Welcome to This Issue

Christmas and the Gathering of Israel

Photograph of London England Temple by Mark Henderson; photograph of sister missionary by James Whitney Young

Christmas reminds us of Heavenly Father’s perfect and enduring love. No gift could ever match the divine offering God gave to save His children: His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. From the Savior comes “every good thing” (Moroni 7:22), including the possibility of spending eternity with the ones we love in fulfillment of Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness.

What can we possibly do to show thanks to Heavenly Father for these great gifts? One thing we can do is help Him to accomplish His work. The Lord said to Moses, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). And we are invited to help.

President Russell M. Nelson has often said that gathering Israel is the most important work going on in the world today. And he has explained, “When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring … to missionary, temple, and family history work” (“Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92).

As you ponder the true meaning of this special season, I invite you to read “Family History, Temples, and Missionary Work: Powerful Partners in Gathering Israel” (page 12). Then consider what you can do to help bring our Father’s precious children back to Him.

Merry Christmas!

Mike Judson

Family History Department