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8-The Doctrine and Practice of Gathering

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8-The Doctrine and Practice of Gathering The Doctrine (& Practice) of Gathering Introduction In September 1830, about five months after the Church was organized, the Lord gave some of the early leaders and Elders of the Church this charge, "Ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts" (D&C 29:7). This was the beginning of the gathering. The location of where they were to gather and the reasons why they were to gather, however, were not yet disclosed. Only a few months later, at the end of December and the beginning of January, the Lord gave the very first command in this dispensation for his saints to gather to a specific location—Ohio (see D&C 37- 38). This command came on the heels of Joseph having just finished translating the vision and prophecy of Enoch, wherein is recorded a significant covenant the Lord made with Enoch about the latter-days. In a portion of his covenant with Enoch the Lord promised that, "in the last days," He would send forth righteousness and truth "to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, ... for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem" (Moses 7:60, 62). The Lord explained to Enoch that this gathering of the elect and establishment of Zion was preparatory for "the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days," when he would "dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a thousand years" (Moses 7:65). This prophesied gathering of the elect was clearly relevant to the mission of Christ's Church in the latter-days. It is significant, therefore, that shortly after Moses 7 was translated the Lord declared, "A commandment I give unto the Church ... that they should assemble together at the Ohio" (D&C 37:3). In fact, the Lord introduced himself to the New York saints as, "the same which have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own bosom" (D&C 38:4). This was the God of Enoch who was asking them to gather! Clearly there was some connection between God's 1 call for these saints to gather and Enoch's vision of Zion being established in the latter-days. but why Ohio? Two months earlier, four missionaries left New York and stopped in the Kirtland, Ohio area for a few weeks while en route to the United States border (by Missouri) to preach to "the Lamanites" (D&C 28:8). These missionaries were Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson. Because of his former connections with a popular preacher in the Kirtland area named Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt suggested that he and his companions stop and pay Sidney a visit and share with him the message of the Restoration. Sidney, it turns out, did receive the Restored Gospel which in turn caused a wide ripple-effect of interest in the missionaries' message in the hearts of many of his current and former congregants. In the short few weeks the missionaries preached in Kirtland before moving on to Missouri, over 100 people had received the Restored Gospel and been baptized. by December 1830, the number of converts had swelled to about 300 in Kirtland compared to around 100 who lived in New York (Palmyra, Fayette, & Colesville). So the Lord's command to the New York saints at the end of December to "go to the Ohio" (D&C 37:1) would cause all of these converts to be gathered together in one geographical area. This, the Lord explained, would enable them to "escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless" (D&C 38:31). Thus the groundwork for latter-day Zion was being laid. Additionally, the Lord promised the New York saints that once they gathered "to the Ohio" he would "give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high" (D&C 38:32). Trusting the Lord's assurance, many, if not most, of them heeded the Lord's command and journeyed at great personal sacrifice to the Kirtland, Ohio area. Joseph was the first to leave with his wife Emma (who was six-months pregnant with twins) in late January 1831. The bulk of the New York saints would later follow in March-May of that year, and future converts would continue to gather there for the next several years. According to John Whitmer, some of the New York saints believed that Kirtland Ohio was to be the final "place of gathering, even the place of the New Jerusalem" (Journal of History, p. 53). In this belief, however, they were mistaken. The Lord did indeed have much to teach and bless the saints with in Ohio, but they would soon learn that their New Jerusalem would be still further West. 2 Scripture Reading & Textual Engagement Questions IMPORTANT NOTE: You are NOT required to answer all of the questions provided at the beginning of each section. The point of these readings is to rigorously ENGAGE WITH THE TEXT and WITH ONE ANOTHER to promote understanding. The questions are simply guides to help you do so. The Lamanite Mission Qs: How did Parley P. Pratt come to know Sidney Rigdon? How was this relationship later crucial to the success of the missionaries in Ohio? Each of these four missionaries was young and inexperienced, yet they were anxious to go 1,500 miles (walking most of the way) to preach to the Lamanites (ie. Native Americans) just outside the border of the United States. Why do you suppose they would do this? In your opinion (after reading the "Aftermath" section above), was the "Lamanite mission" a success? Why or why not? Doctrine and Covenants 28:8 Doctrine and Covenants 32 8 And now, behold, I say unto you that you shall go unto the Lamanites and preach my 1 And now concerning my servant Parley P. gospel unto them; and inasmuch as they Pratt, behold, I say unto him that as I live I receive thy teachings thou shalt cause my will that he shall declare my gospel and church to be established among them; and learn of me, and be meek and lowly of heart. thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment. 2 And that which I have appointed unto him is that he shall go with my servants, Oliver Doctrine and Covenants 30:5-6 Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jun., into the wilderness among the Lamanites. 5 Behold, I say unto you, Peter, that you shall take your journey with your brother 3 And Ziba Peterson also shall go with Oliver; for the time has come that it is them; and I myself will go with them and be expedient in me that you shall open your in their midst; and I am their advocate with mouth to declare my gospel; therefore, fear the Father, and nothing shall prevail against not, but give heed unto the words and advice them. of your brother, which he shall give you. 4 And they shall give heed to that which is 6 And be you afflicted in all his afflictions, written, and pretend to no other revelation; ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer and they shall pray always that I may unfold and faith, for his and your deliverance; for I the same to their understanding. have given unto him power to build up my church among the Lamanites; 5 And they shall give heed unto these words and trifle not, and I will bless them. Amen. 3 Background and Aftermath of D&C 32 year, 1827, he returned to Canaan, Columbia (from scottwoodward.org) county, New York,—the county where much of his boyhood was spent, the home, Date: October 1830 too, of his parents—and there married Thankful Halsey, on the 9th of September, Place: Fayette, New York 1827. The same month the newly married couple returned to the wilderness home west Historical Background of Cleveland. Parley P. Pratt (a convert of one month) and About eighteen months later Sidney Rigdon, Ziba Peterson (a convert of six months) who was connected with Alexander were among the "several ... elders" at the Campbell, Walter Scott and others in that September 1830 conference who manifested aggressive reform movement among the "a great desire ... respecting the remnants of Christian sects, which resulted in the the house of Joseph, the Lamanites, residing founding of the sect of the "Disciples" or in the west, knowing that the purposes of "Campbellites," came into Mr. Pratt's God were great to that people." They hoped neighborhood preaching the doctrines of "that the time had come when the promises faith, repentance and baptism. As his of the Almighty, in regard to that people doctrine more nearly conformed to the were about to be accomplished, and that scriptures than any other Mr. Pratt had they would receive the gospel and enjoy its heard, he accepted Sydney Rigdon's blessings. The desire being so great," Joseph teachings, joined the "Disciples," and said, "that it was agreed upon we should became a minister in that church. enquire of the Lord respecting the propriety of sending some of the elders among them, He determined to take up the ministry as his which we accordingly did, and received the life's labor, sold his possessions and started following: [see D&C 32]." (History of the first of all to call upon his relatives in New Church, 1:118; see also Millennial Star, York.
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