967. We dont know the day or the hour BUT we do know the generation.
Wilford Woodruff:
"The Gospel of Christ has to go to the Gentiles until the Lord says ‘enough,’ until their times are fulfilled, Luke 21:24 and it will be in this generation. D&C 45:25-30 Forty years have passed since the revelation I have read was given to the sons of men. We are living in a late age, although it is true there are a great many vast and important events to transpire in these days. But one thing is certain, though the Lord has not revealed the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man shall come, Matt. 24:36 he has pointed out the generation, and the signs predicted as the forerunners of that great event have begun to appear in the heavens and on the earth, and they will continue until all is consummated."
- (JD 15:275)
The physical scattering and gathering of the tribe of Judah is complete, but what of the spiritual gathering? The Lord said the first shall be last and the last shall be first(1 Nephi13:42), thus we see that although the Jews had the physical gathering first they will have the spiritual gathering last. We know some Jews are being converted to our church but on the whole their spiritual conversion does not take place until the Lord returns to the Mount of Olives. Thus despite having the opportunity to have their spiritual gathering first, due to rebelliousness, now they will be last.
Here the Book of Mormon is referencing the Jews...
2 Nephi 25:16-17, 20
16 And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things.
17 And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.
20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.
We have discussed the Jews and their scattering and gathering but what of the Gentiles, what do the scriptures teach of them?
The Gentiles are experiencing their spiritual gathering into the restored gospel and into the family of Israel since the Prophet Joseph Smith was called but what of their physical gathering?
In 3 Nephi we find the Lord speaking directly to them.
3 Nephi 21:22-28
22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;
23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.
24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.
27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.
Here the Lord is saying "this land"(verse 22) is the land of inheritance, which land is he referring to? North and South America. The Gospel Principles Manual is helpful in teaching us that the house of Joseph's (Ephraim and Manasseh) physical gathering to their land of inheritance is still to come.
"The Israelites are to be gathered spiritually first and then physically. They are gathered spiritually as they join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and make and keep sacred covenants. This spiritual gathering began during the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith and continues today all over the world. Converts to the Church are Israelites either by blood or adoption. They belong to the family of Abraham and Jacob (see Abraham 2:9–11; Galatians 3:26–29)." "The physical gathering of Israel means that the covenant people will be “gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise” (2 Nephi 9:2). The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be gathered in the Americas. The tribe of Judah will return to the city of Jerusalem and the area surrounding it. The ten lost tribes will receive from the tribe of Ephraim their promised blessings (see D&C 133:26–34)." "When the Church was first established, the Saints were instructed to gather in Ohio, then Missouri, and then the Salt Lake Valley. Today, however, modern prophets have taught that Church members are to build up the kingdom of God in their own lands. Elder Russell M. Nelson said: “The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. People can be ‘brought to the knowledge of the Lord’ [3 Nephi 20:13] without leaving their homelands. True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well. But now the gathering takes place in each nation. … The place of gathering for Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; the place of gathering for Nigerian Saints is in Nigeria; the place of gathering for Korean Saints is in Korea; and so forth. Zion is ‘the pure in heart.’ [D&C 97:21.] Zion is wherever righteous Saints are” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2006, 85; or Ensign, Nov. 2006, 81)." (Enrichment B, D&C Student manual) Elder Oaks back in 2002 understood this perfectly;
“For example, many of us or our descendants will doubtless participate in the fulfillment of prophecies about the building of the city of New Jerusalem (see D&C 84:2–4). But in this matter the timing is the Lord’s, not ours. We will not be approved or blessed in clearing the ground or pouring the footings for that great project until the Lord has said that it is time.” -Timing, Dallin H. Oaks
Article of Faith 10
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.
I was delighted when Elder Christofferson visited Hobart in 2023, to hear Him reminding us, as he referred to North and South America as the Land of Joseph, that the physical gathering to our land of Inheritance is still a promised blessing. Click here to read more on thisPresident Nelson:
"Jesus Christ will govern from both old Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem “built upon the American continent.” From these two centers, He will direct the affairs of His Church...Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority." (The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024)
D&C 29
7 And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;
8 Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.
Where is this place that we will be gathered in to and why is this doctrine so important?
