2 Nephi 6; 10

The Gathering of Israel

Many prophecies in the scriptures deal with events of the latter days, or the days we live in now. Nephi’s brother Jacob shared prophecies about our day and the gathering of Israel that can help us understand our role in the Lord’s latter-day work. This lesson can help you feel a greater desire to participate with the Lord in the latter-day gathering of Israel.

Creating an active learning environment. At times, it may be appropriate to increase student participation and focus through physical activity. Consider helping students engage by moving. For example, students could change seats, write on the board, stand to read a scripture, or act out a scripture story, etc.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share experiences they have had participating in the gathering of Israel.

Possible Learning Activities

Important things happening

Consider displaying the following statements by President Russell M. Nelson one at a time, briefly pausing so students can think about each statement before moving to the next.

The following excerpts are from a message shared by President Russell M. Nelson. As you read these, think of a few topics President Nelson may have been referring to.

• “There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important. … There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing” (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• “This … should mean everything to you” (Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel”).

• “This is the mission for which you were sent to earth” (Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel”).

• What are some of the topics you think President Nelson could have been referring to with these statements?

You may have known that President Nelson was referring to the gathering of Israel. Watch “Hope of Israel” from time code 39:36–40:05, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the following to see President Nelson’s complete statement.

2018 Worldwide Devotional for Youth

My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing.

This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth. (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• What thoughts or feelings do you have about President Nelson’s statement?

• What questions do you have about the gathering of Israel?

Consider your thoughts and feelings about participating in the gathering of Israel, which includes preaching the gospel to those on the earth now and doing family history and temple work for those who have already died so that all have an opportunity to come to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. How important is this work to you? As you study today, look for teachings that can help increase your willingness and ability to participate with the Lord in the gathering of Israel.

Jacob teaches of the gathering of Israel

Nephi invited his brother Jacob to share an important prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah about the latter-day gathering of Israel (see 2 Nephi 6:4–7).

To help prepare students to understand the verses they will read, consider displaying and reading the following definitions and one or more images depicting a standard or ensign.

• Gentiles: As used in the scriptures, Gentiles has several meanings. In Isaiah’s prophecy (see 2 Nephi 6:5–7), one of the meanings of the word Gentiles may refer to people who are not of the lineage of Israel (See Guide to the Scriptures, “Gentiles,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Ensign: “A flag or standard around which people gather in a unity of purpose or identity” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Ensign,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

With these definitions in mind, read 2 Nephi 6:5–7. List in your study journal the details of Isaiah’s prophecy that seem significant.

If needed, help students identify important details from Isaiah’s prophecy, such as:

• God will set up a standard.

• The Gentiles will bring sons and daughters of Israel in their arms and carry them on their shoulders.

• Gentile kings and queens will be nursing mothers and fathers.

• What details did you find from Isaiah’s prophecy that seem significant?

• What questions do you still have about this prophecy?

Both Nephi and Jacob elaborated on this prophecy in their writings. Seek further understanding about Isaiah’s prophecy by reading at least one of the following sets of verses. It might also be helpful to cross-reference or link these verses to 2 Nephi 6:5–7.

Consider dividing students into small groups, with half of the groups studying Nephi’s words and half studying Jacob’s. Then invite students to report what they learned from the verses they studied.

• 1 Nephi 22:6–12 (Nephi’s words)

• 2 Nephi 10:3–10 (Jacob’s words)

• What did Nephi or Jacob teach in these verses that better helped you understand 2 Nephi 6:5–7? What additional insights did you gain?

The following three questions are meant to help students better understand the verses they read. If they already understand the passage well, you could skip to the fourth and fifth questions below.

• What do you think is the “marvelous work” that will take place in the last days that “shall be of great worth” to many people (1 Nephi 22:8)? If students need help understanding what the marvelous work is, you might point them to a footnote or explain that it refers to the restoration of the gospel.

