Gospel Doctrine Enrichment
Book of Mormon, Lesson 40
3 Nephi 16; 20-21
CHRIST TEACHES ABOUT THE GATHERING
The Scattering of Israel
1. Question
#1: What is the house of Israel?
The
titles "House of Israel" and "Israel" refer to the
descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. The Nephites were of
the house of Israel, as descendants of Jacob's son Joseph (1 Nephi 5:14).
Elder
Joseph Fielding Smith said, "Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh (Alma
10:3), but the Nephites were just as much the descendants of Ephraim, for we
know that Ishmael, who was the other founder of the colony, was a descendant of
Ephraim. This we learn from the Prophet Joseph Smith, but it is not so stated
in the Book of Mormon. This information was contained in the 116 pages of lost
manuscript which was not re-translated into the Book of Mormon."1
Members
of the house of Israel have been referred to in scripture as "the covenant
people of the Lord" (1 Nephi 15:14). They are also called "the
children of the covenant" (3 Nephi 20:25–26).
2. Question
#2: Who are the Gentiles?
Daniel H.
Ludlow said, "The literal
descendants of Abraham (Hebrews) include [among others] the descendants of
Jacob (Israelites), [and] Judah, (Jews), [Judah was the fourth born son of
Jacob]. . . . The basic meaning of the word Gentile is 'foreign,' 'other,' or
'non.' Thus, to a Hebrew, a Gentile is a non-Hebrew; to an Israelite, a Gentile
is a non-Israelite; and to a Jew, a Gentile is a non-Jew. In this sense, some
Latter-day Saints have referred to those who are not members of the Church as Gentiles,
even though the nonmembers might be Jews! The word Gentile might also be used
in several different ways to refer to family, religious, political, or even
geographical relationships. For example, a person might be considered an
Israelite in a family or blood sense, but might be called a Gentile in a
political or geographical sense because he lives in a land or nation that is
primarily Gentile, or non-Israelitish."2
A gentile
may be broadly defined in this context as one who has not made the covenant
with the God of Israel (Jesus Christ). In the scriptures, the term Gentiles is
used to designate either people who were not born into the house of Israel or
nations that are without the gospel. In this part of the Book of Mormon, the
term Gentiles refers to nations that are without the gospel, even though some
individuals in those nations may be descendants of Jacob.3
3. Question
#3: How are the Gentiles involved in the scattering of Israel?
The
Gentiles will play a part in the scattering of Israel (3 Nephi 16:7–9). Because
the Jews rejected Christ and the Gentiles believed, "the fulness of these
things shall be made known unto them [Gentiles]" (v. 7). These Gentiles
would later "come forth upon the face of this land, and scatter the descendants
of the Nephites and Lamanites (v. 8). As prophesied, the Lamanites have indeed
been trodden under the feet of Gentiles:
Indian
Population Statistics:
Year North America Year
Haiti and Santo Domingo
1492 10,000,000 1492
300,000 (estimate)
1900 235,000 1548 500
4. Question
#4: Why was Israel scattered?
The
members of the house of Israel were scattered because of their unbelief (3
Nephi 16:4; see also Ezekiel 20:43–44; Micah 7:9) The Savior knew that the Jews
would not ask the Father about the Savior's "other sheep." So that
their descendants might come to a knowledge of the Nephites, He commanded them
to write down his words.
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie said, "Our Israelite forebears were scattered because
they rejected the gospel, defiled the priesthood, forsook the church, and
departed from the kingdom. They were scattered because they turned from the
Lord, worshipped false gods, and walked in all the ways of the heathen nations.
They were scattered because they . . . rejected the Lord Jehovah, who is the
Lord Jesus, of whom all their prophets testified. Israel was scattered for
apostasy. . . ."4
The
Gathering of Israel
5. Question
#5: How will Israel be gathered?
Israel is
"gathered" when people gain a testimony of the Redeemer and His
restored gospel and join His Church. Through the Gentiles, the children of
Israel will receive a knowledge of the Nephites and thereby of Christ (3 Nephi
16:4, 12).
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie said, "What then is the power of the Book of Mormon? It
will build the New Jerusalem; it will prepare a people for the Second Coming;
it will usher in the Millennium—at least it will play such an important part in
all of these that its value and power can be scarcely overstated."5
President
Ezra Taft Benson said concerning the Latter-day gathering of Judah, "This
miracle of the return of the Jews was to be one of the events to precede
Christ's Second Coming, and the scriptures are very clear with reference to
this fact. Isaiah said that they shall gather 'the dispersed of Judah from the
four corners of the earth' and ‘set them in their own land,' that they will
'build the old waste,' and 'repair the waste cities.' (Isaiah 11:11–12).
Jeremiah, who predicted so clearly their dispersion, also states that the Lord
will 'cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they
shall possess it,' and 'build them, as at the first' (Jer. 30:3; 33:7)."6
The Lord
promised to gather his covenant people (3 Nephi 20:11–13, 22, 46):
— The scattered remnants of Israel will learn
of Christ (vv. 11–13).
— They will receive the "powers of
heaven" (v. 22).
— New Jerusalem will be built in America; the
Lord will be in their midst (v. 22).
— Judah and other tribes will receive their
inheritance in Old Jerusalem (v. 46).
