Gathered Unto His People

S. Michael Wilcox highlighted a phrase in Genesis 49:33 in a recent podcast. He said this: “Jacob's dying. He's given all his children blessings, or a curse that turns into a blessing. And in verse 33, ‘When Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed and yielded up the ghost.’ And I just love this Old Testament expression, ‘and was gathered unto his people.’” He continued, “death is but a gathering unto our people…. There are people on the other side of the veil that we really want to be gathered to…. One day we will be gathered unto our people, mothers, fathers, siblings, children, spouse.” This same phrase is used to describe several of the patriarchs. Of Abraham we read, “Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8). Similarly of Ishmael we also read, “And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people” (Genesis 25:17). And we have this description of Isaac’s death: “And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days” (Genesis 35:29). Much later when Moses was close to death the Lord said to him: “And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people” (Deuteronomy 32:50). Death is but a gathering to those of our family who are on the other side of the veil.  

                This reminds me of a story told in general conference by President Eyring. He related, “The afternoon my mother died, we went to the family home from the hospital. We sat quietly in the darkened living room for a while. Dad excused himself and went to his bedroom. He was gone for a few minutes. When he walked back into the living room, there was a smile on his face. He said that he’d been concerned for Mother. During the time he had gathered her things from her hospital room and thanked the staff for being so kind to her, he thought of her going into the spirit world just minutes after her death. He was afraid she would be lonely if there was no one to meet her. He had gone to his bedroom to ask his Heavenly Father to have someone greet Mildred, his wife and my mother. He said that he had been told in answer to his prayer that his mother had met his sweetheart. I smiled at that too. Grandma Eyring was not very tall. I had a clear picture of her rushing through the crowd, her short legs moving rapidly on her mission to meet my mother.” President Eyring’s mother was indeed gathered home to her people when she died, just as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses were gathered to their fathers when they stepped across the veil.  

                Brother Wilcox also highlighted the phrase used to describe Joseph’s death in the JST. We read, “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy” (JST 50:24). He too was looking forward to the opportunity to cross the veil and be with his fathers again. And despite the challenges of his life, he could say as he died that he would go with joy to be with his father and mother and all his family who were there to be gathered to. Brother Wilcox commented, “It's just a beautiful thing. It's a beautiful thing because of the reunions. Talk about reconciliations and reunions, that's got to be one of the most beautiful, to be gathered to your people, and go down to your grave with joy to go to your fathers.” We too can prepare to die with joy as we are true to the covenants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As we stay true to the Savior and the covenants we have made with Him, we can go confidently into the next life knowing that we will indeed be gathered home and be with our people forever.