Promises to Israel in the Doctrine and Covenants

Today I studied what we learn in the Doctrine and Covenants about the Lord’s promises to covenant Israel. One theme that we see related to Israel is the Lord’s covenant to gather them. He said in one revelation, “Wherefore, I must bring forth the fulness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel” (14:10). To James Covel the Savior spoke of His covenant to do this: “Thou shalt preach the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel” (39:11). His promise is to gather the house of Israel in these latter days. He declared in another revelation, “I will show unto you how the day of redemption shall come, and also the restoration of the scattered Israel” (45:17). The gathering of Israel was officially ushered in with the coming of Moses in 1836: “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” (110:11). Joseph Smith was given the keys of the gathering of Israel to bring about the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to gather scattered Israel and bring unto them the fullness of the gospel. That is a covenant that continues to be fulfilled today.

                Other passages give difference promises to covenant Israel. In his prayer dedicating the Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith pled, “And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee” (109:67). Surely that prayer is being fulfilled as missionaries take the gospel to the world and bring scattered Israel to a knowledge of the truth and of their Messiah. That Israel will “rejoice” was stated again in the Lord’s appendix to the Doctrine and Covenants, speaking in particular of Israel which should come down from the land of the north: “And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows” (133:33-34). Joy will be given to covenant Israel who is gathered by Him. The Prophet Joseph wrote of a specific reason that covenant Israel could have joy: “Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for Israel’s God is their God, and he will mete out a just recompense of reward upon the heads of all their oppressors” (127:3). The God of Israel will care for His people and reward their oppressors according to their deeds. He will also care for them physically as promised in this verse: “For it shall come to pass, that which I spake by the mouths of my prophets shall be fulfilled; for I will consecrate of the riches of those who embrace my gospel among the Gentiles unto the poor of my people who are of the house of Israel” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:39). Those who are poor who become part of covenant Israel will be blessed with the riches of the Gentiles. And perhaps my favorite promise is this one given in the revelation containing questions and answers about Isaiah: “We are to understand that the scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen; which if they do, the promise of the Lord is that he will speak to them, or give them revelation…. The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel in their scattered condition among the Gentiles” (113:10). The Lord has promised that He will speak to the scattered remnants of Israel—as part of covenant Israel we can have revelation from Him.

                Finally, several passages also promise the greatest of God’s gifts to Israel: salvation. He declared, “And Israel shall be saved in mine own due time; and by the keys which I have given shall they be led, and no more be confounded at all” (35:25). In another revelation He affirmed, “And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand” (38:33). Israel will be saved, which means those of us who covenant with Him and keep those covenants. He summarized again in a later revelation: “And in that day all who are found upon the watch-tower, or in other words, all mine Israel, shall be saved” (101:12). All Israel will be saved, where Israel in this case is perhaps best defined by the Savior’s invitation to the Gentiles: “Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings… and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel” (3 Nephi 30:2). As we repent and come unto Him, covenanting through baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost, we will be numbered among His people of the house of Israel and we will be saved.