"Though Zion is foretold in other scriptures (see 3 Nephi 21:22–25; Ether 13:2–12; Moses 7:61–64), only in the Doctrine and Covenants can be found the directives for its establishment, its laws and principles, and its location. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the New Jerusalem would be the first of Zion communities built in preparation for the Millennium. The New Jerusalem will be called “an ‘holy city’ … because it is a place of righteousness” (History of the Church, 2:254), and it will be located at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri (see D&C 45:66–67; 57:1–3). The New Jerusalem is spoken of as “the center place” (D&C 57:3), or the administrative center, or capital, for all Zion (see Dyer, Refiner’s Fire, pp. 99–104; History of the Church, 5:212). It is also spoken of as “Mount Zion” (D&C 84:2) and the “mountain of the Lord” (History of the Church, 6:319). From the beginnings laid in the New Jerusalem, the establishment of Zion communities will go forth throughout the world. The stakes of Zion will be the means through which the Zion societies will be prepared and strengthened (see D&C 82:14, 101:21, 133:9). Zion will first grow to include all of North and South America (see History of the Church, 6:318–319, 321) and eventually the entire earth (see Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 9:138)." "In his vision of the future, Enoch saw that great tribulations would make necessary a means of preserving the Lord’s people upon the earth in the last days. That means is to gather the elect in Zion (see Moses 7:61–62). The Doctrine and Covenants declares that in addition to the true “center place,” the stakes of Zion would also be “for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” (D&C 115:6). The Prophet Joseph Smith taught the same principle when he said that “without Zion, and a place of deliverance, we must fall; because the time is near when the sun will be darkened, and the moon turn to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, and the earth reel to and fro. Then, if this is the case, and if we are not sanctified and gathered to the places God has appointed, with all our former professions and our great love for the Bible, we must fall; we cannot stand; we cannot be saved; for God will gather out His Saints from the Gentiles, and then comes desolation and destruction, and none can escape except the pure in heart who are gathered.” (History of the Church, 2:52.)" ("Enrichment B: Establishing Zion", D&C Student Manual 2018) Joseph Smith Jnr gave the following admonition:
“We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object."(History of the Church, 3:390–91.)
Why? Because if the Saviour does not have a righteous place to return to, He cannot return. The Kingdom of God must come!
John Taylor:
"But if Zion is never built up the Lord will never come, for he must have a people and a place to come to." (Government of God, 1851, p 100)
Zion (the New Jerusalem) can only be built upon Celestial law, only those Saints who will obey Celestial law will be gathered into it. No unclean thing can abide His presence, only those who are pure in heart, shall return and come to their land of inheritance, they and their children will sing songs of everlasting joy.
D&C 105
5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.
D&C 101
13 And they that have been scattered shall be gathered.
16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
17 Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.
18 They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion—
19 And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.
20 And, behold, there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other place appointed than that which I have appointed, for the work of the gathering of my saints
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
“There is no occasion for uncertainty or anxiety about the building up of Zion—meaning the New Jerusalem—in the last days. The Lord once offered his people the chance to build that Zion from which the law shall go forth to all the world. They failed. Why? Because they were unprepared and unworthy, as is yet the case with those of us who now comprise the kingdom. When we as a people are prepared and worthy, the Lord will again command us and the work will go forward—on schedule, before the Second Coming, and at the direction of the President of the Church. Until then, none of us need take any personal steps toward gathering to Missouri or preparing for a land-inheritance there. Let us, rather, learn the great concepts involved and make ourselves worthy for any work the Lord may lay upon us in our day and time.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 586)
Russel M Nelson:
"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory." (April 2018)
"In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful." (Oct 2022)
“I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life.“ (Oct 2020)
D&C 103
11 But verily I say unto you, I have decreed that your brethren which have been scattered shall return to the lands of their inheritances, and shall build up the waste places of Zion.
12 For after much tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing.
13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.
14 Nevertheless, if they pollute their inheritances they shall be thrown down; for I will not spare them if they pollute their inheritances.
15 Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power;
16 Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. Read here to learn who is this man raised up to lead the people like Moses
17 For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm.
18 And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be.
19 Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence.
20 But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land.
Understanding that our being in a scattered state is a type of bondage(D&C 103:17) is important. The tribes of Israel were scattered as a punishment due to their rebelliousness. As we are now spiritually gathered we must prepare for the physical gathering so we can be worthy and qualify. When the Saints are gathered together, there is power and a refuge. We are currently gathered in stakes to help strengthen us and prepare us to be pure in heart. The Doctrine of gathering the Saints into New Jerusalem or Zion as promised by the Lord (D&C 103:13) shall not be moved out of her place(D&C 101:17,20) and is required to preserve the Lords people as we prepare for His Second Coming. This is the on-going restoration President Nelson speaks of; the restoration of scattered Israel. I testify this is true, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
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