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Chapter Forteen
THE GATHERING
The keys for the gathering of Israel were restored in the
Kirtland Temple:
D & C 110:11 "After this vision closed, the heavens were
again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us.
and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel
from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten
tribes from the land of the north. "
It was only appropriate that Moses was chosen to restore the
keys that would start gathenng the "Children of Israel"
since he was also in charge anciently of performing this
task.
The purpose of the gathering is:
D & C 1:11 "Wherefore the voice of the Lord is
unto the ends of the earth , that all that will
hear may hear:
...............................
15 For they have straved from mine ordinances! and
have broken mine everlasting covenant;
16 They seek not the Lord to establish his
righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way. and
after the image of his own god. whose image is in the
likeness of the world, ........
17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should
come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my
servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven,
and gave him commandments;
.................
19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break
down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel
his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh
20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the
Lord, even the Savior of the world;
21 That faith also might increase in the
earth;
22 That mine everlasting covenant might be
established;
23 THAT THE FULNESS OF MY GOSPEL MIGHT BE
PROCLAIMED BY THE WEAK AND THE SIMPLE UNTO THE ENDS OF THE
WORLD. AND BEFORE KINGS AND RULERS . "
And they who had been scattered were to be gathered. (See D
& C 101:13)
Those who were to go into the world for this purpose were
first called and then ordained of God. (See D & C 42:
11)
Their message was - THE PLAN OF SALVATION
:
Mosiah 15:28 "And now I say unto you that the time
shall come that the SALVATION OF THE LORD shall be declared
to every nation! kindred, tongue, and people ."
D & C 90:10 "And then cometh the day when the
arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the
nations , the heathen nations, the house of
Joseph, OF THE GOSPEL OF THEIR
SALVATION
11 For it shall come to pass in that day, that EVERY
MAN SHALL HEAR THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL in his own tongue.
and in his own language! through those who are ordained unto
this power , by the administration of the
Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus
Christ. "
Those ordained to this calling are the messengers of
peace:
Mosiah 15:14 "And .... they who have published
peace, who have brought good tidings of good WHO HAVE
PUBLISHED SALVATION ; and said unto Zion: Thy God
reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their
feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet
of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet
of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this
time henceforth and forever!
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that
bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea,
even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has
granted salvation unto his people;
19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath
made for his people. which was prepared from the foundation
of the world. I say unto you. were it not for this! all
mankind must have perished . "
Therefore, there is no greater gift:
D & C 6:13 " there is no gift greater than THE
GIFT OF SALVATION ."
Because Christ's atonement made this Great Plan possible he
is known as the Prince of Peace (See Isaiah 9:6).
The gathering was to prepare the people for the day of the
Lord's return to his temple where the Plan of Salvation is
taught. (See D & C 42:36)
Also for the purpose of looking forth for the establishing
of a New Jerusalem on earth:
D & C 42:6 "And ye shall go forth in the power of my
Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting
up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my
word like unto angels of God.
7 And ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying: Repent
ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
.................
9 Until the time shall come when it shall be
revealed unto you from on high! when the city of the New
Jerusalem shall be prepared that ye may be gathered in one.
that ye may be my people and I will be your
God."
And the righteous shall be gathered:
D & C 45:71 "And it shall come to pass that the
righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and
shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting
joy."
And the New Jerusalem will be established
Moses 7:62 "And righteousness will I send down out of
heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to
bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from
the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and
righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the
earth as with a flood to gather out mine elect from the four
quarters of the earth! unto a place which I shall
prepare , an Holy City, that my people may gird up
their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming;
for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called
Zion, a New Jerusalem." (Also D & C 84:2)
Keys of Enoch, Page 141, Key 1-1-5 Verse 7: "He (Enoch)
pointed out to me many scriptures, one being the sacred
scriptures of the Church of Moroni, or Mormon.
8 He explained that the true scriptures of the Church of
Moroni contain the keys for preparing the family structure
to serve the Office of Light and to enter the celestial
family of God."
9 He also explained that the Church of the Latter
Day Saints was the living tribe of Joseph and that just as
Joseph had gathered his brothers in Egypt! the tribe of
Joseph will gather even the scattered of the Christ Race to
be fed and clothed and prepared for the Melchizedek reign of
Light upon the planet ."
The instructions for missionaries are:
D & C 84:62 "Therefore, go ye into all the world
....
.................... .....
77 ........I give unto you this
COMMANDMENT, that ye become even as my friends in
days
when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my
power;
78 For I suffered them NOT TO HAVE PURSE OR SCRIPT.
NEITHER TWO COATS.
79 Behold, I send you out to prove the world, and
the laborer is worthy of his hire.
80 And any man that shall go and preach this gospel
of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all
things, shall not be weary in mind. neither darkened!
neither in body, limb, nor oint: and a hair of his head
shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. AND THEY SHALL NOT
GO HUNGRY. NEITHER ATHIRST .
81 Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink or wherewithal ye shall be
clothed.
.................
83 For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have
need of all these things. 84 Therefore, let the morrow take
thought for the things of itself.
85 NEITHER TAKE YE THOUGHT BEFOREHAND WHAT YE SHALL
SAY; BUT TREASURE UP IN YOUR MINDS CONTINUALLY THE WORDS OF
LIFE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU IN THE VERY HOUR THAT
PORTION THAT SHALL BE METED UNTO EVERY MAN ."
Obedience to the foregoing commandment
requires the missionaries to walk in faith - placing
their care in the hand of God. This method, in the early
days of the Church, brought tremendous results.
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