WEEK  # 47

THE  GATHERING  OF  ISRAEL

" He who scattered Israel has promised to gather them."  (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 195).

Questions and Activities

• What were the significant events that lead to the scattering of Israel?
• What is spiritual bondage?
• By what means has the Lord promised to gather his people from spiritual bondage in the last days?  What will be the major gathering places?  What is the significance of being "fishers of men"?  (See Jeremiah 16;16;  Matthew 4:19.)
• What does temple work have to do with the gathering of Israel?
• Why is the restoration of the gospel essential to the gathering of Israel?
• What responsibilities for scattered Israel has the Lord placed on you?

Topical Guide

Bondage, Spiritual

Graff, Graft

Israel, Bondage of, in Other Lands

Israel, Deliverance of

Israel, Gathering of 

Israel, Remnant of 

Israel, Restoration of 

Scriptures

I Nephi 15:12-20

2 Nephi 15

Jacob 5

3 Nephi 15:17-24;  16:4-20;  21

D&C 110:11;  133:17-35

Isaiah 5, 54

Jeremiah 16

Ezekiel 34

Micah 4

Zechariah 10

Romans 11

Articles of Faith 1:10

Bible Dictionary

Adoption

Israel, Kingdom of

Joseph, Son of Rachel

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 42

A Marvelous Work and  a Wonder, chapters 15-16

The Articles of Faith,  chapters 17-18

WEEK # 46

MISSIONARY  WORK

"Perhaps the greatest reason for missionary work is to give the world its chance to hear and accept the gospel.  The scriptures are replete with commands and promises and calls and rewards for teaching the gospel.  I use the word command deliberately for it seems to be an insistent directive from which we, singly and collectively, cannot escape. .

"I wonder if we are doing all we can.  Are we complacent in our approach to teaching all the world?  We have been proselyting now for 144 years.  Are we prepared to lengthen our stride?  To enlarge our vision?"  (Spencer W. Kimball,  Ensign, Oct. 1974, pp. 4-5).

Questions and Activities

• What  is the role of missionary work in accomplishing God's purposes?
• Why has God commanded his Saints to spread the gospel?
• What special help and protection have been promised to missionaries?
• What blessings have been promised to those who faithfully share the gospel?
• Study some missionary experiences found in the scriptures (for example, Ammon, Aaron, Alma, Nephi).
• Record in your journal your feelings about missionary work.
• Share with your family the experiences you have had that have strengthened your testimony of missionary work.
• Set some specific goals that will help you be a more effective instrument in the Lord's hands.

Topical Guide

Conversion, Convert

Fellowshipping 

Gentiles

Israel, Mission of

Jesus Christ, Teaching Mode of

Mission of Early Saints

Mission of Latter-Day Saints

Missionary Work

Preaching, Preach

Warn, Warnings

Worth of Souls

Scriptures

Alma 17-23

Helaman 5, 10

D&C 11-12, 18, 33

Jonah 1-3

Luke 10:1-20

Acts 13

Articles of Faith 1:11

Bible Dictionary 

Conversion

Gentile

Jew

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 33

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder,  chapter 18

Jesus the Christ, chapter 21, pp. 328-33

Truth Restored, chapter 4

WEEK # 45

COVENANTS

"Each ordinance and requirement given to man for the purpose of brining to pass his salvation and exaltation is a covenant."  (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:152).

"A gospel covenant is a holy contract.  'God in his good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts' (Bible Dictionary, LDS ed., 'Covenants'). . . .  Man covenants to do certain things or meet certain conditions;  God cites promises that he will give in return.  (Carlos E. Asay,  "The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood." Ensign, Nov. 1985, p. 43).

"The Lord identified the gospel as the great and all-embracing covenant. . . .  Many of the Lord's commandments are in the form of covenants promising specific blessings. . . .  Observing the gospel covenants we make with the Lord justifies us to enter the temple and there receive the ordinances and covenants essential to exaltation."  (Marion G. Romney, "Gospel Covenants,"  Ensign, May 1981,  pp. 43-44).

Questions and Activities

• What is a covenant?
• Name some of the covenants that we make with the Lord.
• Why does the Lord make covenants with men?
• What are the promised blessings of each of the major covenants in the gospel?
• What is the Abrahamic covenant, and what does it mean to us today?
• What specific covenants have you made with the Lord?  How do you feel about the way you are keeping them?
• What blessings can be yours if you live up to the covenants you have made with the Lord?
• How do the covenants you have made give you added responsibility?

Topical Guide

Abrahamic Covenant

Covenants

Oath

Promise

Stewardship, Steward

Swearing, Swear, Sware, Sworn

Vow

Scriptures

2 Nephi 29:1, 14

Alma 24:17-19;  56:1-8

Genesis 9:8-17 (compare JST, Genesis 9:21-25);  17:1-14

Deuteronomy 7:6-9;  26:12-19

Joshua 24:12-15;  21-27

Hebrews 8:6-13

Bible Dictionary

Abraham, Covenant of 

Corban

Covenant

Rainbow

Vows

Other Sources

Gospel Principles, chapter 15