In September 1830, the Lord told Joseph Smith
that he was
“called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” In a conference following this revelation,
members were told to begin the gathering of Israel.
For the early saints, the physical and spiritual
elements of the gathering of Israel were connected.
This belief, as taught by Joseph Smith, may
have come from the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon makes it clear that scattered
Israel would be gathered physically.
And many saints believed that their gatherings
in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois,
and ultimately the Salt Lake Valley, were the beginnings
of this divine promise coming to pass.
However, the Book of Mormon also speaks of
the gathering of Israel in spiritual terms.
This was illustrated in both the Book of Mormon
and in modern times
through baptism and the making of other, saving covenants with the Lord.
It may be easy to think of the gathering as
something that will happen far in the future.
Yet the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants
teach that we are in the midst of the spiritual gathering of Israel.
As Joseph Smith taught, all the ancient prophets
words about the gathering of Israel
were a foretelling of these latter days.
And thanks to temples and missionary work
around the world, the gathering of Israel,
both spiritual and physical, can happen anywhere.
And now you know why.