Elder
LeGrand Richards said, “From. . .[2 Nephi 21:11–16; Isaiah 11:11–16] we learn
that three important events were to transpire: (1) He shall set up an Ensign
for the nations; (2) he shall assemble the outcasts of Israel; (3) he shall
gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. It
is clear there are to be two gathering places—one for Israel and one for Judah.
. . . When speaking of Israel, most people have the Jews in mind, and when
referring to the gathering of Israel, they have in mind the return of the Jews
to the land of Jerusalem. It should be remembered that the Jews, the
descendants of Judah, represent but one of the twelve branches, or tribes, of
the house of Israel—the family of Jacob."7
Over
time, the nature of the physical gathering of the Lord's people has changed.
President
Harold B. Lee said, "Now I call your attention to the facts, set forth in
these scriptures [2 Ne. 9:1–2], that the gathering of Israel consists of
joining the true church; of coming to a knowledge of the true God and of his
saving truths; and of worshiping him in the congregations of the Saints in all
nations and among all peoples. Please note that these revealed words speak of
the folds of the Lord; of Israel being gathered to the lands of their
inheritance; of Israel being established in all their lands of promise, and of
there being congregations of the covenant people of the Lord in every nation,
speaking every tongue, and among every people when the Lord comes again. . . .
The place of gathering for the Mexican Saints is in Mexico; the place of
gathering for the Guatemalan Saints is in Guatemala: the place of gathering for
the Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; and so it goes throughout the length and
breadth of the whole earth. Japan is for the Japanese; Korea is for the
Koreans; Australia is for the Australians; every nation is the gathering place
for its own people."8
President
Spencer W. Kimball explained, "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."9
6. Question
#6: What sign is given that the latter-day gathering of Israel has begun?
The Lord
gave the Nephites a sign of "the time when these things shall be about to
take place" (3 Nephi 21:1–7)—that the words He was then declaring to them
(the Nephites) "shall be made known unto the Gentiles" (v. 2). The
prophet Mormon later confirmed this promise (3 Nephi 29:1–2).
7. Question
#7: What roll will the Book of Mormon play in the gathering of Israel?
— The Gentiles will take the record to the
descendants of Judah (3 Nephi 16:4, 12).
— Through it, the remnants of Israel
"scattered abroad . . . [will] be gathered in" and brought to a
knowledge of "the Lord who hath redeemed them" (3 Nephi 20:10–13; see
v. 13).
— Nephi said it would"persuade men to
come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and
be saved" (1 Nephi 6:3–4; see v. 4).
— "To come forth by the gift and power
of God" in the latter days as a witness unto all nations (Book of Mormon
Title Page).
8. Question
#8: How will these events transpire and in what order?
— A servant of the Lord will do the
"great and . . . marvelous work" of bringing forth the Book of Mormon
(3 Nephi 21:9–10). This is Joseph Smith, a literal descendant of Jacob, who
lived in a Gentile nation and restored the gospel to the earth (see 2 Nephi
3:3–8, 11–12).
— The Gentiles will receive the truth first
in the latter days (3 Nephi 16:6–7, 13).
— The Lord will then remember His covenant
with the house of Israel (3 Nephi 16:11–12 ).
9. Question
#9: What is the "covenant" the Lord promised to fulfill with Israel?
It is the
Abrahamic covenant (3 Nephi 20:25, 27, 29). The responsibilities and blessings
of the Abrahamic covenant are explained in Genesis 17:1–8 and Abraham 2:6,
9–11. All Gentiles who repent and come unto the Lord through baptism will
become part of His covenant people (3 Nephi 21:6, 11, 22).
Elder
Joseph Fielding Smith said, "Every person who embraces the gospel becomes
of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen
lineage, or Abraham's children through Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises
were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are
literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are
not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they
are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to
all the rights and privileges as heirs."10
10. Question
#10: What responsibilities do Church members have to gather Israel?
As
descendants of Ephraim and/or converted Gentiles who have been adopted into the
family of Ephraim, Church members are responsible for inviting all people to
come unto Christ—which is "the gathering of Israel." We accomplish
this mission by proclaiming the gospel, redeeming the dead, and perfecting the
Saints.
Elder
Joseph Fielding Smith said that Ephraim is at the head of Israel in the latter
days:
"1.
For the most part they [Israel] are the Ephraim of the latter days foreseen by
the prophets.
"2.
They share in the responsibility to gather Israel from the four corners of the
earth.
"3.
When the ten lost tribes return from the north, they will come to Ephraim to
receive their blessings.
"4.
Ephraim has the responsibility of doing work for the dead. Those who would
accept this responsibility were called ‘saviors . . . on mount Zion' (Obadiah
1:21)."11
Notes:
1. Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Elder
Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957], 3:197.
2. Ensign, January 1991, 51–52.
3. Bible Dictionary, "Gentile," 679.
4. A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 12th
ed. [1924], 515.
5. The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of
the Son of Man [1982], 171.
6. In Conference Report, April 1950, 75.
7. A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, rev.ed.
[1966], 207–209.
8. In Conference Report, April 1973, 6–7.
9. In Conference Report, April 1975, 4; or
Ensign, May 1975, 4.
10. Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Elder Bruce R.
McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:246.
11. Doctrines of Salvation, 3:252–253.
