THEN WILL I GATHER THEM INGospel Doctrine Book of Mormon Lesson 40

3 Nephi 16, 20-21

INTRODUCTION➤ After these beautiful chapters of the Sermon at the

Temple and the healing/blessing of the children…why do we end with Isaiah?

➤ 3 Nephi 23:1, 5

➤ Why does the Book of Mormon include so much Isaiah?

➤ Bible Dictionary: Isaiah, last paragraph

➤ ATOT: Halloween Party, dominoes that mark locations, like breadcrumbs.

➤ The clues looks impossible at first but if you notice patterns you can follow them to get home.

➤ 3 Ne 29:1-4, four testimony 'breadcrumbs' given through Isaiah's words

➤ 1. Know that the covenants are being fulfilled

➤ 2. Know that all prophesies will be fulfilled

➤ 3. You won’t need to worry that you’ve wasted your time

➤ 4. Temptation won’t have a hold on you.

WHAT IS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL?

➤ Descendants of Jacob (name changed to Israel)

➤ The Children of the Covenant

➤ The Nephites were descendants through Joseph

➤ We are of the House of Israel

➤ Through the bloodlines (patriarchal blessing)

➤ Through adoption due to righteousness

WHY WAS ISRAEL SCATTERED?

➤ 3 Ne 16:1-3

➤ Who are the other sheep?

➤ Lost 10 tribes

➤ Did He visit them? Neal A. Maxwell

➤ ”Will there be an additional or third group of convincing and witnessing scriptures? Yes! Will the lost Ten Tribes—those of ancient Israel who did not remain with Judah, as well as a portion of Benjamin—bring their own records and scriptures? Yes! And eventually, by three scriptural witnesses, the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth will be finally established.” (Plain and Precious Things, p12)

➤ Why were they scattered?

➤ 3 Ne 16:4

➤ Due to unbelief

➤ All those Jews believed in a Messiah

➤ What was their unbelief?

➤ They needed to be brought to a knowledge “of me” their Redeemer

WHO ARE THE GENTILES?

➤ Gentiles

➤ 1: people who are not born into the house of Israel

➤ 2: nations that are without the gospel

➤ Robert J. Matthews

➤ ”America, as is the case with Europe, has been peopled by those who have been without the fulness of the gospel for many centuries, yet they have much of the blood of Israel in their veins. They are not easily identified or recognized as Israelites and therefore are spoken of as Gentiles, in contrast to those of more recognizable Israelite identity such as the Jews and the Lamanites.  Hence, the great American nation is spoken of in the Book of Mormon as a Gentile nation, even though we, as Church members, know we have the blood of Israel in us. This condition is described by the Prophet Joseph Smith in D&C 109:58,60, saying we are 'the sons of Jacob’ but are 'identified with the Gentiles'." (Studies In Scripture, 8:169)

WHAT DO THE GENTILES HAVE TO DO WITH THE SCATTERING AND GATHERING OF ISRAEL?

➤ What blessings are reserved for the Gentiles?

➤ 3 Ne 16:7, The fullness of the gospel will come through them

➤ 3 Ne 16:13, They will be numbered among his people

➤ What does “numbering” imply? What types of things do you count and number?

➤ ATOT: I count my kids, how many jugs of milk we have…etc. Things that are precious things or things we can’t live without.

➤ Lost sheep parable. His sheep are numbered. He knows them individually.

➤ How does ancient perspective help you understand the value of being ‘adopted in’?

➤ ATOT: Watching Downtown Abbey. Blood lines were everything. Your destiny was based off of your family’s line.

WHAT IS THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL?

➤ What does it mean to ‘gather’

➤ The Hebrew word means ‘to grasp with the hand, to catch’

➤ You ‘gather’ eggs, shafts of wheat, etc. It implies personal touch and care.

➤ It is not a magnetic mass movement towards a center. It is personal; one-by-one. The gathering will happen one converted heart at a time.

➤ What types of gathering will take place?

