“The Gathering; New Jerusalem”

Ed J. Pinegar, Richard J. Allen

The gathering of Israel is recorded and taught in all the standard works (see Isaiah 43:5; Ephesians 1:10; 3 Nephi 20:29; and D&C 29:7 for examples). The gathering of Israel began again with the Restoration of the gospel and the re-establishment of the Church and kingdom of God (see D&C 29, 38, 57, 82). The Prophet Joseph explained this doctrine when he said:

It was the design of the councils of heaven before the world was, that the principles and laws of the priesthood should be predicated upon the gathering of the people in every age of the world. Jesus did everything to gather the people, and they would not be gathered, and He therefore poured out curses upon them. Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. All must be saved on the same principles.

It is for the same purpose that God gathers together His people in the last days, to build unto the Lord a house to prepare them for the ordinances and endowments, washings and anointings, etc… . If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of God, he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord. (HC 5:423–424)

We can rest assured that every requisite blessing will be provided by the Almighty to those who participate in the gathering of Israel. Every possible help and support will be offered by heaven to the faithful who respond to the word of the Lord and return to the holy places of Zion (see D&C 101:12–22). The remnants of Joseph will be gathered to the New Jerusalem on the American continent (see Article of Faith 10).

Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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