“How We Gather Israel Today,” Liahona, December 2021
How We Gather Israel Today
Some stake patriarchs share their unique perspective and insights on the importance of gathering Israel.
In ancient times, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham that his posterity would be a chosen people (see Genesis 12:1–2). When Abraham’s posterity, the twelve tribes of Israel, rebelled, they were punished by the Lord, taken captive by Assyria and Babylon, and eventually scattered into every nation (see Leviticus 26:33). Still, the Lord desired to bless them.
Ancient and modern prophets have foretold that Israel, the Lord’s covenant people, will be gathered once more. Today, we have the sacred responsibility to help bring scattered Israel into the Lord’s fold. Regarding this important work, President Russell M. Nelson has taught: “When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring, of course, to missionary, temple, and family history work. We are also referring to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve.”1
As members of the tribes of Israel, we are given specific responsibilities and blessings. Patriarchal blessings inform us of our lineage in the house of Israel and thus our personal responsibility to gather Israel. Because patriarchs are inspired to inform us of that lineage, we asked a few patriarchs to share their unique perspective and insights on the importance of the gathering of Israel.
Photograph by Craig Alan Shelley
Our Lineage
All people—even those who are not descendants of Abraham—become part of the house of Israel as they make covenants with God. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Some of us are the literal seed of Abraham; others are gathered into his family by adoption. The Lord makes no distinction. … His Church provides patriarchal blessings to give each recipient a vision for his or her future as well as a connection with the past, even a declaration of lineage.”2
“To do our part in gathering the tribes of Israel, we must first understand what it is we are to do,” said Brother Keith Stapleton, a patriarch in Georgia, USA. “When a person’s lineage is declared in their patriarchal blessing, they should study the blessings and the responsibilities of the tribes of Israel.”
Many members of the Church today are part of the tribe of Ephraim or Manasseh. The descendants of these men were commissioned to gather scattered Israel, or “push the people together” (Deuteronomy 33:17).
But no matter which tribe we belong to, we each have an important role to play in the gathering. “When we understand that we’re from one of the tribes foreseen by the ancient prophets to go and gather Israel, it gives us a sense of purpose,” said Brother Barre Burgon, a patriarch in Utah, USA.
By knowing and understanding our lineage, we know and understand our covenant responsibility to help in the gathering of Israel. “Remember that the Lord commanded Lehi to not go to the promised land without first getting the scriptures which spoke of his ancestry,” Brother Vyacheslav Protopopov, a patriarch from Moscow, Russia, said. “The Lord wants His people to know who they are.”
Ways We Can Gather Israel
There are many ways to take part in the gathering of Israel, which President Nelson described as “the most important work in the world.”3 This work doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, it’s an incredible experience to be a part of it. Brother Calixto Muruchi, a patriarch from La Paz Department, Bolivia, explained that it’s because of God’s love that He “gives us the opportunity to be instruments in His hands so that all His sons and daughters can know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and so that we all have the opportunity to return to His presence and inherit eternal life.”
So how do we gather Israel? There are several things that each of us can do to participate in this great work.
Missionary Work
On the importance of missionary work, Brother Wayne Allgaier, a patriarch in Maryland, USA, said, “Our Father in Heaven is anxious to bless all of His children. Efforts to gather them back into His fold give them access to these blessings.”
“We’re bringing people the opportunity for eternal exaltation,” Brother Burgon added. “That’s the whole purpose of this earth life. … This is really the opportunity for Heavenly Father to get back many of His children.”
Prophets and apostles have often encouraged us to make missionary work a “normal and natural” part of our daily lives.4 As Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained, you don’t need to feel “guilty about any insufficiency you think you have in sharing the gospel.” Instead, you can “pray … ‘to stand as [a witness] of God’ [Mosiah 18:9]” and “be open about your faith in Christ.”5
As we pray for opportunities “to find those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives,”6 we will be guided to know how to share the light of the gospel with those around us.
Photograph of Nuku‘alofa Tonga Temple by James Babcock
Temple and Family History Work
The gathering of Israel takes place on both sides of the veil. Brother Allgaier has noticed an acceleration of the gathering of Israel through family history and temple work: “We’ve heard President Nelson speak more and more of the gathering of Israel being not just missionary work but being on both sides of the veil. There are more people on the other side of the veil than there are here on earth waiting for these essential ordinances to be done. Those people are just as important as the people who are living today that need the gospel in their lives on earth.”
President Nelson taught, “Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”7
Strengthening Zion
Alongside missionary, temple, and family history work, President Nelson taught that the gathering of Israel also “[refers] to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve.”8
This means that we must build our own faith as well as support and strengthen others. “We need to be fully immersed in the gospel,” Brother Lovelock, a patriarch from Queensland, Australia, said. “If we do that, we are helping with the gathering of Israel.” When we are immersed in the gospel, we can strengthen others as we minister, fulfill our callings, and support our families.
Join the Gathering
“The gathering is going to happen whether we help it or not,” said Brother Allgaier. “It’s the Lord’s work, and He’s going to make sure that it’s done. For those that are more active in it, there will be more blessings poured upon their heads.”
As we seek to teach the gospel, raise righteous families, magnify our callings, and minister to those around us, we are helping to gather Israel. Said Brother Burgon, “There is a sense of urgency among the prophet, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and others in Church leadership that it’s time to step up. It’s time to prepare ourselves and prepare others for eternal exaltation.”
“In these last few years,” said Brother Lovelock, “the young people that have come to receive their patriarchal blessing are such beautiful and strong souls. I have no doubt that some of the most precious and noble of God’s children walk among us now, and they are preparing for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and helping in this great work of gathering Israel.”
The gathering of Israel is happening now, and the Lord foretold that it would be a glorious event (see Jeremiah 16:14–15). President Nelson has said: “When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us. His law is written in our hearts. He is our God and we are His people.”9 As the posterity of father Abraham, we are responsible for inviting others to gather into the fold through missionary, temple, and family history work. In doing so, we better prepare ourselves for eternal life.