3 Nephi 20-22

The overarching theme to the Saviours' teachings in the Americas on his first days' visit can be defined as "the first principles and ordinances of the gospel", moving through faith, repentance, baptism (and the sacrament) and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  After the sermon at the temple, and his subsequent visits, we find this section which is quite visionary in nature, with the Saviour speaking to his audience about things that are to come in future. 

This reading contains much about the future of the House of Israel.  I thought that a useful reference to enlighten our views on this doctrine could be a talk given by Elder Bednar at BYU Idaho, which speaks about "Gathering" as a topic.

We started off contemplating "scattering" and "gathering" as principles that the Lord uses in directing His people. Throughout history there has been scattering when people have not accepted the Lord, or been disobedient.  Gathering has followed acceptance and obedience. Seen in this light, there have been historical periods of scattering and gathering - sometimes simultaneously if we consider events such as the Tower of Babel where a gathering of the faithful (the Jaredites) occurred in the midst of scattering of the wicked.

So, to what end (purpose) are people gathered? Elder Bednar outlines four purposes:
To worship (Mosiah 18:25)
To build the church (D&C 101:63-64)
For a defence (D&C 115: 6); and 
To receive counsel and instruction (Mosiah 18:7) ...
It is instructive to consider these purposes in light of specific meetings we attend ... and to note that sometimes more than one purpose could be accomplished in a meeting.  Take some time to ponder church meetings you have recently attended.  What purpose, related to the spirit of Gathering, was achieved in each of them?

Image by jarvie digital

Elder Bednar outlines some insightful gathering places:-
Into the Lords' Restored Church (D&C 101:64-65);
Into the Temple (see TPJS, pp. 307-308, 314);
Into Stakes of Zion (D&C 109:59);
Into Families (Mosiah 2:5).
Once again, insightful places to ponder ... how are we gathered into these places?  Are we gathered to them in different ways at different times?  How open are we to being gathered into these places?  Do we see some of these spaces as having precedence over others?  Do we see some of these spaces as mutually exclusive places of gathering?  

Finally, Elder Bednar speaks about three blessings of gathering ...
Edification (Ephesians 4:12-13);
Preservation (Moses 7:61); and
Strength (D&C 82:14).
Ponder how these blessings are present in your life ... and then journal about how you see the principles and spirit of Gathering present in your life ...

Resources
Russell M. Nelson : The Gathering of Scattered Israel

Elder David A. Bednar : The Spirit and Purposes of Gathering 
Victor Ludlow : The Scattering and Gathering of Israel : Gods Covenant with Abraham Remembered through the Ages
Religious Educator Vol 11/2010: Gathering of Israel 

Encyclopedia of Mormonism : Israel