Predicated Upon the Gathering

In his recent general conference talk, Elder Cook said this: “During the Council in Heaven in the premortal existence, the plan of salvation was discussed and sustained. It included certain laws and ordinances of the priesthood instituted before the foundation of the world and predicated upon the gathering. It also included the overriding principle of agency.” I was intrigued by the idea that the principle of gathering was a key part of the plan of salvation. We typically think of the plan of salvation including the Fall, the Atonement, and the Resurrection, but according to Elder Cook the premortal plan also was centered on gathering. Instead of being a last resort to find those who might get lost, gathering is the plan for all of us. It reminds me of these words of Elder Andersen: “Repentance is not the backup plan; it is the plan. Since our premortal experience, the Lord has known that we would need to repent.” Ultimately gathering and repentance are really part of the same thing; we are gathered unto the Lord as we repent. As the Father sent us here to earth, He knew that we would all be lost as we separated ourselves from Him through our mistakes, and so repentance and gathering were essential to brings us back to Him. The Savior connected the two ideas when He gave us this powerful invitation: “O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart” (3 Nephi 10:6). If we will repent and return to Him, He will gather us safely home to the Father.

                 I wrote recently of a young girl in our neighborhood who was lost for several hours in the evening. I was amazed at how quickly dozens of people were mobilized into search parties to look for this little girl. Everyone instinctively understood how important it was to find her as soon as possible. As I think about that experience, it strikes me that we should also be just as willing to help to spiritually find those who are lost and whom our Father in Heaven is seeking to bring back to Him. Ultimately one of our greatest responsibilities on earth is to gather ourselves, our families, and all of God’s children back to Him through covenants with the Savior. Elder Cook invited us in these words: “My specific prayer today is for every child, young man, young woman, family, quorum, Relief Society, and class to review how we individually and collectively accept dramatic counsel to help gather Israel that has been issued by the Lord and our beloved prophet…. the Lord expects those who have received His gospel to urgently strive to be a beacon-light example that will help others come to God. This allows our brothers and sisters across the earth to enjoy the supernal blessings and ordinances of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and be safely gathered home.” To see that this is indeed important to the Lord we need to look no further than His parables, several of which speak of the value of finding that which is lost. In the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, there is great joy in finding what had been lost. We read, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost…. Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost…. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found” (Luke 15). The Savior’s final words before ascending into heaven to His disciples were these: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20). Similarly, in the Book of Mormon the final chapter that contains His words to the Nephites we find that He commissioned the Three Nephites to “bring the souls of men unto me” and by so doing “have fulness of joy” (3 Nephi 28:8-10). If there is anything He wants us to do on earth, surely it is to gather and find and help all the children of men to come unto Him.