How Can I Participate in the Gathering of Israel?
YOUTH CLASSES
August 8, 2021
Come, Follow Me
DOCTRINAL TOPICS & ACTIVITIES
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Those in your quorum or class probably know something about their responsibilities for doing missionary work and temple and family history work. But if you talk to them about gathering Israel, they might not know what you are talking about. How can you help them understand that sharing the gospel, researching their family history, and performing ordinances in the temple are part of a much greater work of gathering Israel in preparation for the Savior’s Second Coming?
Those you teach may have studied the parable of the wheat and tares in Doctrine and Covenants 86, which teaches about the gathering of Israel in the last days. As you read this section, try to envision the people in your quorum or class as laborers in the Lord’s fields. How will you help them experience the joy that comes from participating in this great work? To learn more about this topic, study President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson’s message “Hope of Israel” ([worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], supplement to the New Era and Ensign, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
MISSIONARY WORK – FAMILY HISTORY – TEMPLE WORK
MISSIONARY WORK
MISSIONARY WORK
FAMILY HISTORY
TEMPLE WORK
TEMPLE WORK
Learn Together
You might begin by asking class members questions like these: What stood out to you as you read Doctrine and Covenants 86 at home? What did you learn about the work of gathering God’s children in the last days? What are we doing to participate in this work? Below are additional ideas to inspire your quorum or class to participate in the gathering of Israel.
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Ask members of your quorum or class what they think of when they hear the term “gathering of Israel.” If they need help, suggest that they read the following definition by President Russell M. Nelson: “The gathering of Israel ultimately means offering the gospel of Jesus Christ to God’s children on both sides of the veil who have neither made crucial covenants with God nor received their essential ordinances. Every child of our Heavenly Father deserves the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus Christ, to accept and receive His gospel with all of its blessings” (“Hope of Israel,” 11–12). How does this definition affect the way we think about this important duty?
HOW CAN WE OFFER THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST – GATHER ISRAEL (on both sides of the veil)?
MISSIONARY WORK
GATHERING ISRAEL
GATHERING ISRAEL
TEMPLE WORK
PREPARATION
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To help quorum or class members see how the parable of the wheat and tares applies to them, you could write phrases from Doctrine and Covenants 86 on the board.
DOWNLOAD The Parable of the Sower and the Wheat and Tares puzzle (HERE or below)These phrases could describe symbols in the parable—such as “sowers of the seed,” “tares choke the wheat,” “blade is springing up,” and “gathering of the wheat” (verses 2–4, 7). The phrases could also describe interpretations of these symbols—such as “the Apostles,” “the Apostasy,” “the Restoration,” and “missionary work.” Then quorum or class members could work together to review section 86 and match the symbols with their meanings. (They could also read Matthew 13:36–43.) What do we learn from this parable about the work of gathering Israel? What can we do to be “a light” and “a savior” to God’s children? (Doctrine and Covenants 86:11).
WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE “A LIGHT” AND “A SAVIOR” TO GOD’S CHILDREN?
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Quorum or class members might remember that in his “Hope of Israel” message, President Russell M. Nelson invited them to do specific things to prepare to help gather Israel (see pages 14–17). Ask them what invitations they remember, and review the invitations together as needed. How might doing these things make us more effective in gathering Israel? What can we do to remind ourselves of these invitations and help each other fulfill them? Encourage quorum or class members to think creatively and share their ideas.
Hope of Israel – President RUSSELL M. Nelson
“I promise you that if you will sincerely and persistently do the spiritual work needed to develop the crucial, spiritual skill of learning how to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, you will have all the direction you will ever need in your life. …
When you know your life is being directed by God, regardless of the challenges and disappointments that may and will come, you will feel joy and peace.”
Hope of Israel – President RUSSELL M. Nelson
TO INLIST IN THE LORD’S YOUTH BATTALION TO GATHER ISRAEL?
- SEVEN-DAY SOCIAL MEDIA FAST.
- WEEKLY SACRIFICE OF TIME TO THE LORD.
- KEEP ON THE COVENANT PATH.
- PRAY DAILY FOR ALL TO RECEIVE BLESSINGS.
- STAND OUT. BE DIFFERENT. BE A LIGHT.
SEVEN-DAY SOCIAL MEDIA FAST
SACRIFICE OF TIME TO THE LORD
KEEP ON THE COVENANT PATH
PRAY DAILY FOR ALL TO RECEIVE BLESSINGS
STAND OUT. BE DIFFERENT. BE A LIGHT.
Act in Faith
Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.
Supporting Resources
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Russell M. Nelson, “The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 79–82
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Church History Topics, “The Gathering of Israel,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org/study/history/topics
GATHERING OF ISRAEL
Fun-tastic! Activities
For Class or Group Gatherings
Produced by Youth Leaders
SEARCHING ANCESTORS & TEMPLE WORK
FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY NAME SEARCH: Visit the family history library/Family Search (center) and search a name. Have youth get some information from her parents. If no information exists, have someone in the family history library take them through the research steps. Ask your ward family history representative for help.
One app that Jennifer, Mary Ross’ daughter likes is Take a Name. It’s so easy to use and we can usually find a name each week to take to the temple (of our ancestors).
