Purpose:
To help class members understand the latter-day work of gathering Israel and establishing Zion.
Reading:
Additional reading:
Bible Dictionary, “Gentile,” 679–80; “Israel,” 708.
Overview:
These chapters contain part of the resurrected Savior’s teachings to the Nephites.
In these chapters, the Lord teaches and prophesies of the Restoration of the gospel and the gathering of the house of Israel in the last days.
Questions to Ponder:
1. The Savior prophesies of the scattering of the house of Israel.
- What is the house of Israel?
- Why was Israel scattered? (See 3 Nephi 16:4).
2. The Savior prophesies of the spiritual gathering of the house of Israel.
- Who are the Gentiles? (See Bible Dictionary, “Gentile,” 679).
- What do the Gentiles have to do with the scattering and gathering of Israel? (See 3 Nephi 16:7–9 and 21:1–5).
- What is the gathering of Israel? (See 3 Nephi 16:4, 12; 20:10–13).
- President Spencer W. Kimball explained: “The ‘gathering of Israel’ is effected when the people of the faraway countries accept the gospel and remain in their native lands. The gathering of Israel for Mexicans is in Mexico; in Scandinavia, for those of the northern countries; the gathering place for the Germans is in Germany; and the Polynesians, in the islands; for the Brazilians, in Brazil; for the Argentines, in Argentina” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, 4; or Ensign, May 1975, 4).
- What sign has been given to show that the latter-day gathering of Israel has begun? (See 3 Nephi 21:2–7 and 29:1–2).
- How have the “sayings” and “works” of the Nephites come forth to the Gentiles?
- What are some roles that the Book of Mormon plays in the gathering of Israel? (Compare 3 Nephi 16:4, 12 and 20:10–13 with 1 Nephi 6:3–4 and the title page of the Book of Mormon.)
- The Lord spoke of a servant who would help in the “great and … marvelous work” of bringing forth the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 21:9–10). Who was this servant? (See 2 Nephi 3:3–8, 11–12 and 3 Nephi 16:7).
- What did the Lord promise to do after the fulness of the gospel was restored through the Gentiles? (See 3 Nephi 16:11–12).
- The covenant that the Lord promised to remember was the Abrahamic covenant (See 3 Nephi 20:25, 27, 29; 21:4; Mormon 5:20).
- What are the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant? (See Genesis 17:1–8; Abraham 2:6, 9–11.)
- What will happen to Gentiles who repent and turn to God? (See 2 Nephi 30:2; 3 Nephi 16:13; 21:6, 22.
- President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage, or Abraham’s children through Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:246).
- As members of the Church, what are our responsibilities in the gathering of Israel?
- What is the mission of the Church?
- How does the mission of the Church contribute to the gathering of Israel?
3. The Savior prophesies of the temporal gathering of the house of Israel.
- What specific promise did the Lord extend to the Nephites? (See 3 Nephi 16:16 and 20:14 and 2 Nephi 1:5–7.)
- What responsibilities accompany this promise? (See Enos 1:10; Ether 2:8–9.)
- What will happen in this land of inheritance in the last days? (See 3 Nephi 21:22–29).
- The Savior said that He would gather His people and establish Zion again among them (3 Nephi 21:1).
- How has Zion been described in the scriptures? (See D&C 97:21 and Moses 7:18–19).
- How can we begin to establish Zion in our homes, wards, and stakes today?
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