• According to 1 Nephi 22:12, what will the people of scattered Israel come to know as they are gathered?

• What role will the nations of the Gentiles play in the latter-day gathering of Israel (see 1 Nephi 22:8–9; 2 Nephi 10:8–9)?

• What do these teachings help you understand about Jesus Christ and the way He feels about all people?

• What do they help you understand about the role you play in helping to gather Israel?

One truth we can learn from Isaiah’s prophecy and President Nelson’s statement from earlier in the lesson is that as members of the Savior’s restored Church, we have a responsibility to participate with the Lord in the latter-day gathering of Israel.

• What does this truth help you understand about how the Lord feels about you?

• What do you know about the Savior that increases your desire to gather to Him? How could sharing this with others increase their desire to gather to the Savior?

Make a plan to help the Lord gather Israel

President Nelson described what we can do to help gather Israel:

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. (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92–93)

• With President Nelson’s statement in mind, what are some specific things you can do to participate with the Lord in helping others come unto Him?

• What experiences have you had in helping others gather to or come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Think about how you can participate more fully with the Lord in the gathering of Israel.

If time is available, consider sharing one or more of the following resources to help students think of specific ideas.

1. President Russell M. Nelson shared ideas suggested by youth of the Church on how they could help gather Israel. Watch “Hope of Israel” from timecode 40:29–43:38, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

   2018 Worldwide Devotional for Youth

2. Visit share.churchofjesuschrist.org.

3. Watch the video “Families Gathering Families on Both Sides of the Veil” (3:22) at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

   Families Gathering Families on Both Sides of the Veil

Make a plan of action for what you can do to invite others to gather to the Savior or in other words to come unto Christ by making and keeping covenants with Him. Be sure to include specific steps you can take. This will help you act in faith. One way you might do this is by completing the following sentences:

• By the end of the day, I will

• The rest of this week, I will

Commentary and Background Information

How is Isaiah’s prophecy in 2 Nephi 6:6–7 being fulfilled?

As part of the fulfillment of this prophecy, the gospel was restored in the United States of America, a gentile nation (see Doctrine and Covenants 109:60). The restored Church is the Lord’s “standard to the people” (2 Nephi 6:6), to which people from all nations will gather in the last days (see 1 Nephi 22:11–12; Isaiah 2:2–3; 11:12).

To learn more about Isaiah’s prophecies of a “standard,” or “ensign,” being raised in the last days, consider studying “Objects from the Scriptures: An Ensign for the Nations” (Ensign, Sept. 2018, 44–45).

Where else can I go to learn more about the gathering of Israel?

To learn more about the gathering of Israel, consider studying “12 Facts about the Gathering of Israel” (David A. Edwards, New Era, July 2019, 16–18).

What if I try to gather Israel by inviting someone to do something but they reject my invitation?

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart

Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost. Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs.

So, don’t be discouraged if someone does not accept the gospel message immediately. It is not a personal failure.

That is between the individual and Heavenly Father.

Yours is to love God and love your neighbors, His children. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 17)

Supplemental Learning Activities

An ensign to the nations.

Students could benefit from learning more about prophecies related to the Savior’s restored gospel being an ensign, or standard, to the world. To help with this, consider reading some or all of the following scriptures with the class: Isaiah 5:26; 11:12; 2 Nephi 29:2; Doctrine and Covenants 45:9; 64:41–43; 113:5–6.

You might also read and discuss the account of Brigham Young and other early Church leaders raising a flag on Ensign Peak shortly after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley (see Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 2, No Unhallowed Hand, 1846–1893 [2020], 67–68).

We shall not be ashamed.

Consider inviting students to think about when they have had various feelings about being a member of the Church, such as joy, happiness, worry, or even shame. Invite students to read 2 Nephi 6:7, 12–13, looking for what the Lord taught about how His children will feel if they wait for Him in faith. Students could sing the primary song “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77) and think of gospel truths that help them be confident in following the Lord and faithfully awaiting His return.