From the North Countries

We speak often of the gathering of Israel in the Church, and we generally understand this gathering to take place via the missionary work around the world that brings new converts into the Church.  This is certainly a major part of the gathering of the House of Israel—the Savior prophesied that His elect would be “gathered from the four quarters of the earth” (JSM 1:27).  Mormon spoke of this same gathering when he spoke of how the House of Israel would “be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed” (3 Nephi 5:26).  And yet, this reaching out to the remnants of Israel dispersed all over the world is only part of the gathering that is spoken of.  There is also to be a literal gathering of some significant number of Israelites from the north who will come to Zion in a body and be gathered back into Israel.  I think we see reference to both types of these Israelites—those scattered across the world and those in a cohesive group in unknown location in the north—in Moroni’s words when he spoke of latter day gathering to Jerusalem: “They are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham” (Ether 13:11).  Note his reference to both those from the “four quarters of the earth,” as well as those “from the north countries” (Ether 13:11).  In the Articles of Faith we see the same division of the gathering into two groups: “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes” (A of F 10).  That restoration of the 10 tribes is something different than the gathering of Israel through missionary work that we are doing today.

            Elder Talmage said this on the reality of a return of these lost tribes of Israel: “Some people say that prediction is to be explained in this way: A gathering is in progress, and has been in progress from the early days of this Church; and thus the ‘Lost Tribes’ are now being gathered; but that we are not to look for the return of any body of people now unknown as to their whereabouts. True, the gathering is in progress, this is a gathering dispensation; but the prophecy stands that the tribes shall be brought forth from their hiding place.”  There are many other scriptures which speak of Israelites being restored as an organized body and from the north which confirm the reality of Elder Talmage’s words.  For example, Jeremiah said this: “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers” (Jeremiah 16:14-15).  In other words, someday we will praise the Lord for bringing the Israelites out of the north just as we do for bringing them anciently out of Egypt.  In the Book of Mormon, Nephi gave us the prophecy that one day “the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel,” which means that there must be some body of Israelites somewhere that are preserving a record of their people (2 Nephi 29:13).  The Doctrine and Covenants gives the clearest evidence of this literal gathering.  When Moses gave Joseph and Oliver keys of gathering, they were for “the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north” (D&C 110:11; notice again the dichotomy of the gathering: some from the four parts of the earth and another group from the land of the north).  At some point in the future, some group of ten tribes will be led from the land of the north.  Another scripture gives us more detail on what will happen: “And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence.  And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep.  Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land.  And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants.  And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.  And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion” (D&C 133:26-32).  If that’s not evidence for a literal gathering of a specific, lost group of Israelites in the last days, then I don’t know what is.  We don’t know where these people are, and we don’t know when this will happen, but if we believe the scriptures then we know there will be an incredible gathering of a group of people who have been lost for over 2700 years.  They will come to the New Jerusalem to join the Saints in Zion in an awesome display of power.  And the day will be so magnificent and glorious that those present will “be filled with songs of everlasting joy” (D&C 133:33).  With Alma, I can only say, “Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice” (Alma 13:25).