Gerald Lund in his book ‘The Second Coming of the Lord’ shared from President Russell M. Nelson, our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
These surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. The gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic! When we speak of the gathering, we are simply saying this fundamental truth: every one of our Heavenly Father’s children on both sides of the veil, deserves to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They decide for themselves if they want to know more. . . .Think of it! Of all people who have ever lived on planet earth, we are the ones who get to participate in this final, great gathering event. How exciting is that! (Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,’ worldwide devotional for youth, June 3, 2018)
Gathering Israel: An integral Part of the Restoration of All Things
The above statement by President Nelson was given to the youth of the Church in a worldwide broadcast by President Nelson and his wife, Wendy. If I may I would like to share a personal note about that broadcast, as I believe it represents the feelings that other members of the Church may have had at that time.
This event took place just three months after President Nelson had been sustained and set apart as the seventeenth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although it was billed for the youth of the Church, there was a lot of excitement about the broadcast, and I wanted to hear what President Nelson had to say.
After some preliminary welcoming remarks, he challenged the youth to do “the necessary spiritual work” that would bring personal revelation. But what came next took me aback a little. “Now we would like to talk with you about the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, the greatest work on earth. And we want to invite you to be a part of it” (“Hope of Israel,” worldwide broadcast for youth, June 3, 2018). President Nelson spoke to the theme of the gathering and what he said took me completely by surprise.
He began with, “These surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel.” What came next was stunning. “That gathering is the most important thing taking place on the earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, Nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty.” ~Gerald Lund, The Second Coming of the Lord (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2020), 45-46 (continued. . . .)
