2019
A Call to Enlist and Gather Israel
March 2019

“A Call to Enlist and Gather Israel,” New Era, Mar. 2019, 24–25.

President and Sister Nelson’s Devotional for Youth

A Call to Enlist and Gather Israel

By Charlotte Larcabal

Church Magazines

“Would you like to be a big part of the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today?”

Russell M. Nelson

On June 3, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy W. Nelson, invited the youth to “enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord” and take part in “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth.”

And what is the greatest challenge?

The gathering of Israel.

“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,” the prophet said. “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.”


Sister Nelson spoke about understanding and fulfilling our individual roles in this great work and reminded us that we choose whether or not we fulfill our mortal missions.

“No one will make us,” she said. “We have our agency to choose how we spend our time and energy, our talents and resources. In fact, what we choose to do is actually part of our testing. The choice is yours and mine. Will we choose to do whatever it takes to fulfill the wonderful missions for which we were sent to earth?”

So, President Nelson asked, “Are you willing to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel?”

In preparation for the wonderful mission, President Nelson invited the youth to do five things that will “change you and help you change the world.”

  1. Hold a seven-day fast from social media.

  2. For three weeks, make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord.

  3. Keep on the covenant path. If you have wandered off, immediately get on the road of repentance.

  4. Pray daily for all to receive the blessings of the gospel.

  5. Stand out. Be a light. Set the standard. Give away one copy of For the Strength of Youth.

As the prophet himself said: “You are among the best the Lord has ever sent to this world. You have the capacity to be smarter and wiser and have more impact on the world than any previous generation!”