WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Old Testament is foundation for what we are today. We are in the final scenes that began in the old testament.

Jacob 5 � Story of the vineyard and the gathering and scattering

Isaiah 11 and 12 was quoted by Moroni and is about the gathering of Israel and the everlasting gospel being restored in our time.

1. WHO WERE THE PEOPLE OF ANCIENT HOUSE OF ISRAEL?
   • Beginning with Abraham (10th descendent of Shem, son of Noah). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, the Abrahamic Covenant, and that he would be the father of posterity of all who accepted the gospel and they would become his seed. If they are faithful, they were promised to inherit a choice land. His posterity�s mission will be to spread the gospel to the world.
   • Abraham had Isaac, who had Esau and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel). Israel had 12 sons. The 11th son brought his family to Egypt and for 400 years they lived there and became slaves (JST Gen 50, Joseph saw Moses would deliver them.) Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and because of wickedness they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. THIS IS THE FIRST GATHERING OF ISRAEL.
   • Moses not only restored the land but restored commitment to God of Israel. During the wanderings, God gave them the Law (fullness of the Gospel) but because of idolatry, the lesser law was given. THEY STILL GOT MORE THAN THEY DID HAVE, AND IT WAS A STEP UP FOR THE PEOPLE. (Duet. 28:35 & Duet 30:3)
   • Joshua took possession of the land and now a nation was poised to fulfill its destiny and influence the world about the Gospel at that time (Persia and Egypt).

2. HOW DID THEY BECOME SCATTERED?
   • The tribes were given various lands. See Map 5. They were pretty segregated and only united as a nation during wars. (See Judges). They were righteous when a righteous judge lives. This went on for about 250 years.
   • Each tribe asked Samuel for a king. Samuel warned them of the consequences but eventually consented. Saul came from the smallest tribe, Benjamin. The Era of the Kings was Saul to David to Solomon. Solomon brought the temple and wisdom. This was a time of great expansion and power. (See maps 6-8)
   • On Solomon�s death, the 10 tribes rebelled. The Jews and Benjamin stayed together and became Judah. The 10 tribes became Israel with Samaria as the capital. This went on for another 250 years.
   • Both nations became idol worshippers and wicked. There was a succession of prophets warning them of destruction: Elijah, Elisha, Joel, Micah, Isaiah and Amos. (See Isaiah 1:4, Amos 9:9 and Amos 4:10)
   • In 721 BC - II Kings 17:6-18 � Assyria took Israel captive and sifted them among the nations. They became the lost tribes of Israel.
     • INTERESTING SIDE NOTE) � Before this destruction, many of Ephraim and Menassah and Simeon�s tribes migrated back to Jerusalem to get away from the wickedness. Among these were the ancestors of Lehi. (See II. Chr. 15 in 940 BC)
     • Assyria tried to take Jerusalem but miraculously they were spared because of righteous Hezekiah. Judah then slipped back into wickedness. More prophets came to warn them of destruction. 600 BC � Jeremiah and Lehi were among them.
   • In 587 BC Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylonians and the survivors were taken captive. Lehi and Mulek fled Jerusalem.
   • OBJECT LESSON: Flour and salt and sugar, baking powder, etc. together and sift it. Can you take the salt out of the mixture?
3. WHAT HAPPENED SINCE THE SCATTERING?
   • Jeremiah 25:11-12 � Judah would serve Babylon for 70 years and be liberated. (See Ezra)
   • Cyrus conquered Babylon and felt impressed to free the Jews to return. Many Jews wanted to remain and lost their identity of Jews. Only a minority returned to Jerusalem. Those who remained some were faithful for a while but ultimately abandoned their religion and are lost.
   • Returning Jews built Jerusalem and the temple which remained until 70 AD. At that time, the Romans also destroyed Jerusalem. There were many other Jews in the Roman empire that survived. Some retained their Jewish identity but others abandoned the religion, assimilated into the population and are lost.
4. WHERE ARE THE TEN TRIBES SINCE CAPTIVITY?
   • Apocrypha - Ezra 13:40-45 � Some migrated NE across the Euphrates River and strive to keep the commandments.
   • II Ne. 29:12 � Other tribes write their history and have prophets.
   • III Ne. 17:4 � Christ visited other tribes of Israel
   • Ezek. 26:24 � They will be gathered from out of all countries of the earth.
   • Many simply lost their identity and assimilated into local populations.
5. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GATHER ISRAEL TODAY (THE SECOND TIME)?
   • It will be a glorious event and eclipse the story of the parting of the red sea when the Israelites left Egypt. (Jere. 16:14-15)
   • There will be a highway for the gathering (Isaiah 11:1-6)
   • IS IT HARD TO GATHER THEM? HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM. MANY WHO ARE IN OTHER SOCIETIES DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE. (Object lesson of flour) Many are among Europe, Asia, Africa, etc. and intermarried and sifted among the nations.
   • They will be gathered by:
   • D&C 29:7 � Receptiveness to God and teachings through worldwide missionary work.
   • Jere 16:16 � Israel�s future return.
   • ARE WE THE BLOOD OF ISRAEL? YES!
   • 1836 � Moses restored the Keys to the gathering of Israel.
   • Pres. Lee � �The gathering of Israel consists of joining the true church and partaking of the saving truths. If you do not joint the church, you have not gathered.�
   • Most of the gathering so far has been from Ephraim and Menassah. They are supposed to be first (See Duet. 33:17) They will push to the ends of the earth doing the gathering of scattered Israel. This is their calling. JST Gen. 48:11
   • WHERE DO WE GATHER TO? Stakes In Zion and establish the church in all lands.
6. WHO IS GATHERING IMPORTANT TO US?
   • As being the tribe of Ephraim, we are charged to bless the families of the earth with the Gospel and gather Israel.
   • Elias restored the Keys of the Gospel of Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant). Our responsibility to gather them for an opportunity for exaltation. If we do not do this, we will not have exaltation!