FAITH-PROMOTING FAMILY HISTORY EXPERIENCES: Ask someone who has been researching their family history to tell of their faith-promoting experiences as they’ve done family research, submitted names for temple work, and written their family history.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Portrait of My Ancestor (HERE or above)
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Articles of Fatih 1:10 scripture poster/card set (HERE or above)
BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD: Inquire if someone in your ward needs work done for someone in their family. While at the temple, ask youth to pay attention to the dates and names that impressed them. Share your experiences afterward around a banana split or ice cream soda. Ask them how they think those deceased persons for whom they were baptized felt that day. Estimate the number of years they may have waited for this great day.
FAMILY REUNION BRAINSTORM: Have youth come with their ideas for food, fun, and games for a family reunion. Challenge youth to help their parents plan and organize a family reunion. Ideas: Hide family photos; the first to find Grandpa Ross wins! Or make cupcakes and hide Grandma Ross’s name in one. Write her name on a small piece of paper and wrap it in tin foil. Bake it in cupcake liner filled with cake batter. Or, slip it inside an already baked cupcake.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Portrait of My Ancestor (HERE or above)
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Articles of Fatih 1:10 scripture poster/card set (HERE or above)
PLAN A PARTY AFTER TEMPLE BAPTISMS: Take youth to the temple to be baptized for the dead. Have a special dinner with promise placemats and packages. Talk about the promises we made at our baptism and the promises Heavenly Father makes to us in return as we keep our baptismal covenants. Doing baptism for the dead will help us to help those who have passed on to the other side to fulfill their personal promises to The Lord.
• Promises We Make to Heavenly Father: To obey the commandments, read the scriptures, honor parents, help others, pay tithes, and attend Church meetings.
• Promises Heavenly Father Makes to Us: To forgive us when we repent, love and bless us, give us the gift of the Holy Ghost, answer our prayers, and let us live with Him forever.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Portrait of My Ancestor (HERE or above)
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Articles of Fatih 1:10 scripture poster/card set (HERE or above)
PREPARING FOR THE SECOND COMING & ETERNAL LIFE
“I THINK I CAN” CLASSES:
Set up several classes for youth on ways they can be self-reliant. Ideas:
• Class on Money Management and Creating a Budget by a CPA;
• Class on Creating a Resume and Job Interviews by a human resource representative;
• Class on Grooming by a beautician or barber;
• Class on Organizing Time by an organized individual, etc.
The classes can be 15 minutes (just to cover the basics). If there is a large group, you could break off into workshops and have the individuals teach four times. If instructors are willing to give their name and phone number, write them on a special card to give to youth in case they need to call them for advice.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD “Hen gathereth her chickens” tent-card (HERE or above)
THOUGHT TREAT: “Path to Heaven” Pudding. Lay parchment paper on the table for each youth. Have a variety of puddings to use as finger paints. Give each a tablespoon of each pudding on parchment paper. Have them paint their life’s path from earth to heaven. Think about choices on the path that lead them to heaven. Then eat their way to heaven.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD The Path to Eternal Life Decision Maker mobile (HERE or above)
“PROMISES KEPT” SCRIPTURE SITUATIONS SEARCH: Search together in the scriptures for various situations when oaths that were made and their circumstances in which they were made. Why were these oaths made? What were they? Get a feeling for the importance of keeping covenants and promises (see oaths, covenants, promise, swear, vow, and pledge in the Topical Guide).
“THE LORD NEVER BREAKS COVENANTS” OBJECT LESSON: Have two people (a young woman or young man and the bishop or adult priesthood holder) stand together with a metal or paper chain around them. Lock it (or pretend to lock it). Give the key to the youth. Say, “The adult represents the Lord and the young woman or young man is you. You have the power to break a covenant or keep it binding. The Lord will never break a covenant. Only people do.” Discuss how making and keeping covenants makes us strong and extraordinary.
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD The Path to Eternal Life Decision Maker mobile (HERE or above)
#4 (suggestion above – To In-list in the Lord’s Youth to Gather Israel)
PRAY DAILY FOR ALL TO RECEIVE BLESSINGS
BOOK OF MORMON PRAYER PRESENTATIONS:
Ask youth find and share meaningful scriptures from the Book of Mormon, and tell how they can improve prayers in their daily life from the example of Alma’s prayer for his son Alma the Younger (Mosiah 27:14), and Alma the Younger’s prayers for the Zoramites with their vain and prideful prayers (Alma 31:12-38).
MAKE PRAYER AND SCRIPTURE REMINDERS:
Angel pillowcases and prayer rock crafts can remind youth to say their prayers and read their scriptures each morning and night. They can place the prayer rock under their pillow with the scriptures nearby.
. Angel Pillowcase: Create an angel pillowcase. Transfer an angel image onto pillowcase with iron-on transfer paper. Write with fabric marking pens the verse: “Angels receive as they pray and believe. (Matt. 21:22).” Go to google.com to search how to “make your own iron-on transfers.”
. Prayer Rock Bag: In a plastic or paper bag place a rock with this verse: To help you remember to say your prayers, place this rock under your pillow. If you get quickly in your bed and feel this rock hit your head, kneel down and pray and thank Heavenly Father for your day. Ask Him for help in all you do and know of His great love for you.
DOWNLOAD this Prayer Rock and Reminder Note (HERE, shown right)
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Counsel with the Lord tent-card (HERE or above)
Matching Activity: DOWNLOAD Prayer Rock and Reminder note (HERE or above)
