The Gathering

The gathering during the time period of the Prophet Joseph Smith is an event in history to admire and learn from. The gathering of the Latter-Day Saints from all parts of the country, New York, Missouri, etc., not only involved leaving behind precious possessions, the warmth of homes, lands, but as well suffering, pain, and the loss of dear ones. One must wonder why would the pioneers sacrifice their lives to come across thousands of miles in the piercing, cold of winter season and walk through deadly bitter ice waters to reach the Salt Lake valley, which had absolutely no means of survival? The history of this gathering continues to impress me more each time I hear of it and builds on the testimony I have of God, and His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. What an immense faith did these people have, that even the persecutions of their enemies did not stop them from believing. I have experience Utah winters, walking on icy snow and frozen grounds. The task requires much poise, patience, and precaution; a small –blundering insignificant step will bring you straight down on earth. I picture these pioneers with pulling handcarts and riding wagons in snow, with no special shoes or fit clothing to withstand the cold. They put to shame every time I find myself whining about insignificant problems, compared to their tribulations. I especially loved the connection made in class about the gathering being like the children of Israel and Moses wandering in the dessert for forty years to get to the promise land. Brigham Young was the modern Moses, Salt Lake the present promise land, and the Saints the children of Israel. Just like Moses was commanded to take the people from Egypt to free them from their enemies (pharaoh and servants), the Lord also told Brigham Young to gather up the saints into one place because they were no longer safe. The greatest impact between the two events is the fact that the geographical settings are the same, only in different parts of the world. For example New York is simulated to Egypt; both events required the people to go through a body of water and mountains. Another connection is the gathering of the Saints at Kirtland, Ohio, where they received the power of endowment. This parallels with the ancient Israelites who received the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. It was necessary for the Lord to call up the Saints to gather because only that was is possible to have enough people to build the temples, organize the church into districts, and built “Zion.” Today, the Lord does not need to gather the Saints because the membership of the church has grown immensely with service of faithful and strong missionaries throughout the world. Are gatherings now happen every Sunday at church buildings; participating in callings, such as visiting and home teaching. In this way, we all grow spiritually together and strengthen one another. Yet again, if there ever was a gathering again like the past, this would be a great test of my faith and testimony. I find the strength in this passage of the New Testament:

2 Tim 1:7
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 ... be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began….