Lessons on the Book of Mormon 2020
Lesson No. Thirty-Nine

The Wisdom, the Power, and the Covenant of the Father to Gather Latter Day Israel

Jesus’ teachings on covenant of the Father to gather Israel comprises most of 3 Nephi 20-23 – These teachings are especially valuable, and they are found nowhere else in scripture.  This Lesson will focus on the signs Jesus describes in 3 Nephi 21.  Understanding these signs concerning the gathering of Israel will better prepare us for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is also important to remember that President Russell M. Nelson, as the Lord’s living prophet, has made the gathering of Israel and preparing for the Second Coming primary themes in his ministry.

Jesus gave two signs concerning the Book of Mormon and the gathering of Israel in the latter days:

  1. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is the sign that the latter day gathering of Israel is “about to take place” (3 Nephi 21:1-2) –The first edition of 5,000 copies of the book of Mormon was published and made available to the public on March 26, 1830.  This was the fulfilment of the sign Jesus gave for us to know when the gathering of Israel was “about to take place.”  Israel is gathered when people become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Eleven days later, on April 6, 1830, this Church was organized, and the latter day gathering of Israel began.  This is a marvelous confirmation of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.

  2. When modern day Lamanites begin to accept the Book of Mormon it is a sign that the latter day gathering of Israel “hath already commenced” (3 Nephi 21:7) – In recent decades membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has exploded among modern day Lamanites.  Temples and “the covenant people of the Lord” are found throughout Central and South America, “and they are armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).  Certainly, the gathering of Israel “hath already commenced.” This is another marvelous confirmation of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.

Jesus gave two signs in 3 Nephi 21:7 concerning the United States and the gathering of Israel:

  1. “For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land” – “This land” is the United States of America, and “they” refers to the pilgrims, colonists, and founders of this nation.  This is a reaffirmation what Nephi saw in his vision of the latter days where the “Spirit of God came down and wrought upon” the pilgrims, the colonist, and the founders.  (See 1 Nephi 13:12-15)

  2. “And be set up as a free people by the power of the Father” – Nephi also saw that the colonists “humbled themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.”  He saw the American Revolution, and “that the power of God was with them….and they were delivered by the power of God from the hands of all other nations” (1 Nephi 13:16-19).

The devil has great power in the latter days, but we can have confidence in the future because:

  1. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…is Christ’s New Testament Church restored.  This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection.  Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority.  He invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy” (The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World).

  2. The United States was established “that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 21:7) – The United States was founded as a free nation by the wisdom and power of God.  This was necessary so that the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, could take place and the Father would fulfill His covenant to gather Israel.

  3. “The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (D&C 3:1) – Because the restoration of the gospel, including the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, is the work of God it cannot be frustrated.  Because the United States was established by the wisdom, power, and covenant of the Father it cannot come to naught.

Some people question the future and destiny of the United States – We should remember that there have been other difficult days where this nation has been preserved by the power of God.  Furthermore, latter day prophets have spoken about the future and destiny of the United States.  These include:

  1. Joseph Smith said at the time he and his followers were being mobbed:  “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people shall be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (July 19, 1840, Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City.  Quoted by President Ezra Taft Benson, The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner).

  2. The First Presidency under President Joseph Fielding Smith during the Vietnam War gave members of the Church entering military service a booklet entitled The Church and America – I still have my copy of this booklet.  After referring to 3 Nephi 21:4 (discussed above) it continues:  “So here we have the Savior’s own words to the effect the America, was God’s nation.  He set it up and did so with a special purpose in mind, and that was to provide the conditions under which the gospel could be restored and then be taken to all the world….Christ will come again.  The gospel is on the earth.  It is a means of preparing for that coming, but we could not have this gospel today if it were not for the United States and our kind of government.  Therefore, we must protect our country, even with our lives if necessary, because America is God’s land.”

  3. At a difficult time in our history President Harold B. Lee testified about the future of our country:  “Men may fail in this country, earth quakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation founded on principles laid down by men who God raised up, will never fail.  This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden.  This is the place of her New Jerusalem.  This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world.  This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.  This is the favored land in all the world.  Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail!  I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.  I plead with you not to preach pessimism!  Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world.  This is the favored land.  This is the land of our forefathers.  It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through” (Ye Are the Light of the World, pp. 350).

Testimony – As God raised up founding patriots to establish the Constitution (see D&C 101:80), He will raise up other patriots, like Abraham Lincoln, by whom he will maintain the Constitution when it is threatened.  The Lord intends that the principles upon which our Constitution was established become the pattern for entire world.  Because of this He will insure there is the freedom necessary for the gospel can be taken to all the nations. 

It is my hope that we will be among those patriots who the Lord will use to defend our freedom in the United States.  Our example will help to establish freedom world-wide, and in this way all people can receive and enjoy the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.