➤ Spiritual: 3 Ne 16:12, 20:13, he is gathering hearts

➤ Physical: Spencer W. Kimball

“The ‘gathering of Israel’ is effected when the people of the faraway countries accept the gospel and remain in their native lands. The gathering of Israel for Mexicans is in Mexico; in Scandinavia, for those of the northern countries; the gathering place for the Germans is in Germany; and the Polynesians, in the islands; for the Brazilians, in Brazil; for the Argentines, in Argentina” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, 4; or Ensign, May 1975, 4).

WHAT SIGN HAS BEEN GIVEN TO SHOW THAT THE LATTER-DAY GATHERING OF ISRAEL HAS BEGUN?

➤ 3 Ne 21:3, 5, 6

➤ What sign is given?

➤ The coming of the Book of Mormon

➤ How does the Book of Mormon ‘gather’ hearts to Christ?

➤ 3 Ne 21:9-10

➤ How was Joseph Smith ‘in his hand’?

➤ What does it mean to be marred but not hurt?

➤ Footnote a: Martyrdom

➤ Mar: focused on the outward appearance

➤ ATOT: Kitchen table stain. It is marred but it performs it’s purpose perfectly.

➤ D&C 122:9, Hold thy way

➤ Isaiah 49:16, Christ’s resurrected body was ‘perfect’ even though it was ‘marred’ with scars.

WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL?

➤ We must know the doctrine before we can teach it

➤ We must protect the blessings (keep this promised land faithful)

➤ We must see others as He sees them, individual, numbered

➤ What is the mission of the Church?

➤ Invite all to come unto Christ.

➤ How do we accomplish it?

➤ Proclaim the gospel (how does this ‘gather’?)

➤ Redeem the dead (how does this ‘gather’?)

➤ Perfect the saints (how does this ‘gather’?)

THE SAVIOR PROPHESIES OF THE TEMPORAL GATHERING OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

➤ 3 Ne 16:16, 20:1, This land is promised to the Nephites upon conditions of righteousness ➤ What will happen to this land in the last days (Millennial)?

➤ 3 Ne 21:1, "Zion" will be established

➤ Zion is a condition of the heart and mind (pure in heart) ➤ Zion is also geographic

➤ There will be two capitals (where the leadership will convene, not where all will live)

➤ The original Jerusalem will also be restored (‘Jerusalem’=A Place of Peace) ➤ A New Jerusalem will be established (Jackson County)

➤ Will we all move to Jackson County?

➤ “Here is the summation of it all: Men and women gather first to Christ the Lord, accept his gospel, call upon the Father in his name, partake of the sanctifying powers of his atoning blood, and in process of time become perfect in him. Second, those who gather to Christ also gather to where the people of Christ congregate, to the lands of their inheritance. For some it is the Unites States. For millions it will be in such diverse places of gathering as Korea, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand, or ten thousand like places. For the time being, Latter-day Saints are asked to remain where they are, in those nations where they hold citizenship. In this manner the tent of Zion is expanded and strengthened as more and more stakes are driven into the earth. The revealed word relative to the gathering to Independence and its environs will come through the prophet of God on earth. When it does come – with the consequent return of the saints to that Zion which shall not be moved out of its place – that call will not be for the saints in general to assemble there. The return to Jackson County will be by delegates, as it were. Those whose services are needed there will assemble as appointed. The rest of Israel will remain in their appointed places. (Bruce R. McConkie, Millennial Messiah, p. 294)

CONCLUSION➤ Halloween Party

➤ The clues are planned and placed and thought through months in advance

➤ As the guests find clues and see patterns they begin to believe they will be successful - they will find the end.

➤ The prophesies of Isaiah are intended to give us comfort, to show us pattern and progress…to build faith

➤ Moroni 10:31-33

➤ Moroni chose the words of Isaiah to close the Book of Mormon. We should

➤ The end goal is to become perfect (whole), to be His.

➤ We will be marred, but not hurt. We are in his hand. We are numbered to Him.